While joggers’ shoes or bike tires are usually bouncing off the crimson bricks of Red Square, the black rubber tires on rows of low-rider cars, trucks, SUVs and bicycles will soon replace them.
Western’s El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.) chapter, an Associated Students group dedicated to advancing the educational and social justice issues of the Latino community, will be hosting its eighth annual low-rider show on from noon to 5 p.m. May 18 in Red Square and surrounding areas on campus.
Western junior Gloria Delgadillo, a M.E.Ch.A. officer and volunteer for this year’s show, said in order to keep the competitions fair, a participant must choose between the car-hopping competition or the other judging events. In addition to the competitions, taco trucks, live entertainment, a dunk tank, a jalapeño eating contest, a watermelon eating contest, pie eating contest and a dance contest will also be part of the show. Each AS group will also have the option of setting up an information booth at the show.
The growing popularity of the show has attracted participants from California to British Columbia, Delgadillo said. She said she personally looks forward to the event every year, not only because it’s fun but also because it serves as a way of showing the low-rider community in a positive light.
“The low-rider show is to break the stereotype of low-riders being affiliated with gangs and violence,” Delgadillo said. “It is also a time to share some of the Chicano culture with the community.”
Maribel Galvan, one of the show’s co-coordinators, said an important function of the show is to make the Latino community comfortable expressing their culture on campus in a positive way. Because of the size of the show, Galvan said High Street will be closed to traffic on the day of the show. The show is projected to have at least 100 vehicles, up from 90 last year, Galvan said.
Western junior and show co-chairman Laura Bohorquez said while this year’s show should be the one of biggest and best for M.E.Ch.A., it didn’t come without its challenges.
One of the challenges in organizing this year’s show has been the publicity, Bohorquez said. Because the logo for the show was submitted late to the printing company, it delayed the distribution of the flyers, Bohorquez said. The flyers are distributed to various Whatcom and Skagit County business locations.
Bohorquez said another major challenge has been funding for the event. Western junior Abraham Rodriguez, the budget coordinator for M.E.Ch.A., said one particular challenge has been separating out expenses since money from the AS can’t be used to pay for certain items such as food.
Because money from the AS and entry fees didn't cover all of the expenses, MeCha also relies on donations and sponsorship to make up for the rest of the money needed, Rodriguez said. Since M.E.Ch.A. had to raise money for the regional conference hosted at Western winter quarter, it is difficult to ask virtually the same sponsors for even more money, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the net proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Latino Achievement Scholarship endowment, which helps well-qualified Latino students meet their financial needs for college.
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