Groups Collaborate on Jam

The "Unity Jam" benefit dance to be held tonight is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between four major undergraduate minority groups, organizers said.

The event, designed to raise money to bring human rights activist Cesar Chavez to campus, is jointly sponsored by RAZA, the Black Students Association, the Asian American Association and La Organization Estudiantil Boriqua.

Bringing Chavez here "would affect the whole minority community," said Constance I. Chang, co-president of AAA.

The event is being organized by a new group at the Phillips Brooks House Association called the Migrant Farm Workers Committee of Harvard.

Andres F. Irlando '93 and Osvaldo A. Rubio '95, chair and member, respectively, of the committee said they initiated the plan for the Unity Jam hoping to raise money for Chavez's visit and to provide the minority groups with an opportunity to work together.

Chavez, who has fought for better conditions for farm workers for more than 30 years, is slated to deliver an address titled "Reflections on Social Justice" at Harvard on April 7, Irlando said.

Coalition is Unprecendented

Leaders of the minority groups said yesterday that the creation of this type of coalition is unprecedented.

"We had discussed joining forces before, but we never really came to an agreement on what we would do until [Irlando and Rubio] took action," said Veronica Rosales '94, president of RAZA.

"Hopefully, it will be a success, and will set a precedent for the minority groups' working together in the future," Rosales said.

The dance, which will run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., will be held in the Kirkland House Dining Hall and the adjoining Junior Common Room.

Two DJ's will play salsa, merengue, house, rap, hip-hop among other selections from their varied repertoire, Chang said.