By Adriana Rodriguez & Veronica Huerta, First-Generation Latinx Undergraduates
El Centro, also known formally as El Centro Arnulfo Casillas, has acted as a glue for Latinx students since its establishment in the late 1960s. This sacred place has comforted and cultivated generations of scholars, but through this process has also faced trials and tribulations. Below is a timeline delineating the journey of resilience and compassion that both El Centro and its students have embarked on together.
October 1969
IMAGE CREDITS: El Plan de Santa Bárbara/October 1969
The publication of El Plan de Santa Bárbara by the Chicano Coordinating Council on Higher Education was the direct result of the meeting between professors and students at the Francisco Torres Residential Hall in April 1969. This plan outlines the implementation of Chicano Studies programs throughout California as well as a community space for Chican@ students to be made available on campus. The goals of this plan were to make higher education more accessible and less alienating to Chican@ students.
[Logan, Jim. (April 12, 2018). A Legacy of Community, Pride. THE CURRENT. RETRIEVED FROM https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2018/018900/legacy-community-pride]
Fall 1970
IMAGE CREDITS: Roger Hagie and Steve Riede/EL GAUCHO/October 15, 1968
The establishment of the Chicana/o Studies department stemmed from the North Hall building occupation in 1978 and the El Plan de Santa Bárbara Conference in 1969. The El Centro building housed the first Chicana/o Studies department in the entire University of California system, providing a community space for students.
[RETRIEVED FROM https://www.chicst.ucsb.edu/]
Autumn of 1975
Building 406 was named after Arnulfo Casillos, (1948-1992), a professor and activist. His legacy was used as a testimony of resilience and kindness that was utilized as a center for the intentions and regards for El Centro for Latinx students.
[RETRIEVED FROM https://www.chicst.ucsb.edu/]
August 7, 2013
IMAGE CREDITS: Gloria Campos/Daily Nexus/August 07, 2013
El Centro becomes a target of bigotry by being vandalized with the phrase “Deportation = Justice; Deport Illegals NOW,” on its entrance doors. This blatant attack impacts undocumented students and resource such as UCSB I.D.E.A.S that is affiliated with El Centro alike.
[Staff Report. (August 7, 2013). Vandalism Attacks Undocumented UCSB Students. THE DAILY NEXUS. RETRIEVED FROM https://dailynexus.com/2013-08-07/vandalism-attacks-undocumeneted -ucsb-students/]
May 23, 2016
IMAGE CREDITS: Nicholas Bogel Burroughs/Daily Nexus/May 23, 2016
Student Advocacy group, VOCEROS, met with UCSB Administration with a list of more than 30 demands made for the retention and well-being of Latinx students. The meeting was held in El Centro and emphasized the importance and maintenance of El Centro.
[Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas.(August 7, 2013). UCSB Open to Latino Students’ Demands. THE DAILY NEXUS. RETRIEVED FROM https://dailynexus.com/2016-05-23/ucsb-open-to-latino-students -demands/]
January 13, 2017
IMAGE CREDITS: Jose Arturo-Ochoa/Daily Nexus/January 13, 2017
Negligence From UCSB Administrators in the upkeep of El Centro resulted in students and organizations needing to evacuate the building in 45 days. Students came to a consensus that El Centro was integral enough to their college experience that it was “worth getting hurt over.”
[Yelimeli, Supriya . (January 13, 2017). Students Told to Evacuate El Centro Annex Before Possible Demolition. THE DAILY NEXUS. RETRIEVED FROM https://dailynexus.com/2017-01-13/students-told-to-evacuate-el-centro-annex-before-possible-demolition/]
2019
El Centro implemented the idea of a community garden that is located in Lower Westside Santa Barbara, and the Somos Semillas Food Sovereignty Project was established. This was an effort to cultivate community and sovereignty in regard to food education. [RETRIEVED FROM https://sites.google.com/view/elcentrosb/somos-semillas-garden?authuser=0]