Activist Dolores Huerta speaks about controversial issues such as LGBTQ
rights and gender equality during her Compton Lecture thursday evening.
Huerta is renowned for her work as an adovate and supporter of social justice.
SAM CARAVANA/THE DEPAUW
After Professor Brett O’Bannan gave a warm welcome to Dolores Huerta, she stepped up to the podium and asked for a step stool so she could see the audience better before beginning her lecture. The speech that followed tackled a gamut of social justice issues.
“They say you grow here a little at DePauw,” said Huerta.
Huerta is greatly celebrated and recognized as a major figure within the Latina Community in the U.S. She is also a two time United States Presidential Award Recipient. She is responsible for co-founding the United Farm Workers (UFW) with Cesar Chavez and was an activist during the American Civil Rights Movement.
“I really liked how she wasn’t afraid to address controversial issues in a really frank way,” said sophomore Lois Miller. “I thought she was really inspiring.”
Huerta has been an advocate for social justice, women’s rights, reproductive freedom and LBGT civil rights. She continues working to develop community leaders to advocate for the working poor, immigrants, women and youth.
“I really appreciated her view on feminism because she made it clear that even if you are a man you can still be a feminist because really all it is, is that you belief in the equality of the sexes,” said sophomore Ellen Tinder.
The first Russell J. Compton lecture series occurred in the fall of 2011. Karen Koning Abu Zayd presented the first Johnson-Write Lecture in conflict studies to honor Russell J. Compton.
In order to remember the legacy of Compton, the Conflict Studies Department intends to develop a dialogue on campus promoting Compton’s principles of justice and equality.
Compton was a religions and philosophy professor at DePauw from 1951 to 1974. He stayed an active member of the DePauw community until he passed in 2007.
Huerta thanked the Compton Lecture Series as well as the faculty and students for DePauw’s wonderful hospitality even though Indiana’s cold weather did not agree with her voice.
“I think this is [DePauw] a little oasis in the Midwest to improve political climate in the U.S,” said Huerta.
Huerta asked questions and asked the audience to participate in several chants. Huerta not only talked about her experiences but addressed a lot of recent social justice issues and concerns in the U.S. These subjects of discussion included women’s rights, education, illegal immigration and LGBTQ rights.
“I thought she was very personable and brought together a lot of points that are important on this campus and that will help educate all of our peers,” said junior Jessica Keister.
Not only did Huerta use her whit to relate to the audience, but she also used humor to appropriately address sensitive social issues. She brought up the importance of education by acknowledging the active faculty and staff. While speaking about education, Huerta shared her opinion about the need to educate students about ethnic and women’s studies before attending undergraduate school.
Huerta took a moment during her lecture to congratulate the recent activism that has taken place on DePauw’s campus.
“I appreciate the fact that Dolores understands and acknowledges the multi-faceted issues in our national and global context,” said junior Michael Chavez. “She gave us perspectives and examples that helped me understand that these issues are not only interconnected but are happening in real life.”
