Journalist asks students to make change

Written by: Yurielle Menard/Contributing Writer

Soledad O’Brien, award-winning journalist and a CNN correspondent, said that college students are the people who will shape national issues on the Latino community.

O’Brien returned to the University a second time to discuss topics such as voting elections, education, leadership and the entertainment industry among Latinos.

“I feel that people of your age group are the ones trying to move the needle on a lot of these important issues,” said O’Brien, who kicked off her “I am Latino in America” tour at FIU on Monday, Sept. 28.

She was invited by the Biscayne Bay Campus Student Government Council earlier this year to talk about racial profiling and protests against police brutality during her “Black in America” tour.

Through her “I am Latino in America” tour, O’Brien said she wants to empower Latino Americans, especially students.

“I know that the student body is really interested and active and loves to be engaged in a conversation,” said O’Brien in an interview with FIU Student Media.

“When you do a presentation like ‘Latino in America’ tour, you really want the students to come back with questions and to be part of the conversation you’re having. For all those reasons, FIU is a great place to begin.”

O’Brien said she chose to kick off her tour at the University because of its outreach to the Latino community, its student engagement and involvement.

FIU ranks No. 9 out of 50 colleges in the nation to successfully award degrees to Hispanics, according to Best Colleges.com

Experts on the topic issues were also a part of the discussion. One of the panelists included Elizabeth Bejar, vice president for Academic Affairs, who spoke about education.

O’Brien talked about her “Latino in America” documentary, which includes interviews on families and individuals of Hispanic descent within American society.

O’Brien interviews a high school student named Cindy in her Latino in America documentary. She said Cindy was determined to graduate on time, even though she was pregnant and was 40 credits behind.

O’Brien used Cindy’s story to discuss the importance of Latinos having hope.

“Hope is sort of another word for feeling like you have an opportunity somewhere, and I think what she lacked was a sense that there was another door through which there was a lot of possibilities,” O’Brien said.

“It’s always about continuing through, and I think that’s what she needs to hear.”

She said students should engage with others and find out about their day-to-day experiences, and discuss why they are the way they are.

“I think the thing about being a good reporter is being curious and to try to understand why people are how they are and how they got that way.”

“Students of this generation have a personal connection with trending social issues in which they feel they can do something and know that they are contributing to the greater good,” said O’Brien. She said that is what makes today’s generation different from her own.

O’Brien also said that in addition to education, immigration is a big issue that is affecting the Latino community. However, she said that supporting an issue is not the only way to increase voter turnout for the Hispanic community.

“My advice to students would be: figure out what’s a change you’re interested in, get behind a candidate who is going to bring the change to the world and help that person achieve it.”

news@fiusm.com