Signe Cluiss: How did you get involved with (League of United Latin American Citizens)?
Raymond Ruiz: I experienced a lot of stuff growing up, so you got to get involved in the community.
Cluiss: What are the goals of LULAC?
Ruiz: To advance the economic opportunities, political advancement, that type of thing, for the Hispanic community.
Cluiss: Are you an officer in the organization?
Ruiz: Yeah, vice president.
Cluiss: How long have you been on campus?
Ruiz: About a year.
Cluiss: What are you doing to increase your visibility on campus?
Ruiz: In the past we haven’t, but we’re going to be tabling at (Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall) every Thursday.
Cluiss: Are you going to be giving out food?
Ruiz: No, we’ll probably be giving out ice cubes. It’s so hot, it’s not even funny.
Cluiss: Does LULAC have a Web site?
Ruiz: We have a MySpace and we’re on Facebook.
Cluiss: Did you experience any water damage to your home or car from the hurricane?
Ruiz: The hurricane?
Cluiss: (laughs) I mean, tropical storm.
Ruiz: Tropical Storm Edouard? No.
Cluiss: What did you think of the spelling of Edouard?
Ruiz: I was confused. Everybody kept saying Eduardo at first, and I was like, I don’t think it’s Eduardo.
Cluiss: It’s like everyone assumed they had some type of dyslexia.
Ruiz: Yeah, and don’t they use ethnic names now? Because before they didn’t, and now they try to use Jose and names like that.
Cluiss: So are you going to run a business (with your major)?
Ruiz: No, I’m going to go to grad school (to study) educational leadership – open up my own school.
Cluiss: Are you going to stay in Houston?
Ruiz: You got to. Probably somewhere in the East end.
Cluiss: Are you from here?
Ruiz: No, I’m from Corpus Christi…. Most people up here know Corpus, because they’re like, ‘Oh Selena.’
Cluiss: Have you been to the Selena memorial?
Ruiz: No, I left right before that happened.
Cluiss: There’s a life-sized Selena. She was pretty hot.
Ruiz: I saw Jennifer Lopez in the movie.
Cluiss: Wait, so who do you think was hotter, Jennifer Lopez in the movie or Selena?
Ruiz: Jennifer Lopez. Uh-oh, now no one is going to come to the meetings.
