Thread: Hispanic counseling group loses federal aid

http://www.asuwebdevil.com/issues/2006/ ... ews/697358

Hispanic counseling group loses federal aid
Department of Education announced funding cut earlier this month
by Natalie Hayes
published on Monday, August 28, 2006
A national group that provides counseling for low-income Hispanic students lost the federal funding needed to operate their education centers.

The Department of Education announced early this month that the League of United Latin American Citizens' applications for grants failed to qualify for funding and they would not receive the $3.4 million they requested.

The organization had plans to open centers in eight cities this fall, including one in Phoenix, but the cut resulted in a change of plans.

LULAC will no longer be able to open the new centers because two-thirds of their budget came from federal funding in the past, said Matthew Looney, national development coordinator for LULAC centers.

LULAC, a Latino civil rights organization, is the largest and oldest of its kind in the U.S. and assists Hispanic students with college admissions, academic counseling, computer literacy and GED outreach programs, according to information the group released.

Most of the existing counseling centers would stay open but only keep one employee on staff, Looney said.

There are currently LULAC education centers in 17 cities across the U.S., including Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Denver.

If the cut in funding eventually forces the existing centers to close, more than 12,500 students could be left without the centers' educational services, Looney said.

LULAC National President Rosa Rosales said in a statement the decision to cut funding was unfair and the organization had plans to challenge the decision.

LULAC officials have asked the Latino community to contact lawmakers and voice their concerns.

"Our community is outraged and we must work with … Congress to find a solution to this situation," Rosales said in a statement.

Department of Education officials were unable to be reached for comment.


Reach the reporter at natalie.i.hayes@asu.edu.

"Our community is outraged and we must work with … Congress to find a solution to this situation," Rosales said in a statement.

Well Rosa guess what, OUR ENTIRE NATION IS OUTRAGED WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION!

You don't deserve tax payer money to further teach hispanic cultures. This is America!!! If you want our money, then you are going to teach these kids how to be AMERICANS. If they don't want to be Americans, they can go home.

Boo-hoo...hoo..hooo...waaaaaaaaaaa....I want my money......waaaaaaaa