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Thursdav April 11, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Standing up to closed minds: Student leader works to encourage cultural awareness
By Michael Christie
Kansan staff writer
Liz Mendez's voice shakes when she is really serious about something.
"Don't think I'm crying. My voice just gets like this," she tells Student Senate.
"When I was selected as chairperson, I told everyone that I would help them with their
Mendez has addressed Senate many times in the past year as the Minority Affairs Committee chairperson. She said she had vowed to join the party and have a new role, an officer, in student government.
That vow has included sponsoring bills that have brought minority speakers and artists to the University of Kansas. Unfortunately the president has not spoken in front of Senate. The pressure is on.
But she speaks anyway. Standing 5 feet 1 inch, she often looks nervous or intimidated when she speaks, but she thinks that she has to make her point clear.
As a committee chairperson, Mendez has to report to Senate about her committee. That is easy, she said.
That's my job.
But speaking about something she feels strongly about, something she feels emotional about, makes her nervous.
For example, last semester during Hispanic Heritage Month, Mendez was angry at Senate members because she thought they had not shown their support for the month's activities because they had not attended many of them.
"I wanted them to know that it's not enough to give money to something," she
Speaking in front of the entire body at which she was angry was not easy, she said.
"Sometimes, you have to overcome your nervousness. What you have to say is more important than what you say."
important that he coexists with her.
After her speech, some people came to tell
her she was right, she said. Not all, but some,
and that was encouraging.
"I feel that I've been so fortunate in my life, that the Lord has blessed me so much. It is important to help other people, because I realize how lucky I've been." Mendez said.
That encouragement has been a part of Mender's growing up and learning about life.
Community ties
Her fortunate life includes coming from a loving family, she said. Her family has long-standing ties to the community. Three of her grandparents were born in the Kansas City area.
Her parents have been married for 23 years. Her father, a Catholic, and her mother, a Southern Baptist, have made Mendez realize that people with religious differences can live together and love each other.
Mendez has taken that idea a step further and argued that people with obvious differences can live together, not just tolerate each other, and grow from new experiences.
"That's what going to college is supposed to do. It's supposed to open your mind," she said. "And in some cases, it's supposed to seduce you, but it doesn't happen to everyone."
Prejudice and bigotry exasperate Mendez
listens to what people say with a sensitiv-
ity.
"That's sexist," she scolds a friend when he uses the word 'babe.' "That's so sexist."
Sometimes, pointing out sexist remarks is difficult, she said. Such as when her father says jokingly that women belong in the kitchen.
"It makes me angry, because I know that he isn't sexist, but sometimes he doesn't understand how remarks like that can be upsetting. I mean, there are three women in the house," she said, referring to herself, her mother and her sister.
"I try to make people more sensitive," she said.
Mendez said that her father had become more sensitive with his speech since she began mentioning the subject.
"He comes from the old school." she said. And if her father can become more sensitive, coming from the old school, Mendez thinks that younger people can, too.
Discouraging discrimination
Mendez has a theory about why people say things that are discriminatory. It goes something like: People try to generalize in order to say things succinctly.
"We're lazy when we talk. We want to say things as short as possible," she said.
Mendez tries to make her friends and other students she knows more careful about what is going on.
She lets them know that what they are saying might be hurtful or offensive to a group of people.
Liz Mendez, chairperson of the Student Senate Minority Affairs Committee.
"It's not going to help me out, and it's not going to help that person to confront them in a challenging way," she said. "I can at least tell them more sensitive to what they're saying."
Pointing out that what people say is discriminatory does not always work. Sometimes people, for whatever reason, are prejudiced, she said.
"I feel kind of sorry for those people," she said. "They're closing themselves off to so many different people. It's a sad thing. It's bad that we can't change someone's mind."
Growing in awareness
As a member of Hispanic American Leadership Organization, Mendez has learned a lot about other cultures and diverse groups, she said.
"I've learned so much, not just from HALO, but just from being in the hallway, next to GLSOK or Black Student Union," she said.
The Organizations and Activities Center has offices for student organizations, and HALO, BSU and Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas have offices there, as does Hillel, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic and Student Senate.
Louis Lopez, HALO president, said Mendel's involvement in both Senate and HALO
was helpful to organizations that normally might not be involved in Senate.
There is an improved dialogue between Senate and minority groups, he said.
"I think she and the committee have done a good job," Lopez said.
Mendez plans to complete a bachelor's degree in political science in December. She wants to go to law school but is not sure whether her grades are good enough.
"I look at it this way. If it's meant for me to go to law school, or if it isn't, I won't go." "Why are you saying it? It was me."
If she cannot get into law school, Mendez
probably will go into public administration "I'll definitely go to graduate school" she said.
She feels a sense of community and wants to be involved in a community wherever she is.
Mendez said her desire to be involved in a community came from her family. Her father is a city administrator in Kansas City, Kan.
"I remember from childhood always going to public events, always feeling involved. I remember my grandfather taking me to these things, too."
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