(U-WIRE) FULLERTON, Calif. — MEChA was named Cal State Fullerton’s student organization of the year last April. The group’s name stands for “Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan,” or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan. It encourages its group members, often called “mechistos” or “mechistas,” to educate local high school students, be involved with outreach programs and to enlighten and inspire others, according to the club’s Web site.
MEChA’s motto is “unity creates strength,” or “la union hace la fuerza.”

The history of this organization is traced back to the Chicano Movement of the 1960s.

In 1969, at the National Chicano Youth Conference in Denver, Colo., the grounds for the Chicano movement were written in “El Plan de Aztlan.”

Then in April of that same year, Chicano students gathered at UC Santa Barbara and established “El Plan de Santa Barbara.”
The plan talked about higher education, one of MEChA’s key philosophies.

This was also where MEChA was established.

Chair of MEChA Armando Urquiza said that the organization takes part in an annual conference held for high school students.
“MEChA also organizes annual cultural events such as Dia de los Muertos, Indigenous People’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Cesar Chavez Day, and other events,” Urquiza said.

Because Chicano/Latino Heritage month is going on right now, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the organization has some events planned for the near future.

On Oct. 2, the organization is involved with a Hip Hop conference from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the central Quad.

They are also involved with the planning of an anti-hate rally on Wednesday, Oct. 4, in the Quad.

Every Friday, MEChA holds a meeting at 1 p.m. in MH 104 B.
Urquiza welcomed anyone to attend.

“All students are welcome to participate in MEChA,” he said.