[From The Cornell Daily Sun]

By Patricio Martinez



href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa%20Clemente">Rosa Clemente M.A. ’98, the first ever female Hispanic vice presidential candidate, urged Cornell minority students to organize and revive the University’s tradition of racial activism at a lecture on Friday.

Representing the Green Party, Clemente was already well-known for her involvement with hip-hop political organizations before running for federal office. Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, she defines her career as an activist by the motto “service through leadership.” She opened her lecture at the Mews Hall lounge by recalling the particularly significant history of racial activism at the University.

“For a long time, Cornell didn’t want us here,” Clemente said, referring to racial minorities. However, things began to change after the 1969 Willard Straight Hall Takeover and the founding of the Africana Studies program the following year, Clemente said.

Continue reading Student Activism Needs Revival During Recession at The Cornell Daily Sun