Spring Break
Hispanic rights reach students by unlikely advocate
Student activist Shawn Tallant advocates rights for Latinos
Tony Ponce
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Peaceful warrior Shawn Tallant is a role model for activism targeting immigration issues: on campus and in Santa Barbara.
Dressed like a hippie, he gathers with a group of peers at City College's Friendship Plaza to discuss an extensive agenda as part of his multiple activities. A bandana around his forehead permits his long hair to bounce with the wind.
Tallant moved to Santa Barbara from Boise, Idaho five years ago. Since then, he has been involved in several community and college groups, has empowered other students, and has enabled them to use leadership skills and organize their ideas to fight for human rights.
But before settling down in this paradise-like town, he traveled throughout the world, acquiring a sense of migrant life.
"I was born and raised in Boise, but I learned how to live, work, and travel after I left," said Tallant. "I know what it feels like to be an immigrant."
Tallant traveled to Costa Rica to study abroad and learn Spanish, and ended up staying there for over a year.
He continued on his journey and studied in Spain. As a foreigner, he saw racism, and suffered from lack of economic sustainability, but he was always helped by others.
"In Costa Rica I had my adopted family to show me the ropes, which is where I learned to cook," said Tallant. "In Spain I was another undocumented traveler struggling to make a home; it was the immigrant community that helped me get by and opened my eyes to how big the world is."
Tallant returned to the United States, and chose Santa Barbara to continue his college education. He realized the privileges he enjoyed in California were often unavailable to immigrants, and gained a strong desire to help them. He wants minorities to enjoy the same rights he enjoys.
"I don't know Shawn personally but I seen him involved in our Hispanic activities most of the time," said Carla Prieto, a City College student. "He must really love our community, because I don't even have time to join any school club."
He joined many activist groups on campus, like Mecha, Student Labor Action Project (SLAP), and some community groups such as Shape of Voice and PUEBLO, then delegated himself the assignment of helping Hispanic students.
Tallant has obtained a lot of admiration not only from the Hispanic community but also from co-workers and friends.
"I truly admire him. He is a role model for all of us," said EOPS tutor Linda Miller, who calls herself an activist as well.
"I've also joined Shawn several times on the pro-immigrant rallies he has organized." Miller, who was part of a May 2006 rally, remembers seeing Tallant hanging out by a tree downtown to wait for students to join the rally.
"He is involved in numerous activities on and off campus," said Miller, "I will say he is a community group activist who knows how to deal with political issues on campus."
As Latino and Chicano issues become more relevant every day, Tallant has become a political activist along with other students.
"I really admire Shawn's dedication with our immigration issues," said EOPS club president, Neftaly Aguilera, "He stands for our community; he is more involved than many other people in our community."
Tallant is unimpressed by the lack of interest that students have about immigration issues. He feels the burning look of many non-immigrant students for his support on immigration issues.
"I have gone into arguments with college senate members because of my support to immigrant issues," Tallant said, "But I will never stop this empathy for the immigrant's rights."
Tallant has determined that his life's mission is to use his leadership skills to help the immigrant community and to persuade others to do likewise.
"I'm trying to give other club members as well as students some of my experience," Tallant said, "so they can organize more effectively and make a positive change."
With a peace sign engraved on his heart for the immigrants, Tallant says he will never stop fighting this immigration war.
Dressed like a hippie, he gathers with a group of peers at City College's Friendship Plaza to discuss an extensive agenda as part of his multiple activities. A bandana around his forehead permits his long hair to bounce with the wind.
Tallant moved to Santa Barbara from Boise, Idaho five years ago. Since then, he has been involved in several community and college groups, has empowered other students, and has enabled them to use leadership skills and organize their ideas to fight for human rights.
But before settling down in this paradise-like town, he traveled throughout the world, acquiring a sense of migrant life.
"I was born and raised in Boise, but I learned how to live, work, and travel after I left," said Tallant. "I know what it feels like to be an immigrant."
Tallant traveled to Costa Rica to study abroad and learn Spanish, and ended up staying there for over a year.
He continued on his journey and studied in Spain. As a foreigner, he saw racism, and suffered from lack of economic sustainability, but he was always helped by others.
"In Costa Rica I had my adopted family to show me the ropes, which is where I learned to cook," said Tallant. "In Spain I was another undocumented traveler struggling to make a home; it was the immigrant community that helped me get by and opened my eyes to how big the world is."
Tallant returned to the United States, and chose Santa Barbara to continue his college education. He realized the privileges he enjoyed in California were often unavailable to immigrants, and gained a strong desire to help them. He wants minorities to enjoy the same rights he enjoys.
"I don't know Shawn personally but I seen him involved in our Hispanic activities most of the time," said Carla Prieto, a City College student. "He must really love our community, because I don't even have time to join any school club."
He joined many activist groups on campus, like Mecha, Student Labor Action Project (SLAP), and some community groups such as Shape of Voice and PUEBLO, then delegated himself the assignment of helping Hispanic students.
Tallant has obtained a lot of admiration not only from the Hispanic community but also from co-workers and friends.
"I truly admire him. He is a role model for all of us," said EOPS tutor Linda Miller, who calls herself an activist as well.
"I've also joined Shawn several times on the pro-immigrant rallies he has organized." Miller, who was part of a May 2006 rally, remembers seeing Tallant hanging out by a tree downtown to wait for students to join the rally.
"He is involved in numerous activities on and off campus," said Miller, "I will say he is a community group activist who knows how to deal with political issues on campus."
As Latino and Chicano issues become more relevant every day, Tallant has become a political activist along with other students.
"I really admire Shawn's dedication with our immigration issues," said EOPS club president, Neftaly Aguilera, "He stands for our community; he is more involved than many other people in our community."
Tallant is unimpressed by the lack of interest that students have about immigration issues. He feels the burning look of many non-immigrant students for his support on immigration issues.
"I have gone into arguments with college senate members because of my support to immigrant issues," Tallant said, "But I will never stop this empathy for the immigrant's rights."
Tallant has determined that his life's mission is to use his leadership skills to help the immigrant community and to persuade others to do likewise.
"I'm trying to give other club members as well as students some of my experience," Tallant said, "so they can organize more effectively and make a positive change."
With a peace sign engraved on his heart for the immigrants, Tallant says he will never stop fighting this immigration war.
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