The Latinx Community Affairs student organization, formerly a University-sponsored organization, will hold their annual Latinx graduation ceremony after reaching its fundraising goal, the organization announced in an Instagram post Tuesday.
The University announced they would no longer sponsor cultural graduation ceremonies, including the Latinx Graduation Ceremony, in January, in order to comply with Senate Bill 17. Texas Exes later said they would sponsor the events on a drop-in basis, meaning participants would not walk a stage as in previous years.
“The passage of SB 17 and subsequent shutdown of the (Multicultural Engagement Center) was a devastating blow to our organization and its beloved programming,” the organization said in an Instagram post. “Over the past semester, we’ve had to get creative to ensure our survival as an organization and hosts of Latinx Grad.”
The funds for the ceremony come from The League of United Latin American Citizens, Austin City Council and a GoFundMe created on Feb. 2, according to the post. The GoFundMe raised nearly $4,000 of the organization’s $8,000 goal.
Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said the League covered a majority of the ceremony’s cost after leaders in The Latinx Community Affairs organization reached out.
“We’re providing additional support,” Proaño said.“We’re helping them with anything that they really need.”
According to the post, the ceremony will be separate from Celebración, the reception hosted by Texas Exes. Registered students will be able to walk across a stage and receive a free graduation cord at the May 9 event, which will be held at the Austin Independent School District Performing Arts Center. Participants are limited to three guests due to the venue’s reduced capacity.
Proaño said the League has been tracking other DEI-related issues across the nation.
“These are Latino students that just want to celebrate who they are and their culture, (and) values and they have clearly gone to school, they’ve paid for their school, they have done very well for themselves and for their families to get to the point that they can actually graduate,” Proaño said. “Now (the school is) essentially saying ‘We’re not recognizing the student body because of a policy decision that’s been made by the governor.’”
The University declined to comment.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the acronym for LULAC. The Texan regrets this error.
