Alejandro Vázquez to speak on campus

Spanish Business Association brings editor to discuss Latinos in Wisconsin media

By: Breann Schossow

Posted: 2/25/08

Juan Carlos Chaves, Spanish professor and advisor to the Spanish Business Association, described newspaper and magazine editor Alejandro Vázquez as a strong influence in the Hispanic community.

"Along with his daughter, (Vázquez) decided to unify the Hispanic community and public in general by organizing and pulling together a Hispanic newspaper and Hispanic magazine," Chaves said.

Vázquez is editor of Noticias, a newspaper, and En Caliente, a magazine, and will give an hour-long presentation at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the President's Room in Davies.

Vázquez was a reporter in Mexico, and worked with newspapers, television, radio, governmental office communication and information agencies, and has worked in media for more than 20 years.

This will be the first time Vázquez will give a presentation in Eau Claire and said he's very excited about it.

"It's a great opportunity. I can explain what we do in Wisconsin and how it's important," Vázquez said.

The SBA brings native or bilingual speakers to Eau Claire once a month during the semester, usually at the end of the month. These presentations bring students and the community together in a type of conference where they share the Spanish language and learn from each other, Chaves said.

"The main goal (of the SBA) is to serve as a bridge between UW-Eau Claire and the community," he added.

Chaves said speakers come from a variety of fields. In the past there have been medical doctors, car dealers, artists and teachers, among others. Also, the speaker must give their presentation completely in Spanish. It is good for the students to hear Spanish from a person outside of the academic environment, he said.
Vice President of the SBA, senior Jaime Daley, thinks these presentations are good for everyone, whether they are students in level 100 or are 100 percent fluent in Spanish.

Chaves' students are required to attend SBA presentations, take notes, write a report and present it to him - all in Spanish.

"They are so happy to do that; it is not an activity in class, it is an extracurricular activity where, right there, they can test Spanish from the classroom in the real world," Chaves said.

Although it was a struggle to find presenters when the organization was formed in 2005, it isn't difficult now, Chaves said.

"I think, right now, because of publicity we made in and out of state, we are receiving a lot of offers," he said.

Daley said many potential presenters have contacted the SBA lately and like coming here because of the audience.

"I think speakers like it because they can talk to a young, professional crowd," she said.

The association supports Chaves, who has many connections, when he finds someone, Daley said, adding they always try to find a worthwhile speaker.

"We really try hard to make our speaker an asset to students," Daley said.

When Chaves receives offers from potential presenters, he looks at the topic they would present.

"When I see it is a topic that will benefit students and the community, that's the person who gets the offer," he said.

"I thought that Mr. Vázquez will bring a very important message about the face of the Latinos in Wisconsin."