¡El Alacrán REVIVE! In 1971, when the Association of Mexican American Students (AMAS) started communicating with its audience, El Alacrán newsletter was typed up, printed, and read across the UTA campus. Today, CMAS proudly revives El Alacrán Newsletter to share community and campus news, academic updates, and achievements.
Origins: The founder of AMAS and student of UT Arlington, Richard Gonzáles, conceived the newsletter’s bold name. Stemming from Chicano and Mexican American roots, it is a way to say, “We are here, we are proud, we are powerful, and we are here on our native land of America!” El alacrán (the scorpion in English) symbolizes resilience and toughness. It resonates with themes of strength, survival, protection, and vigilance – for its sting is both a defense and a warning, and the scorpion survives in challenging environments.
Some of the original AMAS newsletters are archived in the UTA Library Special Collections on the 6th floor of the Central Library for you to view. If you want to submit information for El Alacrán Newsletter, please email cmas@uta.edu.
CMAS Archives
Issue 1: May 2025 Botello Garden