Chicano people who have lost touch with their cultural roots are now trying to establish a racial identity, said Professor Leonel Campos, of Chicago State University, who discussed concerns within the Hispanic community Tuesday at NIU.

Professor Campos, who spoke at the first of a six-part symposium on Chicano relations, opened his presentation by trying to define Chicano and its connotations. He said this was often hard to do because “we have played a big part (in history), yet what we are is lost.”

e told the audience of approximately 30 that since Hispanics have been a conquered people for so long, their old ways have been replaced and forgotten. “We have been kept in ignorance of our past,” he said.

Campos said there is a real need for Chicano identity, not only on campus but everywhere. “We are not in an identity crisis; we just have no identity at all. We must begin to define ourselves.”

Dr. Monique Le Maitre, associate professor of foreign language, also spoke. She expressed the need to increase awareness of the Chicano situation in Illinois through programs and possibly through college courses. She suggested courses on Chicano history and literature. “We have to help the creation of these programs,” she said.

The surrounding Chicano community of about 1,200 was represented by Victor Montanez, who said he agreed with most of what was said about the need for help. He also said that the National Chicano Student Movement (M.E.CH.A.) seemed to be interested in these issues.

M.E.CH.A., the organization sponsoring the symposium, is dedicated to uniting all Chicanos for common purposes, including political causes, according to M.E.CH.A. member Jorge Niezes.

The next symposium will be next Monday and will concern Chicanos in the media. The special guest speaker will be Gloria Cardenas from Channel 26 in Rockford.