Cesar Chavez Plaque at USC

Photo Credit: Monica C.

A plaque that USC students had placed on campus in order to commemorate Cesar Chavez's multiple visits to campus and also to recognize his contribution to the Latino community in general. 

Cesar Chavez visited the University of Southern California in 1982, 1986, and 1989. His various visits have been commemorated on a plaque in front of the Annenberg School of Communication with Taper Hall of the Humanities to the north. On the plaque there is a quote that states, “The end of all education should surely be service to others”. The plaque was dedicated in March 1998. Chavez has also been commemorated in a mural located in the conference room of El Centro Chicano at the University of Southern California. The mural depicts the evolution of the migrant farm worker into a college educated individual. Cesar Chavez looks out over the scene with approval and happiness in his eyes. 

Cesar Chavez was one of two founders of the United Farm Workers union. He was born in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927. Cesar lived a very difficult life as a farm worker having lived through terrible and unsafe working conditions as well as receiving very low wages. As a child, Cesar was not able to excel in school because of his inability to speak English. Cesar believed that his lack of education prevented him from leaving his poor conditions behind. Thus, education became an important issue to Chavez. This passion for education resulted in multiple visits to various prestigious college campuses, including the University of Southern California. As one of the most influential men throughout the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 70s, it is important that he chose to visit institutions of higher learning. Chavez was able to inspire college students decades after the zenith of the Chicano movement.

This is not to say that the plaque easily won its place on campus. The university was in a battle with the Latino students on campus. La Raza Political Action Committee was formed in 1993 after the death of Cesar Chavez. This group of students wanted to rename the park in front of Annenberg after the deceased political activist. They argued that while the university had taken steps to increase the Latino student population on campus, there was a severe lack of Latino representation within the faculty. While the students were unsuccessful, they were able to commemorate Chavez by dedicating a plaque in his honor.

The current Latino population at USC is 13.9% which is a rather low percentage given the number of Latinos living in California. The University does not provide access to statistics about the ethnic makeup of faculty on campus. While Latinos remain a minority on campus, the presence of the Cesar Chavez memorial plaque and the mural in El Centro Chicano serve as a reminder of the struggle for equality for all current and future Trojans.

Submitted by: Ale C., Monica C., Fabian S. 

Sources:

 “History. ” El Centro Chicano. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. < http://sait.usc.edu/elcentro/about/history.aspx>.

“The Story of Cesar Chavez: The Beginning.” United Farm Workers History. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ufw.org/_page.php?menu=research&inc=history/07.html>.

Doherty, Jake. “USC: Students Want Park Renamed for Chavez.” Los Angeles Times October 10, 1993. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. http://articles.latimes.com/1993-10-10/news/ci-44390_1_usc-student>.

“Facts and Figures.” University of Southern California: About USC. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. http://about.usc.edu/facts/>.