History

On April of 1995, in an effort to increase participation of students of Mexicano/Chicano/Latino background in the Oregon State University campus, leaders from M.E.Ch.A (Chicano Student Movement), the Hispanic Student Union, student senators, and individual students invited Vice President Roy Arnold and Provost for Academic Affairs, John Dunn to meet and acknowledge the progress and problems related with OSU’s promotion of cultural and racial sensitivity, as well as the provision of assistance and support to ethnic students in particular those of Mexicano/Chicano/Latino background.

The meeting resulted in a proposal to have a pilot project during the winter term of 1996.  The long-term objective of this project is the establishment of a service program at OSU capable to educate the community about Oregon’s Mexicano/Chicano/Latino population.  Committed students ran the pilot program in a voluntary basis at the beginning.  Now the pilot program has become KALMEKAK Community Outreach program.