Camila Vallejo

A Home Away From Home: The Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center

By Camila Vallejo | Magazine Writing | May 11, 2019

The University of Connecticut has founded six different cultural center in hopes of aiding minority students through resources, emotional support and more. Take a look at the importance of belonging and the role it plays in the success of Latinx students enrolled in a predominately white institution.

Caesar Valentin (left) and Valeria Popolizio have been attending the Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center for over three years. They now hold leaderships role within the center that once welcomed them with open arms their freshmen year. Photo credits: Camila Vallejo

The Heart of Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund

By Camila Vallejo | Magazine Writing| April 16, 2019

Meet Nilda Rivera, a direct service worker using education as her primary tool to dismantle injustices towards women.

Nilda Rivera is one of CWELF’s ‘fierce feminists’ devoting her time to make sure women across the state are legally well-advised. Photo Credits: Camila Vallejo

Immigrant Students are Left in Fear after 2016 Election

Camila Vallejo | Newswriting 1 | November, 2016

As a group of immigrant students, many of them undocumented, anxiously waited for the results of the 2016 election, they hoped their worst nightmare would remain just that — a nightmare. Unfortunately, their worst fear became a reality and Donald Trump became the president-elect for the 2016 Election, leaving many of them in a place of uncertainty.

Immigrant students along other student leaders join to protest the election of Donald Trump and make demands of the university to ensure safety on campus. Photo by: Camila Vallejo

What is behind UConn’s high number of reported sexual assaults?

By Camila Vallejo | Online Journalism | December 12, 2017

Across college campuses in the United States, gender-based violence becomes more of a national problem each year. See what’s behind the University of Connecticut’s high number of reported sexual assaults and what student organizations and the administration is doing to combat it.

Planned Parenthood: Its Impact on College Students

By Camila Vallejo | News Writing 2 | February 27, 2017

Now more than ever Planned Parenthood (PP) has become a politics hot button issue due to the services certain locations offer. Planned Parenthood has received threats of being defunded and shut down, however a lot of people don’t realize how crucial PP can be in their community. See how helpful the Planned Parenthood of Willimantic, Connecticut, has been to college students and exactly what it would mean if the location lost funds.

Entrance of Planned Parenthood in Willimantic, CT may seem plain, but inside awaits doctors ready to help with out judgement. Photo by: Camila Vallejo

Photo Gallery: Vanessa Villar, Latinx Leader,Using the First Amendment to Make a Difference on Campus

Camila Vallejo | Online Journalism | October 3, 2017

Vanessa Villar, 21, is a senior communications major from Hartford, CT., at the University of Connecticut. Villar is the Latinx Student Leadership Council Coordinator for the Puerto Rican Latin American Culture Center. Her main mission on campus as a Latinx leader is to make sure the voices of students, especially those in PRLACC, are heard. Click on any photo to scroll through my photo gallery and learn more about her.

As someone who identifies with a minority group on campus, Villar feels it’s necessary that students are provided with the encouragement and space to embrace their right to freedom of speech. According to Villar, she feels the university has created an environment where she feels comfortable speaking to administrators, the university’s Board of Trustees, and in other occasions where she wants to express her views. Photo by: Camila Vallejo

“Most minorities are used to not having their voices heard, so generally expressing their views is hard for them. As the coordinator, I want to be someone more relatable and approachable for these students to discuss their issues at the university,” said Villar. Photo by: Camila Vallejo

Specifically through the Latinx Student Leadership Council, Villar provides workshops and programs for student leaders within PRLACC that will enhance both their leadership and communication skills. Villar believes that by providing these resources to students, they can feel more comfortable in voicing their concerns on campus. Photo by: Camila Vallejo

“Although we want students to express their opinions, hate speech is definitely an issue on this campus because a lot of people feel they can target whoever they want and say whatever they want in a very rude and nasty way,” said Villar. “The university then doesn’t do enough to handle that negative aspect of freedom of speech.” Photo by: Camila Vallejo

For students that want to voice their opinions, Villar suggests the Undergraduate Student Government as a good beginning. When she was involved with USG as the Multicultural and Diversity Senator in previous years, she witnessed that the organization was effective in trying to fix issue students expressed to them. However, Villar would suggest that USG seek issues on campus, as oppose to waiting for students to come to them. Photo by: Camila Vallejo