H -°, L 7° | Tomorrow: 
H 17°, L 4°The University of Wisconsin’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztl�n, or MEChA, is currently housed on the second floor of the building adjacent to Brothers Bar and Grill and owned by UW. Uh oh.
We all know what that means. With UW’s acquisition of Brothers, plans for a music school on that space will be going full steam ahead.
A little backstory: MEChA, along with several other student orgs, had occupied the building along University Avenue for several decades free of rent. MEChA, however, is the only organization that still resides there.
See, with that space came an annual reminder that the building was slated for destruction — just in case you couldn’t figure that out by looking at the exterior. Other tenants, such as Ten Percent Society and Vets for Vets, heeded the advice of the university and with its encouragement found space in the Student Activity Center.
MEChA held fast however, turning down rent-free space in the Red Gym two years ago. Only when it became clear this semester that the UW School of Music would become a reality did MEChA apply for SAC space.
And there begins another odyssey. Originally granted 750 square feet of space in the SAC, MEChA’s space was cut to 150 squares after the reallocation process. The org now complains this is not enough room for its archives, arts and crafts programs and staff.
The space may not be ideal, but that will sometimes happen when you put off moving for a couple of years longer than you should have. Add in the fact that the university offered to help pay for storage of the archives, and it seems the administration has been acting in good faith.
Nevertheless, we can understand why MEChA is upset. The current space is tailored to its mission, and it is undoubtedly tough to move to a smaller, less versatile area.
But that’s a conversation you should have been having three years ago after you were first advised to seek SAC space. Or two years ago after you were offered Red Gym space. Or last summer after you toured the SAC.
The university has said it has been quite clear that this building would be going down soon. And if that didn’t get the message across, the massive banner the Fortney’s hung this February should have. Somewhere along the way, it seems the lines of communication got muddled.
We’d like to talk to you and figure out where, but, well, the three phone calls, one e-mail, two Facebook messages and one door knock that have gone unreturned sort of speak for themselves.
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poor planning at its finest.
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“We�d like to talk to you and figure out where, but, well, the three phone calls, one e-mail, two Facebook messages and one door knock that have gone unreturned sort of speak for themselves.”
Wow… how can they claim that all they want is “open communication” when they aren’t communicating?
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Why would anyone want to talk to the Badger Herald after you continuously write misleading articles about student of color orgs!?
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Didn’t your reporter just write an article about this? That means someone talked to them. Hell I wouldn’t talk to you either; it gets at a question I’ve been meaning to ask. Are you a student newspaper or administrator sanctioned ranters.
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If you were going to write a negative article either way I’m glad they ignored you.
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Is it true that the official national symbol of MEChA is an eagle holding a machete-like weapon and a stick of dynamite?
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Since when is the Ed Board taking stances on so many things? And must you hate on EVERYTHING?!? MEChA leadership 3 years ago screwed over the current leaders, which (to me) is not an excuse to not sympathize with them at all. Get a fucking life and maybe try doing something on campus, and not just criticizing any students who actually do things. Have you ever heard that expression about glass houses and throwing stones?
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First of all, you should have done your research a bit more carefully. MEChA has a committee that focuses on the space issue. They have been in contact with certain deans and organizations in terms of how to get what they deserve - the same footage they have now. I find it incredibly ignorant that you would publish an article that states that “three phone calls, one e-mail, two Facebook messages and one door knock that have gone unreturned” when this is false. MEChA holds office hours from 4-9pm on M-F. I suggest you “knock” during those hours - I suggest you walk in through the back door; the MEChA office welcomes everyone, there is no need to knock, just show up and a friendly face will meet you.
Also, you might want to double check the emails sent out. This space issue is becoming a region-wide MEChA problem. This means that apparently universities in cities and states surrounding Madison know more about the issues the Chican@ community on our campus faces. This speaks volumes about how much people, like those writing this article, seem to care. Maybe the case is that the Badger Herald is now choosing to do its “research” on MEChA’s space issue.
Finally, MEChA is demanding space for more than just “archives, arts and crafts programs and staff”. MEChA’s space is used as a safe space for the Chican@ community, it is a meeting space used by various organizations, it holds a library and a study area, national organizing, and regional meetings, are a few of the uses for their space.
I invite those that question the necessity of the space to a meeting - held Wednesdays at 7pm.
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“I find it incredibly ignorant that you would publish an article that states that �three phone calls, one e-mail, two Facebook messages and one door knock that have gone unreturned� when this is false.”
Tell that to Jeanette Martin, who was the subject of all of our inquiries. She’s been elected to Student Council (and so I thought she’d be responsive) and was the person the news department talked to about this for the news article. I got her on the phone last week, she told me she didn’t have time to talk and would call me back. She did not do that, I sent another facebook message, she said she’d be in contact” and never contacted me. Our Ed Board chair called again, knocked on the door of MEChA and got no answer or response.
If you still want to make your case, I’m willing to hear it because I will never say I’m right on everything and because, frankly, I am not the ed board. And I might have more to say when I receive documents from SAC Governing Board as to whether or not they seem fair.(comparing space allocation decision for a few different groups who got small, large and medium space)
But please understand — All I wanted was a few questions about the process, the red gym rejections and the SAC process answered. Over the course of a week, Martin did not help answering those questions.
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Smathers fights back via comment boards! This ed board really isn’t above anything are they?
Please recruit opinion page writers. This board publishes far too much opine for the paper’s own good.
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Smathers,
Since you seem so determined to have your questions answered, why not attend the weekly MEChA meetings held Wednesday at 7pm? Unless you feel uncomfortable talking to a large group of MEChist@s who are all knowledgeable about the Space issue and are directly insulted and more than likely pissed off about your claims and possible lack of proof.
I mean you are the one who has put so much work into contacting MEChA members especially Jeanette; who is an involved student in obviously more than one organization.
Do not feel as if I am attacking you or insulting your intelligence but rather I am just trying to give you a little bit of advice because it sounds as if you do no know the full story.
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I agree. I suggest to attend a meeting to get a better clear view of the story. Assumptions are not very professional.
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Ah, I love how this email is passive aggressive.
Now I’ll bet you a Badger Herald article that our friends at the Editorial Board go for the pass on the invite to the MEChA meeting.
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Ignorant Article.
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It appears as though the Badger Herald once again attempts to opinionate and assume the reality of the current issues within the Campus community. Based on assumptions, they accuse MEChA for being unorganized and vague and expect us as the reader to believe this as truth, honestly, common really?
Let me remind the reader the MEChA organization and its U.S. history within education both nationally and within the Madison campus community has had to base its efforts on strong organization, motivation, and commitments that directly opened up spaces on Campus for multicultualism and diversity. Truthfully the reason why most Universities have ethnic studies, in specific Chican@ Latin@ Studies, is because MEChA as a student led organization mobilized and advocated for current and enriching opportunities for all of us. For 38 years MEChA has worked along side the University to create educational, equitable, and just spaces for ALL students; we all benefit from multiculturalism and diversity right?
I suggest that before Badger Herald attempt to right about MEChA based on a 5 year historical scale, they know their history, pick up a book of U.S. history (that is not printed in Texas jajaja), or simply do a google search for the truth. With our current vast accessibility for information there is no excuse for organizations, such as the Badger Herald, whom deem themselves respectful to people and their histories, to be writing such opinionated information. Please know societies history, and the historical contributions this organization has had for the benefit of us all. To be honest this form of journalism cant be credible and truthfully The Badger Herald once again immaturely lacks the real story, the facts.
As suggest above, please make an effort to join the meetings on Wednesdays at 9pm, MEChA office, which have been meeting at this time for a very, very long time. There is an active, strong, group of Mechista/ student organizers waiting to be asked for information. All are invited to participate and contribute, the MEChA doors are always open to all students.
Please, lets take journalism seriously, stop demeaning and limiting the intelligence of the reader. Get with it Badger Herald, we dont believe you any longer, get educated!