There was a meeting at Michigan State University for discussion on a possible name change for the Cesar Chavex Library Collection which is located on the first floor of the MSU Library. MSU students, faculty and community members joined in on the conversation.
The history behind the creation of the Chávez collection is remarkable. It was the result of the student organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, or MEChA, demanding that the university establish a Chicano/Latino Studies program at MSU and support farmworkers and the United Farm Workers union, or UFW, during the grape boycott that had been in effect since 1984.
It’s a complicated issue as do you incorporate the past such as “Mecha” into the name, create a name that is forward thinking that resembles what might be included in this library collection, or a combination of the two?
Photos include the stock photo of the Chavez Collection (Chavez photo has since been removed), but there is so much more. Back in 2014, I took some time to go through the actual photos, documents and some of the collection of MSU and local history that is stored within the Collection and ending up spending a couple days there (by appointment only). The photo showcasing the books of Chicano Latino history located right on the first floor, is open and available to the general public. So many titles make it a must see.
There really was some great conversations especially when you consider that we had 3 generations present including a few that were involved in the fight to establish the Chicano/Latino Studies at Michigan State University program dating back to the 1960’s
