A Unique Brown Club Theater Event: “Hotel Happy”

A TIMELY, AMBITIOUS FARCE PLUS A POST-SHOW DISCUSSION WITH BROWN PROFESSOR ELENA SHIH

The Brown University Club in NY, Brown University Latino Alumni Council, and Houses on the Moon Theater Company welcome you to Hotel Happy! At this high-end erotic resort in Bogotá, Colombia, sex workers Sofi, Lulu and Candela are hiding a displaced donkey after rescuing him from an unhappy fate. When three American mercenaries visit the hotel on a special mission, the women must protect their new friend at all costs because, as they will soon discover, he is no ordinary donkey.

Sunday, February 18 at 2pm
122CC’s 2nd Floor Theater
150 1st Avenue between East 9th & 10th Streets

Tickets will only be distributed by a Brown Club representative at the theatre from 1:15pm to 1:45pm.
Please do NOT go to the box office and please arrive no later than 1:45pm.

A play about sexual tourism in Colombia and that industry’s close connection to the country’s ongoing armed conflict, Hotel Happy explores U.S.-Colombian relationships using the power of absurdity to reflect how the decimating effects of war displace us all.

Following the performance, there will be a discussion with Elena Shih, Manning Assistant Professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown. Professor Shih has done extensive work on human trafficking and labor exploitation and is the author of notable books on the subject. Shih will be joined by Dayana Tavarez ’19, Case Manager – Immigration Intervention Project for Sanctuary for Families. While at Brown, Tavarez was a Royce Fellow who worked closely with Professor Shih with a focus on sex trafficking in Mexico City.

Houses on the Moon Theater Company was founded in 2001 with a mission to dispel ignorance and isolation through the theatrical amplification of unheard voices. Through creative workshops, original performances, post-show conversations, and accessible ticketing, Houses on the Moon unites communities through the public sharing of untold stories.

Elena Shih is Manning Assistant Professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown University, where she directs a human trafficking research cluster through the Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice. Shih is the author of two books: Manufacturing Freedom: Trafficking Rescue, Rehabilitation, and the Slave Free Good (University of California Press), and White Supremacy, Colonialism, and the Racism of Anti-Trafficking (Routledge). Her research and teaching centers sex worker and migrant worker perspectives to understand how white supremacy and white saviorism underwrite the global anti-trafficking movement. Shih serves on the editorial boards for The Anti-Trafficking Review, a peer-reviewed journal of the Global Alliance to Combat Traffic in Women, Gender and Society, and openDemocracy’s Beyond Trafficking and Slavery op-ed platform. Recent op-eds about her research and organizing as a core collective member of Red Canary Song appear in the New York Times and Providence Journal. She earned a PhD in Sociology from UCLA, and a BA in Asian Studies from Pomona College.

Dayana Tavarez ’19 is a Senior Case Manager at the Immigration Intervention Project at Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit organization. Within her role, she engages with survivors of gender-based violence through a holistic model, providing the wraparound services outside of their legal immigration case. Ms. Tavarez engages with her work through a framework of gender and sexuality, community-based approaches, and critical humanitarianism. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Ethnic Studies from Brown University.

Susan Goodwillie (Moderator) is the Managing Director of Houses on the Moon Theater Company. She is a co-founder of SPACE on Ryder Farm (est. 2009), a nonprofit artist residency program in Brewster, New York. Susan worked for four years as a social worker at the Mental Health Project at the Urban Justice Center, supporting homeless and housing insecure New Yorkers living with mental health concerns. She then moved to Nairobi, Kenya, to build the capacity of Flone Initiative, a Kenyan NGO working to create safer public spaces for women and girls in African cities. Susan believes in weaving together her two skillsets – theater and social work – to build sustainable organizations, support teams in their work and wellbeing and create a more just world.

2022-23 A Year In Review

We are endlessly thankful to our fantastic BULAC familia for all their efforts in fostering our growing Brown Latinx community! In 2022-2023 over 120 alumni volunteered to promote BULAC’s goals. Here’s a snapshot of some of the things they did: 

• Hosted virtual and physical events, including events to welcome the class of 2027, prospective student events, panels, social alumni events, and an event in honor of Mercedes Domenech 
• Connected 105 alumni with nearly 400 admitted students from the class of 2027 using a new platform envisioned by Sebastián Varón, BULAC’s Pre-Brown Experience Committee Chair, as part of BULAC’s developing Matriculation Campaign
• Committed to developing professional development resources for Latinx students on campus and for young alumni through upcoming events and professional seminars and panels — in partnership with the Office of Alumni Relations and the HUGS Alumni Community. 

Thank you to all the alumni who contributed their time and talents. We look forward to another year of successful community building with the support of our BULAC familia! 

Join the 2022-24 BULAC E-Board!

BULAC is looking for committed individuals to serve on the 2022-2024 board. We are a growing organization seeking to expand the efforts put forth in our mission: maximizing the Brown experience for the Latinx community, serving as a representative voice for Latinx alumni and assisting in the unification of alumni efforts to further and support the interests of Brown University.  If you are interested in having a more active voice, consider serving on BULAC’s National Board!

Why join BULAC’s Executive Board? 

• Turn your passion into action and plan the events you’ve always wanted to host
• Expand your personal and professional network (this opportunity will allow you to connect with a wide range of Brown alumni/ae). 
• Gain valuable experience working on a volunteer board. 
• Reconnect with the ever true Brown spirit by working closely with incredible, dedicated Brown alumni/ae. 
• Give back to the Brown Latinx community!

Please submit your nominations via this form by Friday, June 17, 2022 at 5pm PST. Feel free to direct any questions to president@bulac.org. 

Open Positions & Responsibilities

All positions start July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024. 

President

• Shall be the chief executive officer of BULAC and shall preside over all membership meetings of BULAC and all meetings of the Board.
• Plan and publish an agenda for each meeting of the Board.
• Direct and support all officers or agents of BULAC.
• See that all programs and activities of the organization are carried out within the limits of its resources and according to standards prescribed by the Board.
• Report periodically to the Board and membership on the management of all affairs of the organization, and be the principal liaison with Brown University.
• Appoint, upon the advice and consent of the Board, at least 3 additional Board members from the membership.
• Encourage representation and participation of all geographic regions and Latino groups.

VP of Communications

• Prepare, publish, distribute and keep the minutes of all meetings of BULAC and meetings of the Board
• Send notices of all meetings to the Board and the membership
• Maintain all official membership records and archives of BULAC
• Accept, distribute and document all proposed changes to the Constitution and Bylaws
• Represent BULAC, as directed by the Board, on other University alumni organizations affiliated with the Brown Alumni Association
• Coordinate all meetings, be they in person or otherwise
• Maintain/Manage all forms of social media, including BULAC’s website
• Perform such other duties as the President or the Board may from time to time direct.

VP of Finance & Development

• Prepare and maintain all financial records of BULAC
• Care for and, upon approval of the Board, disburse all funds of BULAC
• Prepare and include a report of the financial affairs and status of BULAC for the annual report
• Account for the receipt and disbursement of all monies of BULAC
• Monitor all expenditures according to the budgets approved by the Board
• Make fundraising a primary responsibility and be responsible for proposing for Board approval, implementing and reporting on goals and programs of fundraising for BULAC
• Prepare for approval by the Board drafts of budgets, projections and financial statements
• Perform such other duties as the President or the Board may from time to time direct.

VP of Campus Programs

• Coordinate campus events and activities encouraging networking among Latino alumni and current Brown students
• Serve as BULAC’s campus liaison by communicating with Alumni Relations, Providence-based BULAC members as well as current students
• Be responsible for determining, prioritizing and acting upon interests of Latino alumni
• Performing such other duties as the President or Board may direct from time to time.

VP of Regional Engagement

• Coordinate membership events and activities in designated regions encouraging networking among Latino alumni
• Serve as a liaison and resource for regional representatives
• Be responsible for determining, prioritizing and acting upon interests of Latino alumni
• Performing such other duties as the President or Board may direct from time to time.

Regional Representative

BULAC Reps are at the forefront of our Brown Latino Alumni community. Representatives host community building events within their regions and represent their chapter’s interests and needs at the national level. 

Our main regions are Boston, Chicago, DC, Los Angeles, & Miami, but we are open to adding new regions. Apply to be a part of our BULAC familia!

Responsibilities include:

• Planning and hosting 2 events per year 
• Participating in quarterly calls with the Executive Board
•  Maintain contact with the VP of Regional Engagement on new chapter activities

2022 BULAC Matriculation Campaign

BULAC is proud to launch its Annual Spring Matriculation Campaign to influence the number of admitted Latinx students that attend Brown and we are seeking your help to make this a reality.

Our mission is to recruit BULAC volunteers to personally welcome Latinx students to Brown, talk to them about the Latinx experience at Brown and help answer any of their, or their family’s, questions. We are searching for volunteers for our Outreach Campaign & Welcome to Brown events.

Outreach Campaign

Brown regular admission applicants will receive their acceptance letters on April 6th and volunteers will have a 3-week window to call and/or email admitted students before the matriculation deadline. All you have to do is share your Brown experience and answer any questions they might have. 

Please help us in obtaining our goal of getting 70+ volunteers to help out with this outreach campaign. This means volunteers would contact about 4-5 prospects each with conversations ranging from 10-15 minutes. 

Welcome to Brown 

We’ll be hosting a series of events in the spring and summer to help admitted students in their transition to Brown. Currently, our plans are to host panels of alumni speaking on the Latinx experience at Brown and meet and greets to welcome students. We are seeking help from alumni to help represent the variety of experiences at Brown. Additionally, we are hoping to host some of these events in Spanish for students and their families and hope those who feel comfortable speaking Spanish will volunteer. 

Whether you’re interested in one or both opportunities, sign up to volunteer here. Deadline is April 8, 2022.

Think of the impact you can make, and not only for the students you’re calling but for our Brown community as well.

Soundtrack Secrets + More

Described as “somewhere between a comforting whisper and a cogent declaration” by  The New York Times, Lauren Henderson EMBA ‘19 music resonates with listeners around the world.  

Henderson uncovers the layers of her diverse background in both English and Spanish.  Her compositions paint stories, reflecting journeys imposed through the African Diaspora that interplay Henderson’s Panamanian, Montserratian, and vast Caribbean roots with her North American upbringing.  

Jazz, Latin jazz, flamenco, R&B and soul music roots aid an exploration of culture, society, race relations, and the complexities encountered as we navigate life’s obstacles. 

Join members of the Inman Page Black Alumni Council and Brown University Latino Alumni Council on October 20, 7:30 PM ET for a fireside chat with Lauren Henderson EMBA ‘19 that will feature stories about her work and performances.

October 20, 2021

7:30 PM ET 

Register Here

We want to thank our generous BULAC familia for helping us host a very virtual year of programming.  Over 80 alumni volunteered their time and talents to our community in 2020-21.  Here is a small snapshot of the BULAC programming made possible by your support: 

• Ten events hosted, including two events welcoming the Class of 2021, two prospective student events, one panel, one fireside chat, and four social events
• Alumni helped us contact 321 admitted students from the Class of 2025 as part of our Matriculation Campaign
• Over 300 alumni joined us to celebrate the retirement of Mercedes Domenech

Thank you for continuing to give back to the Brown University Latino Alumni Community! See our archive of events here.

Our executive board has been hard at work over the last year and  looks forward to serving the BULAC community through Summer ‘22.  We are looking for volunteers to join our Nomination Committee, which seeks recommendations from our membership-at-large for candidates to fill open positions of the E-Board.  If you would like to participate or to learn more about this committee, please e-mail president@bulac.org.

Monica Muñoz Martinez ’06 was named a MacArthur Fellow for her work in bringing to light long-obscured cases of racial violence along the U.S.-Mexico border and their reverberations in the present. 

Years ago, an unlikely mentor put Carlos Lejnieks ‘00 on a new path.  Today, he’s going to bat for young people as president of a Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter and the first Latino president of Brown University’s Alumni Association. Read more on Hispanic Executive. 

Dania Matos ‘03 will ‘lead with love’ as UC Berkeley’s new Vice Chancellor of Equity & Inclusion (read here).  Read about her work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in this Skimm Her Career feature. 

We’re celebrating Suzanne M. Rivera ’91 P’22 as she is inaugurated at Macalester College as its 17th president.  Sue Rivera is the first woman and first Latina to lead the nationally recognized St. Paul liberal arts school.  Join the ceremony virtually October 9 at 10:30 AM CT to hear her remarks. 

Andrés Acebo ‘08 was compelled to succeed on behalf of his immigrant parents, but now he’s found his true calling: helping those who need him most.  Read the Hispanic Executive feature here.

Bernadette Aulestia ’94, P’23 is among the founders of a new coalition of food industry veterans, startup founders, investors and influencers seeking to increase funding and opportunities for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.  The New American Table honors the intersection of food & culture & celebrating the new American palate & the next generation of iconic food brands.  Learn more here. 

Share news and connect with friends on the BULAC Facebook Group. 

A Year In Review

We want to thank our generous BULAC familia for helping us host a very virtual year of programming. Over 80 alumni volunteered their time and talents to our community in 2020-21. Here is a small snapshot of the BULAC programming made possible due to your support:

• Ten events including two events welcoming the Class of 2021, two prospective student events, one panel, one fireside chat, and four social events
• Alumni helped contact 321 admitted students from the Class of 2025 as part of our Matriculation Campaign
• Over 300 alumni joined us to celebrate the retirement of Mercedes Domenech.

Thank you for continuing to give back to the Brown University Latino Alumni Community!

2020-21 Archive

• A Conversation with Moises Zamora ’00
• Celebrating the Legacy of Mercedes Domenech
• Voto Latinx

Thank You To Our Volunteers

Thank you to all the alumni who contributed their time and talents.

Agueda Hernandez ‘92 MD’96
Alexalee Gonzalez ’23
Alexandra Ocampo ‘06
Alfie Zarate ’05
Alfredo Freyre ’93
Andrea Giese ’99
Andrea Martinez ’14
Ashley Leiva ’20
Aurea Hernandez – Webster ’88
Besenia Rodriguez ‘00
Bianca Camacho ’16
Carlos Lejnieks ‘00
Carmen Rodriguez ’83
César Garcia Hernandez ’02
Christian Martell ’10
Christina Tapia ’99
Cristina McQuistion ’86
Cynthia Saenz ’93
Dania Matos ‘03
Daniela Serna ’15
David Gutierrez ’19
Dr. Angela X. Ocampo ’10
Dr. Tony Affigne ’76, AM ’91, PhD ’92
Edith Moreno ’07
Gabi Gonzalez ’20, MD ’25, MPH ’25
Gabriel Reyes ’18
Gabriela Raffucci ’11
Geno Rodriguez ’00
Giovanna Cavallo ’94
Guillermo de los Santos EMBA ‘20
Ivon Rodriguez ’00, EMBA ’16
Jennifer Welch ’92
Jerry Maldonado ’96
Jimmy Richmond ’22
Joanne Sharma ’03
Joe Rosales ’14
Jonathon Acosta ’11, AM ’16, AM ’16, PhD ’23
Jordi Torres ’10
Jose Estabil ‘84 ScM ‘88
Juan Nunez-Martinez ’03
Juanita Ortiz ’95
Julia Sepulveda Avalos ’20
Julieta Cardenas ’14
Keben Perez ’15
Kim Davila ’20
Laura Muñoz ’20
Leora Johnson ’01
Leticia Flores DeWilde ’94
Louis Trujillo ’09
Lourdes Blanco ’91
Luis Campillo ’04
Manuel Avalos ’19, MPA ’20
Manuel Contreras ’16
Marco Martinez ’08
Maria Gomez ’18, MAT ’19
Maria Paredes ’17
Mariachi de Brown
Marianna McMurdock ’19
Marlin Gutierrez ’19
Mezcla
Mia Hegazy ’11
Michael Hoffman ’15
Miguel Alecio ’13
Miguel Palomares ’08
Mimi Velazquez ’06
Miriam Gonzales ’87
Moisés Zamora ’00
Nicole Tully ’97
Nina Cruz ’08
Omar Perez ’05
Rachaell Diaz ’19
Robert Arellano ’91 AB, ’94 MFA
Rosario Castruita ’94
Samuel Torres ’15
Silvina Hernandez ’17
Sophia Hernandez ’20
Suzanne Rivera ’91 P’22
Vicky Rivera ’93
Vivian Garcia ’10
William Acevedo ‘88
William Rivera ’91

Welcome New Graduates + Brown Announcements & Opportunities

Congratulations Class of 2021 and welcome to your Brown University Latino Alumni Council (BULAC). Bienvenidos a la familia!

Regardless of your current location or where you hope to be in a few months, you will be a part of an extensive network of Latinx alumni who are here to greet you and welcome you into an atmosphere of connections, networks, and non-stop reminiscing. BULAC aids in keeping, creating and fostering those relationships that are started at Brown amongst the Latinx familia. 

Whether you are navigating a job search or looking for new friends in a new city, we are here to help. Connect with BULAC by joining our FB group here or reach out to the BULAC E-Board at programs@bulac.org for individualized support. 

The Brown Center for Students of Color is pleased to announce that after a national search, they have appointed Vincent T. Harris, PhD, as associate dean and director of the Brown Center for Students of Color (BCSC). With a decade of experience in higher education, Dr. Harris has been an unwavering advocate and effective champion for all students of color at predominately and historically White public and private institutions.  

Dr. Harris will oversee the BCSC by providing leadership, strategic planning, and establishing and pursuing priorities that are mission driven. He will supervise and mentor the BCSC’s professional and student staff and direct resource allocation to accomplish strategic objectives.  This important work includes budget management, fundraising, program development and implementation, assessment, and staff growth and development. He will develop and lead strategic partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders on and off campus to bolster the work and mission of the center. Key to this work will be his ability to develop programs and initiatives that building meaningful connections between all students (undergraduate, graduate and medical school students) and faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. In this role, he will work closely with the assistant vice president for Campus Life engagement to develop short and long terms goals, and develop the mission, vision, and goals for the BCSC. As a leader in the broader Brown and local community, he will help lead the division’s and institution’s efforts related to advancing the success of students of color specifically and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts generally. In accepting this position, Dr. Harris offered the following, “I am grateful, humbled, and ready to serve as leadership for the Brown Center for Students of Color (originally known as the Third World Center) as we continue to honor the nearly 50-year legacy of Brown boldly supporting undergraduate, graduate and medical school students of color.  It has been a professional goal of mine to amplify my passion of community inclusivity among race and ethnicity for all students of color, and I am very excited to join Brown in cultivating a sense of belonging not only for our students of color but also for Black men in America like myself.”  

Read the full announcement here.

The Class Leadership nomination process for class years endn in 0 and 5 is open now. A diversity of perspectives matter in shaping the engagement experience of your class and we encourage you to nominate yourself or fellow alumni for a class leadership position. 

Check out what leadership positions are open for your class and submit your nominations by May 25th.

Interested in mentoring and guiding current Brown students? Please see the following information about the Women’s Launch Pad Mentoring program and the CareerLAB’s Alumni Connections program.

Brown Women’s Launch Pad

The Women’s Launch Pad is starting a new mentoring cycle and actively recruiting alumnae mentors for the 2022 academic year. If you are an alumna (Class of 2017+) who would enjoy the mentoring experience and could be a resource for a senior or junior class woman (Class of 2022 & 2023), please visit our website to learn more about the program and complete the mentoring form.   Applications for this program will be accepted until June 30.

If you have questions about the program please contact Johanna Hussey, Assistant Director, Engagement Programs- Alumni Relations Department (johanna_Hussey@brown.edu)

CareerLAB Alumni Connections Program

Join us this summer for a new program to reimagine the way students connect with alumni.   Utilizing the virtual space, we are piloting an alumni connections program aimed at helping students secure important alumni connections during the summer months. Our hope is that these connections will have a great impact on their “life after Brown” planning, as well as expand their personal network.  Brown students need you to share professional insight, advice, and expertise. 

This pilot program will be a hybrid of both small group and one-on-one mentoring over the course of five weeks. We are asking you to dedicate 7-10 hours throughout the months of June and July to provide support and guidance to a dedicated group of students during small group mentorship meetings, and individual meetings.  In addition, all volunteers will participate in a speed networking event and interact with all students in the alumni connections program.

If interested in mentoring students over the summer, please fill out the BCSI Alumni Connections registration form by May 26, 2021.  Here is a pdf outlining the new program and our volunteer expectations.  We are available to answer any questions and hope you will join us in connecting with students this summer.

If you have questions about the program please contact Aixa Kidd, Deputy Director of CareerLAB (Aixa_Kidd@brown.edu)

Newsletter: Call for Volunteers & Spring Updates

Call for Volunteers – Matriculation Campaign 

BULAC is proud to launch its Annual Spring Matriculation Campaign to influence the number of admitted Latinx students that attend Brown and we are seeking your help to make this a reality.

Our mission is to recruit BULAC volunteers to personally welcome Latinx students to Brown, talk to them about the Latinx experience at Brown and help answer any of their, or their family’s, questions. We are searching for volunteers for the following:

Outreach Campaign

Brown regular admission applicants will receive their acceptance letters on April 6th and volunteers will have a 3-week window to call and/or email admitted students before the matriculation deadline. All you have to do is share your Brown experience and answer any questions they might have. 

Please help us in obtaining our goal of getting 70+ volunteers to help out with this outreach campaign. This means volunteers would contact about 4-5 prospects each with conversations ranging from 10-15 minutes. 

Welcome to Brown 

We’ll be hosting a series of events in the spring and summer to help admitted students in their transition to Brown. Currently, our plans are to host panels of alumni speaking on the Latinx experience at Brown and meet and greets to welcome students. We are seeking help from alumni to help represent the variety of experiences at Brown. Additionally, we are hoping to host some of these events in Spanish for students and their families and hope those who feel comfortable speaking Spanish will volunteer. 

Whether you’re interested in one or both opportunities, sign up to volunteer here. Think of the impact you can make, and not only for the students you’re calling but for our Brown community as well.

Share a summer internship or research opportunity with a Brown student today. Posting a summer opportunity through BrownConnect is easy, just click here. 

Hiring summer interns is a great way to give back to Brown while adding talent to your team! Students are looking for high-quality work experiences in a wide array of fields.

Your opportunity will help Brown students explore and develop future career plans for life after Brown. Thank you for helping to connect our future alumni to real-world opportunities.

Join us in our Alumni Virtual Happy Hour event for a fun hour of connecting with friends old and new! This will be a casual event – feel free to bring your beverage of choice and sport your favorite Brown gear. We hope to see you on April 16th at 7pm EST.

Register here. We can’t wait to see you!

9.8% of Brown’s student body is Latinx, reflecting barely half of the country’s 18%. Why is this?

One major cause is the persistence of standardized testing requirements.

Requiring SAT/ACT scores put Latinx students at an unfair disadvantage: controlling for all other factors, Latinx students do worse on standardized tests than their white peers, despite these tests having no predictive value of college success (sources at bottom). When colleges go SAT-optional, they see a major rise in the number of Latinx students.

Brown’s Afro-Latinx Alliance, Latinas@Brown, and Students for Educational Equity undergraduate groups are campaigning for Brown to go permanently SAT-optional. You can find our written endorsements here. 

Alumni, we need your help to make this happen. Sign at tinyurl.com/AlumniForEquity to call for an SAT-optional Brown!

We want to thank everyone who joined us to celebrate Mercedes Domenech’s decades of dedication to expanding diversity in Brown University’s student body and her significant contributions to Latinx students! To watch a recording of the event, please visit our website. 

Thank you to those who have joined us in contributing to the Mercedes Domenech Brown University Latino Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship Fund. Your donations will have a significant impact in meeting the financial needs of Brown University’s Latinx students while bolstering the University’s commitment to ensuring a diverse Brown community.

The Mercedes Domenech Brown University Latino Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship Fund provides critical financial support for exceptional Latinx students, allowing them to thrive and experience all that Brown’s distinctive educational experience has to offer. Click here to learn more.

Don’t forget to join our Facebook group to connect with old and new friends! Share what you’re up to or maybe some pictures from your archives.

Message on Behalf of Brown’s Afro-Latinx Alliance, Latinas@Brown, and the Students for Educational Equity

9.8% of Brown’s student body is Latinx, reflecting barely half of the country’s 18%. Why is this?

One major cause is the persistence of standardized testing requirements.

Requiring SAT/ACT scores puts Latinx students at an unfair disadvantage: controlling for all other factors, Latinx students do worse on standardized tests than their white peers, despite these tests having no predictive value of college success (sources at bottom). When colleges go SAT-optional, they see a major rise in the number of Latinx students.

Brown’s Afro-Latinx Alliance, Latinas@Brown, and Students for Educational Equity undergraduate groups are campaigning for Brown to go permanently SAT-optional. Below, you’ll see their written endorsements. 

Alumni, we need your help to make this happen. Sign at tinyurl.com/AlumniForEquity to call for an SAT-optional Brown!

Statement from Latinas@Brown:

The SAT/ACTs have long misrepresented what BIPOC students are capable of, hurt their access to various opportunities, and unfairly barred them from a Brown education. Latinas@Brown believes that Brown must do more to ensure equitable and fair access for all students, regardless of their backgrounds. In keeping with this mission, we are joining the call for Brown to go test-optional.

Although Brown outwardly portrays itself as being an inclusive environment, it was created and continues to exist within a settler-colonialist state. There is still a lot of work required for us to meaningfully shift the foundation – to not just include, but to center, BIPOC students. Making standardized tests optional is only one of the first steps forward.

Statement from the Afro-Latinx Alliance:

The Afro-Latinx Alliance supports and endorses the demand to go SAT-optional. The SAT/ACTs unfairly bar Black and Latinx students from Brown’s campus, and a decision to return to using them would be inexcusable.

In line with our mission of ensuring equity in access for all BIPOC students, the Afro-Latinx Alliance joins the call to go SAT-optional at Brown. With years of research showing that standardized testing discriminates against and disadvantages BIPOC applicants, there is no justifiable reason for Brown to reimplement a broken system. 

Standardized testing has been consistently shown to exacerbate racial inequalities and deny access to BIPOC students, despite having no predictive value of college success. Their existence is inherently unfair and harmful toward numerically underrepresented students. The Afro-Latinx Alliance adds their voice to the call for implementing SAT-optional policies at Brown. 

The Afro-Latinx Alliance believes that Brown should be an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming space for all, as the institution claims to be.  The decision to use SAT/ACTs in our admissions, which blatantly discriminates against BIPOC students, stand in direct contradiction of this goal. Consequently, we’re demanding that Brown go SAT-optional. 

The SATs and ACTs magnify and reinforce existing admission inequities. As part of their commitment to recruiting a diverse pool of applicants, the Afro-Latinx Alliance calls on Brown to go permanently SAT-optional. 

The SAT/ACTs consistently and falsely produce results that suggest BIPOC students are less deserving than their White peers. Brown’s SAT/ACT-required policy needlessly perpetuates inequity and injustice. The Afro-Latinx Alliance joins the call to go SAT-optional at Brown. 

To Learn More:

• See our letter to alumni here 
• See our opinion piece in the Brown Daily Herald here
• See Students for Educational Equity’s infographics on the topic here

RECORDING – A Conversation with Moises Zamora ’00