Rojo prioritizes, assists production
Campus Times
March 19, 1999
Senior psychology and Spanish major Alejandra Rojo, once again takes
on the position of editor of La Vernácula Magazine. The Latino
community magazine publishes poems, short stories, photography and art work
submitted by students and faculty. The work is published in both English
and Spanish. Rojo's work, which consists mainly of photography and poetry
has previously appeared in the magazine.
Strength and determination are the words that come to mind when one
tries to describe senior Alejandra Rojo.
Rojo, who likes to read and write poetry in Spanish and English, has
been the editor of the bilingual literary magazine La Vernácula
since her sophomore year.
The Spanish and psychology major, who is considering a sociology minor,
also contributed to establishing the support group for victims of rape and
sexual assault at the University.
As far as her two majors go, Rojo said, "I think that being bilingual
has its advantages and I think that the Latino community needs bilingual
psychologists."
Rojo said that a bilingual [and bicultural] psychologist is more likely
to understand a Latino patient's cultural and traditional background.
Dr. Mary Prieto-Bayard, associate professor of psychology at ULV, agreed
saying, "We need bilingual, bicultural psychologists." She said
that the waiting list for such psychologists is usually very long.
Cultural and creative expression is an important part of La Vernácula.
The magazine publishes poetry, essays and short stories in Spanish and English
twice a year.
"The magazine's purpose is to bring the Latino community on campus
together," Rojo said. "There is a large Latino population here
on campus and a lot of people have a lot to say.
"It is an open platform for them to voice their opinions, thoughts
and emotions," she said.
However, the magazine is not only for Latinos. Anyone can submit his
or her work.
"It's trying to bridge a cultural gap," Rojo said. "I
think a lot of times the language barrier and the cultural barrier cause
people to miscommunicate and not understand the other's point of view which
is where conflict starts."
Rojo said she thinks La Vernácula helps to bring down
those barriers and "bring different communities closer to a level where
they are communicating and expressing their thoughts and opinions in which
ever way they choose to go."
The magazine, which has been on campus for more than 20 years and started
as a senior project, means a lot to Rojo.
She said she more or less "stumbled upon it" through a friend
of hers. The magazine was short of staff members and, because the former
editor graduated, the editor position also needed to be filled.
Rojo took over because she felt that "it is a very important part
of the Latino community on campus. We can't just let it die out, especially
if there is a demand [for it] and obviously there was."
The staff of La Vernácula currently counts 13 members.
"We have a great staff," Rojo said"they are doing a lot
of hard work."
She said the magazine gives her a sense of accomplishment and pride.
"Pride in the sense that it's giving a voice to people who might
sometimes feel like they can't voice their opinion because they feel like
they might be censored or no one is going to listen," she said.
Rojo has not always been allowed to be proud of her culture and her
heritage.
"I grew up facing a lot of racism at a very young age," she
said. Her elementary school classmates called her racist names.
"I was sitting there thinking what's wrong with me?" she remembered.
"It was a big struggle for me to come to terms with my ethnicity
and say this is who I am and I'm proud being a Mexican and being a Latina
and going to college," she said.
Nevertheless, Rojo is glad she had to go through that experience.
"I wouldn't change anything about that," she said, "because
it's made me grow as a person and be more accepting of other people and
their differences."
However, Rojo said she still has to deal with racism on a day-to-day
basis.
"Now as an adult, I have the necessary experience to deal with
it in a productive way," she said. "I can speak out against it."
The main source of Rojo's strength she said is her family. She is the
youngest of seven siblings, a first generation American and a first generation
college student. "My family is so important to me; we've been through
a lot."
Rojo's mother, who raised her seven children by herself, is her idol.
"Her struggle, her perseverance, her determination, her strength are
what kept my entire family together."
Her mother had to hold on to different jobs and the two eldest sisters
had to raise the two youngest siblings.
"My brothers had to work," Rojo said. "They were facing
adult responsibilities in high school."
Rojo said that if it were not for her family and the sacrifices the
family members made for each other, she would not be where she is today
"as a person and as a student."
Catholic Campus Minister Elena Cardeña said she was struck by
Rojo's strength of character when she first met her.
"She's a very strong young woman," she said. "It seemed
to me that she had very clear in her mind even as a freshman, who she was
and who she wanted to be and what she was going to do here."
One of Rojo's other qualities as a person is that she likes helping
people, especially when the necessary help is not available.
She partly came up with the idea for a support group for victims of
rape and sexual assault while talking to Cardeña.
"Having shared my experience with Elena, we felt that there are
women out there who have gone through similar experiences," she said.
"But they don't come forward because of the fact that they don't
feel safe; they don't feel like they have the support."
Cardeña and Rojo agreed that there was a strong need for such
a support group at ULV.
"I know a lot of women who need a group like this but have just
never felt like they had the support to come forward," Rojo said.
Cardeña said that Rojo "is the one that has kept the hope
alive that a group like this could be formed."
