USC Mural en el Centro Chicano
El Centro Chicano makes a move
By Eddie North-Hager, November 27, 2013
Cesar Chavez still looms large over El Centro Chicano and USC.
The late civil rights leader is the subject of a mural lovingly recreated in the new offices of El Centro Chicano on the fourth floor of the Student Union. The Division of Student Affairs department, whose mission is to provide personal, social and academic support to students and educate Trojans about Latino issues, celebrated its move this month with a ribbon-cutting and an unveiling of the mural featuring a performance by Latin Grammy-nominated and USC Thornton School of Music product Trio Ellas. USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett and former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry ’77, MPA ’81 attended the grand opening. William “Billy” Vela, the department’s director, thought it was important to show an appreciation of the past and a nod to the future. Vela, who knew the mural could play a key role as part of that plan, dealt with concerns that some of the group’s roots might be lost when staffers planned to leave their longtime headquarters on the edge of campus. Now that the department is more centrally located in Suite 402 at the Student Union building, Vela wanted to make sure the new space feels like home both for current students and alumni.
“This mural is meant to capture history, tell an important story of perseverance and success, while also inspiring our youth and future leaders,” Vela said.
He reached out to Alfredo Davalos, who created the mural in 1996, to see what could be done for the trip across campus. They considered moving the original mural, but feared it might break because it had become one with the wall. Davalos instead created a new mural in the spirit of the old one, but with more history, women, icons and success stories from various parts of the Latino diaspora. The reimagined mural showcases a larger-than-life visage of Chavez, then incorporates iconic historical figures and the 40-year history of El Centro Chicano. “The mural embodies our pride and reminds us why we are here — to be student-leaders and leaders in the community,” said Christian Sibrian, a business administration major at the USC Marshall School of Business. Since transferrering to USC in January, the 21-year-old junior has spent a great deal of time at the center, first as a student-worker and now simply as a Latina. “I wanted to engage in the community — it’s a special part of my life,” Sibrian said. “This center gives students a chance to connect. As a student of color … it feels like home.”
El Centro Chicano houses more than 20 Chicano and Latino student organizations and dozens of programs. Its efforts have resulted in such innovations as the Latino Floor in student housing, which aims to ease the transition into Trojan life, the Chicano/Latino Graduate Celebration, an event that draws more than 3,000 people, and the creation of the Latino Parents Association. The group’s new location, which overlooks International Plaza and the Ronald Tutor Campus Center, features a kitchen, computer lab and a flexible space that can be modified for use as an auditorium or study lounge. “Though the space is new and improved, El Centro remains the same core for Latino students at USC,” Vela said. “We’re in the heart of the USC campus. That gives us exposure and provides our students a more convenient location.” -
See more at: http://news.usc.edu/#!/article/57619/el-centro-chicano-makes-a-move-with-cesar-chavez-mural/
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DESCRIPCION RESUMIDA DEL MURAL
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1EL SIMBOLO DEL SOL Y LA LUNA EL YING Y EL YANG EN UN BALANCE PERFECTO, IMPULSAN JUNTO CON LA REPRESENTACION DE TODOS ESTOS PAISES QUE INFUNDEN FUERZA A
2 LOS CAMPESINOS AL HOMBRE A LEVANTARSE Y CAMINAR JUNTOS UNIDOS EN UNA HERMANDAD COMO LO INDICAN
3 LAS AGUILAS DEL FUNDAMENTO SOLIDO (LADRILLOS), ESTOS VAN MARCHANDO JUNTO
4 CON LA HISTORIA DE NUESTROS ANCESTROS, Y
5 CON LA MIRADA VIGILANTE DE LA AGUILA,
6 QUE PROTEJE LA HISTORIA DEL CENTRO DEL PASADO CON, LOS FUNDAMENTOS DE MEChA CON LOS MITOS DE DON LENCHO .
7 ESTA PROCECION CONTINUA BAJO LA MIRADA DE PERSONAJES QUE SE ENCUENTRAN EN ESTE FLUIR DE IDEAS Y EVENTOS, QUE HAN PARTICIPADO DE ESTE PROCESO Y QUE MANIFIESTAN SUS VOCES POR MEDIO DE
8 VIRGOLAS,
9 AHORA LOS CAMPECINOS , LOS ESTUDIANTES EL PUEBLO VA TOMANDO COLOR IDENTIDAD Y
10 LEVANTAN SUS VOCES CON LAS PANCARTAS DE ” SI SE PUEDE”,LAS CUALES FORMAN UNA UNION QUE CRECE EN PODER Y LA FUERZA
11 DE UN PUÑO QUE ABRE PUERTAS , ESTO TRACIENDE MAS ALLA DE LO FISICO, Y
12 CESAR CHAVEZ CON SU MIRADA SERENA SIMPLEMENTE OBSERVA QUE SU ESFUERZO Y SU VIDA VALIO LA PENA, EN EL PUÑO SE ENCUENTRA LA MUJER QUE TOCA EL CARACOL LLAMANDO A LOS ANCESTROS LLAMADO A LA LUCHA UNIDA,
13 ENCIMA DEL PUÑO SE ENCUENTRA UNA AVE DE QUETZAL SIMBOLO DE LIBERTAD Y DIVERSIDAD. Y
14 MAS ALLA, A LO ALTO SE ENCUENTRA UNA CRUZ COMO UN SIMBOLO DE LA ESPERANZA Y DE FE.
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1 THE SYMBOL OF THE SUN AND THE MOON THE YING AND THE YANG IN PERFECT BALANCE, DRIVE ALONG WITH THE REPRESENTATION OF THE FLAGS OF THESE COUNTRIES THEY INFUSE SUPPORT 2 TO THE FARMERS TO THE MEN TO GET UP AND WALK TOGETHER UNITED AS IS INDICATE 3 BY THE EAGLES OF THE SOLID FOUNDATION (BRICKS), THESE MARCHING TOGETHER 4 WITH THE HISTORY OF OUR ANCESTORS , AND 5 WITH THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE EAGLE, 6 THAT PROTECTS THE HISTORY OF THE PAST WITH THE FUNDATION OF MECHA WITH THE MYTHS OF DON LENCHO. 7. THIS CONTINUOUS PROCESSION UNDER THE GAZE OF CHARACTERS THAT ARE IN THIS FLOW OF IDEAS AND EVENTS, THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS AND MANIFESTING THEIR VOICES THROUGH 8 VIRGOLAS, 9 NOW THE PEASANTS, THE PEOPLE, STUDENTS IS GETING COLOR IDENTITY AND 10 RAISE THEIR VOICES WITH THE BANNERS OF "SI SE PUEDE", WHICH FORM A UNION THAT GROWS IN POWER AND STRENGTH 11 OF A FIST THAT OPENS DOORS THIS TRACIENDE MORE THAT THE PHYSICIST, AND 12 CESAR CHAVEZ WITH HIS SERENE GAZE SIMPLY OBSERVES THAT HIS EFFORT WAS WORTH IT, IN THE FIST IS A WOMAN WHO PLAYS THE SEASHELL CALLING FOR THE ANCESTORS , CALLED FOR THE UNITED FIGHT, 13 ABOVE THE FIST IS A QUETZAL BIRD SYMBOL OF FREEDOM AND DIVERSITY . AND 14 IN THE DISTANCE, AT THE TOP IS A CRUCIFIX AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE AND FAITH.