Hispanic students are speaking out and making a place for themselves in the minds of University of Kansas administrators.

Last night nine students in the Hispanic American Leadership Organization hosted four University officials in the Collegiate Leadership and Development Program. The United States Hispanic Leadership Institute designed the program to get Hispanic students and University officials to discuss issues that affect Hispanics on campus. Paul Mason, assistant dean of the business school, Shanda Hayden, academic adviser, Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, and Cindy Derritt, University registrar, attended the meeting.

The program is designed to take place in three-hour sessions during the course of seven weeks. Andrea Pantoja, president of HALO, wants to turn this program into a class.

“I hope we brought some ideas,” Pantoja, Mission junior, said. “I was thinking a one-credit-hour class that would be beneficial for the leadership minor.”

One of the major issues discussed during the meeting was the growing number of bilingual students or students who have only Spanish-speaking parents. Roney spoke of the need for bilingual employees and publications and she mentioned the use of offering Spanish-language courses for employees as more Hispanic students enroll at the University.

The students also asked Derritt about a bill that would allow undocumented students access to in-state tuition. She said the registrar’s office wanted those students to be comfortable applying for in-state tuition without fearing their records being subpoenaed by the Immigration and Naturalization Services.

Other HALO chapters have had success with the CLDP program. Naureen Kazi, former president of the HALO chapter at Kansas State University, said once the administration saw that they took the program seriously, the Hispanic community on campus was able to make a difference, because the university’s administration would ask it for advice on what to do on Hispanic recruitment.

“Because of the program, some changes have happened through our members,” Kazi said. “You don’t see as drastic change that quickly.”

In order to participate in the program students must sign a contract stating you will show up for six of the seven programs. Students must also be enrolled full-time at the University and a registered voter.