October 2, 2010—Latino/a youth from Woodburn, Independence, and Salem attended the Pre-Game Presidential Party as recent guests of the University of Oregon. The Juventud FACETA came to see the Oregon Ducks play football—and to network. Lynn Stephen, UO professor and director of the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies, represented CLLAS and the Americas.
Patricia Cortez, representing the Amigos Multicultural Services Center and Juventud FACETA, said: “It was great meeting University of Oregon president Richard Lariviere and listening to him encourage youth in their desire to enter the UO. This was important for the youth, feeling welcome and having the chance to talk to Mr. Lariviere about their educational goals personally. Mr. Lariviere was relaxed, attentive, cordial and interested in listening to what the youth had to share. Some of us learned about football for the first time and had not attended a game before.”