Latino Timeline

1984-1989

1984

La Voz Latina, weekly public affairs program on channel 4 was created by Albert Lerma (BA 1979, MPA 1983) and David Cordova. Spring The Minority Student Advisory Committee was formed. This committee was formed as a joint effort of the admissions office, the Office of Afro-American Affairs and the Office of Latino Affairs. The committee's goal was to devise a plan by which potential minority students can be recruited

April LUIU sponsored Sportfest, a gathering of Latino student teams from throughout the Midwest to compete in basketball, volleyball and flag football September 9-15 National Hispanic Heritage Week was declared by President Ronald Reagan. Bloomington Mayor Tomi Allison also encouraged the recognition of this event as well as the participation of events sponsored in town and on campus.

October Puerto Rican folksinger Roy Brown Ramírez played at the Fine Arts Auditorium in commemoration of the Día de la Raza celebration. The performer was brought to IU in collaboration with the Office of Latino Affairs and Associación Estudiantil Puerto Riqueña. Roy Brown Ramirez was one of the founding members of the American Nueva Canción (New Song) Movement from Puerto Rico. Nueva Canción is a mixture of music and poetry written within the context of social struggle.

1985

March

Tito Puente, a Latin and Jazz percussionist, played at IU; his performance was sponsored by the Bloomington Coalition for Better Concerts and Turnstyles. Puente is known as the King or El Rey of Latin dance music. His blend of salsa, jazz, and samba inspired music makes him an inspiration to many other musicians. Here he is pictured with Jose Morales, the Director of the Latin American Music Ensemble at La Casa.

" La Caixa" Graduate Fellowship Program was first administered through the Office of International Programs. "La Caixa" is the largest savings bank in Spain and funds this program. This program provides full funding for 50 Spanish graduate students each year to study in the U.S. for a 2 year period. Fellows are placed at various U.S. institutions including Indiana University.

1986

The Minority Faculty Fellowship Program was instituted.

Participants of Latinos Unidos Sportsfest gathered for a photo.

October 14
Henry Cisneros lectured on “Survival of American Cities in the 1980's”; this lecture was sponsored by the Union Board.

1987

Ricardo Lorenz became Acting Director of the Latin American Music Center. Ricardo served in that position until 1992.

First Latino float in homecoming activities; spear-headed by Maria Magaña, President of the Folkloric Dance Group and Vice-President of Latinos Unidos.

1988

October

The newsletter La Voz produced its first issue, replacing the publication HOLA; it was designed to inform Latino students. Founding editors included José Alvarez and Lourdes Castellanos. This newsletter was changed in 1990 to La Casa News.

1989

Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity was established on March 7, 1989. The establishment of the Latino fraternity was spear-headed by Rudolph C. Lopez-Perez, Jr. and Ramiro Roman-Alonso, Jr.

The Brazilian Student Association founded in 1989.

First Board of Directors:

President: Carlos Azevedo
Vice President: Marlene Andrade Martins
Secretary: Guta Davis
Treasurer: Maria Cluver
Advisor: Professor Heitor Martins