Families first for Latinos

Former Penn Nursing professor Antonia Villarruel still recalls a phone conversation with the parents of a student she was trying to recruit for a graduate program. "The first words out of the mother's mouth were, 'You're not going to take my baby away from me, are you?'" Villarruel said. This mother was no anomaly. Strong family ties emerged as one of the strongest concerns of Latino students in the Nursing School and throughout the University at a panel discussion sponsored by the school yesterday. About 25 students, faculty members and staff turned out for the latest discussion in a monthly series addressing cultural diversity within the school. Sitting on the panel were Counseling and Psychological Services psychologist Marilia Marien and La Casa Latina Director Anamaria Cobo. Marien discussed findings from a 1999 study on the specific needs of Latino students at Penn and the University's sensitivity to them. Aside from family commitments, the biggest concern among those surveyed was financial aid. Marien suggested that increasing the aid available to Latino students would springboard both recruitment and retention efforts. Cobo agreed, stating that "they are interested in the field of nursing, but to be honest, it comes down to finance." The panel featured Villarruel, who currently conducts research at the University of Michigan on risk factors for HIV among Mexican youth. During her time at Penn, Villarruel became renowned for bringing students to Oaxaca, Mexico, to study diverse health systems and serving as a student advocate. At the discussion, Villarruel outlined the history of Latin American immigration to the United States and the barriers to education -- especially nursing education -- that have resulted. "There is a real love-hate relationship going on between all of Latin America and the U.S.," she said. Villarruel, who has served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, also noted that a greater proportion of Latino nurses are male than for any other ethnic group -- a fact that was surprising to the all-female audience. Another issue that the panelists raised as a weakness in the University and a concern to students was the paucity of Latino faculty and staff members. "The question was put to them, 'What would have to happen for you to come to the University for support?'" Marien said. "'Seeing someone who looks like me, someone who speaks my language'" was the common reply. Marien explained that she sees many students at CAPS who have difficulty adjusting to the campus culture and being away from their families -- which, she said, "is why it is so important to create family here."