The Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) had their 22^nd annual César Chávez event in the quad of California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State), on Mar. 29^th.
For this event MEChA had a food fundraiser where they were selling corn on the cob and flavored water, as well as a César Chávez art display. 
At the art display they asked students passing by to tell them anything they might know about César Chávez and what he did. If the students answered one fact, any fact, about César Chávez they would be given Mexican candy of their choice. If they did not know any facts about César Chávez then MEChA members would give them a brief history of him. 
“We do this every year to promote MEChA and tell students what César Chávez did for the community,” Dalia Gomez (senior, Sociology), treasurer of MEChA, said.
Since recent political events, MEChA members encourage students more than ever to be active and “get educated to better their lives,” according to MEChA co-chair Fernando Hernandez (junior, Liberal Studies). 
Because of all the prejudice and preconceived notions that Mexico is sending “their people with problems” and “rapists,” students like Isela Perez Garcia (freshman, Communication Studies), who is a Dreamer at Stan State, want to be more politically involved.
“Yes, we are scared but that doesn’t mean we won’t keep fighting for what we need. We aren’t criminals just because we are not from here, we are just students who are getting an education,” Garcia stressed. 
Garcia also says that “being part of MEChA helped me get informed of what is politically going on because before joining MEChA I was not politically involved. I met people just like me and seeing them almost graduate is very motivating for me.”
“MEChA is here to help Dreamers stand up for themselves,” Hernandez added. 
According to Stan State’s institutional data, half of the student population is of Hispanic or Latino. Showing that these students of Hispanic or Latino decent make up for a significant portion in the future. 
At the beginning of the year the number of members for MEChA was at approximately eight, including the board. Now the club has increased their number to 50 members. 
To those students who are contemplating on joining Garcia says, “You won’t regret it; you meet awesome people through this club and when you finally finish with an event you feel accomplished knowing you did something positive for your school.”
MEChA meets every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. in Bizzini room C102.
For more information you can see their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MechaDeStanState.