Then, you go on to say: “you’re the person who mistakes Spaniards for Latinos. Please, you are ignorant.”

For instance, the U.S. Government definition, as given by the OMB (source: http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-1.pdf), is: “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.” That’s right, other Spanish culture, including from Spain (“Spaniard, Spanish, Spanish American” is counted by the Census Bureau as one of the 28 Hispanic or Latino groups, the two being used interchangeably). Before calling someone ignorant, I would be sure I had my facts straight. Actually, I would lay off the ad hominem entirely, since you nothing about me.

In any case, I asked Antony to clarify his definition for the very reason that there is a great deal of debate about such definitions, which will inevitably be somewhat arbitrary. Would an indigenous member of the Mixe people who has no Spanish ancestry and doesn’t even speak Spanish be considered Latino? What about an Spanish-speaking Argentinian of purely German descent? If a child is born to parents from Spain, would it be Latino if born in Mexico or Cuba but not Latino if born in Miami or New York? What about the Panama Canal Zone, pre-handover? Etc. etc.

What this whole thing started with was Antony V. López making a claim – there are only two Latino professors at Georgetown, only one of whom has tenure – that was demonstrably incorrect. Antony basically admits this, as he both tries to discount language professors – why? – and gives a definition that includes several attributes that have nothing to do with being Latino, specifically “someone who can relate more to many of the first generation college students” and “who are descendants from Latin-American countries, but grown up here.” Obviously, someone can be a Latino without growing up in the USA. But I am thankful that he clarified what he meant and described his perspective as being role-model based, under which a professor has to have a similar enough backstory to first-generation college-attending US-born Latino students in order to be a viable role model.

Those of us who do believe that diversity among the faculty is an issue that needs addressing – and I count myself among them – are not well-served by starting off making unsupportable statements. Hence, my pushback.

“We?” I wonder what position you have.

The university prides itself in its diversity. Honestly I don’t see enough of it besides the students themselves. Latinos are quickly rising as the biggest slice of the U.S. population, and already are in places.

I never asked for a ““center for first generation college student latino issues,’” idk where you get that. CMEA and other diversity groups do a great job of not only helping latinos — but all students, from all backgrounds, not just based on color. YET even they lament the low number of latino professors. WHY? because the rest of the student population misses out on experiencing what the United States and everything south of the boarder is–Latino.

I only ask for more recognition and effort on Georgetowns’ part, because I only expect the best from this University. I don’t want to see it fall behind the “rankings” because it isn’t looking ahead at the future.

-avl

I think that If you want help with being a first generation college student, talk to the academic resource center, a friend, or CAPS. But I don’t think there is a good argument for hiring professors on the basis that they can relate to a small group of students. I would feel cheated, if anything other than higher the professors who they think will best 1) represent the university academically 2) teach students academic stuff.

In case you don’t think im awful enough already, I would not support a “center for first generation college student latino issues” either. None of us are all that special. And for certain, we ought to at least be equally un-special. Have a nice day. Im glad you take such interest in your community. (seriously, you seem to care, which means something)