Harvard RAZA, the student organization dedicated to increasing awareness of Latino and Chicano cultures, hosted last weekend's 1999 East Coast Chicano Student Forum (ECCSF) fall conference attended by students from a number of universities and colleges.

The conference's theme was "Origins and Aspirations: The Past, Present and Future of Chicano Civil Rights and Political Activism."

According to RAZA President Monica M. Ramirez '01, this conference was the first of four that will take place this year under the auspices of the ECCSF, the parent organization of Harvard RAZA as well as groups at more than a dozen other schools.

Activities began last Friday in Loker Commons and included a speech by Rodolfo F. Acuna, a well-known professor of Chicano studies at Cal State Northridge.

The conference also included a talent show, followed by dancing, which ran until 1 a.m.

Saturday marked the start of the gathering's main attractions, a variety of seminars on Latino and Chicano society and culture.

The morning session focused on the role of Latinos and Chicanos in current politics and consisted of two seminars entitled "Latino Rights" and "Census 2000."

The afternoon session was dedicated to Latino and Chicano artistic expression.