With an array of informational workshops and variety of speakers to lead, the Latino Student Union (LSU) conducted its welcoming event on Feb. 10 inside Lecture Hall 150. The event provided information and resources for incoming freshmen and transfer Latino students to the university.
Already in its fourth installment, the LSU Welcome, a student-driven event, is conducted every semester to make available the resources students are afforded within their first year at CSULB. The event is meant to introduce new Latino students who are making the transition from high school, community college or another university to CSULB.
During the course of the event, students were imparted with information on different aspects of college life. Workshops on financial aid, studying abroad, preparing for graduate school, student services resources and other workshops were held during the event.
Student and LSU Chair Naomi Cruz stressed the importance of providing information to new and incoming students.
“This type of orientation is very important, especially for Latino students. We want the students to take with them the image that they are not alienated, so they can incorporate themselves to the campus and the community. That’s really important,” Cruz said.
The reception allowed for students to bring their parents to the event as workshops were scheduled for parents as well.
Financial aid counselor Irma Corona Nieto said the involvement of the student’s family is a predominant factor that can determine their educational progress.
“We target the parents as well, because it is very important for the student’s family to get involved. We need to make the parents aware what their son or daughter will expect and what their needs will be as students,” Nieto said.
Department Chairman for Chicano and Latino Studies Luis Arroyo commenced the event by the affirming the important role parents and family will play in the life of first year/semester Latino students.
“The purpose of this of event is to help new students understand what their experience will be. Many of them are the first in their family to go to college and understandably, they don’t have any idea as to what happens or what is expected of them,” said Arroyo. “The students have to understand that it is different and much more difficult than high school.”
Arroyo urged the students who were present to get involved on campus through the organizations available and to make their college experience both educational and enjoyable.
Arroyo also pointed out that Latino students tend to face different obstacles and tribulations that can detract from their college education. He said Latino students have many socio-economic factors that can cause problems and affect retention in courses and ultimately, graduation.
“I know that for Latino culture, family always comes first. The family factor is very important. Latino students have to address this to their family and let them know that they, as students, will need to take care of other commitments,” Arroyo said. “Then, there are other commitments that tend to interfere with school, such as work, feelings of alienation and other socio-economic factors,”
Cruz said, “For Latinos, cultural things can sometimes disconnect the students from the progress of their education. It seems that for some reason or another, they have a harder time adjusting to college.”
Cruz said more LSU Welcome receptions are planned for the future. “We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from students who attended previous events in past semesters. Latino students are now able to network and establish contacts with people and other resources they might need on campus. It really empowers everybody to graduate.”
