Indiana University Latino Cultural Center records

Administrative History

In 1971 the Indiana Daily Student published a call for assistance in forming an office that would address the needs of a growing Latino student body. In 1973, after two years of development, the Indiana University administration appointed Horatio Lewis to fill the dual role of assistant dean in the University Division and director of the newly created Office of Latino Affairs (OLA). In November of 1973, Lewis helped to establish the Latino Cultural Center, affectionately known as La Casa, in a house at 410 South Park Street. However, in 1976 La Casa relocated to a larger and more conveniently situated house at 715 East 7th Street, across from the Student Union building. School of Education graduate student, Jorge Wehby, was hired as the first director of La Casa.

By 1977, La Casa had settled into its new location, and Latino students felt it was time to take another step to develop a thriving Latino community at Indiana University. Alianza Latina del Medioeste de America (ALMA), the leading Latino student organization on campus at the time, began lobbying the administration to hire a Latino recruiter and establish a fulltime Latino deanship. As a result of their efforts, Guadalupe Solis was hired for the 1979-1980 school year as the first Latino recruiter at Indiana University and a new fulltime dean, Dr. Hector-Neri Casteñeda, was hired effective August 15, 1978. As part of Dr. Casteñeda duties he oversaw the Office of Latino Affairs and the Latino Cultural Center. In the 1980-1981 academic year, Dr. Casteñeda approved the funding for a major improvement project designed by graduate student Georgia Burgueño. She had La Casa renovated to create a new lounge, T.V. room, library, and tutoring center. Burgueño also worked to establish a Counseling and Academic Advising Program from 1980 until 1986, when she then became the Coordinator for Latino Services for the Office of Latino Affairs.

In 1981, Dean Hector-Neri Casteñeda received an unfavorable administrative review and many complaints from students for failing to be a strong advocate for the Latino community. Casteñeda took a leave of absence and later resigned from his position. Alberto Torchinsky, professor of mathematics, stepped in as acting dean and was later hired for the permanent position. Under Torchinsky's leadership, La Casa was expanded into an umbrella organization for a growing number of Latino student groups. La Casa provided faculty advisors, a meeting place, funding, and full use of the office equipment for clerical activities.

In 1992, Lilian Casillas, a graduate student who served as the Program Assistant to the Office of Latino Affairs, assumed the responsibility of overseeing La Casa. Lillian Casillas held the position from 1992-1998 and returned to La Casa in 2000 to accept the newly created position of director. Under the direction of Casillas, La Casa continued to flourish. As La Casa's presence grew on campus, the general student body became more aware of diversity issues. Yet, at the same time, a climate of racial tension was also burgeoning on campus.

Growing concern led Kenneth R.R. Gros-Louis, Chancellor of Indiana University, Bloomington, to reevaluate minority advocacy programs again in March of 1998. The plan was released on October 1, 1998 and it called for the strengthening of minority advocacy through the consolidation of individual advocacy offices into a unified Office of Multicultural Affairs. This led to the hiring of former OLA Coordinator for Latino Services, Georgia Burgueño, as Latino Advocate in the new Office of Multicultural Affairs, which opened on January 1, 1999. Now, the Office of Multicultural Affairs is referred to as the Office of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs for the better part of the last 20 years. Currently, the Latino Cultural Center, La Casa, serves as an advocacy office and program under the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs. La Casa enhances the connection between the students, community, and faculty and staff at Indiana University. La Casa provides programming, support, and opportunities to foster a sense of belonging and pride for the Latino students, while also assisting in their academic, leadership, professional, and social development. Open on a year-round bases, the building includes lounge areas, reading, study, and meeting rooms, a recreation room, offices, and a library. The Current Director of the Latino Cultural Center, La Casa, is Lillian Casillas.