Agustin Garcia, the national chairman of the Lambda Theta Phi Foundation, will speak on campus Saturday about civil rights, immigrant rights and the emergence of a Latin society in America.
The speech follows the cancellation by the UW Police Department of a Lambda Theta Phi event scheduled for Sept. 15. UWPD officials cancelled due to safety concerns.
Lambda Theta Phi representatives alleged the cancellation was due to racial profiling and have requested an apology from the university.
However, Garcia said this should not have a major effect on the topics of his speech.
I do not want my presentation that was about the original request to be just geared on the incident, so I have a program to address civil rights and immigration rights in a general concept.""
He said the cancellation of the event has had an effect on both him and the campus.
""I think the concerns I was going to speak about have now been microcosmed to [the UW-Madison] campus specifically,"" Garcia said when asked if his speech is now more important.
He said he has set aside time to talk about the alleged racial profiling with individuals on campus.
""I have already scheduled a meeting on Friday with student leaders to talk about the specific incident and then I will be having a meeting with some campus dignitaries.""
John Gutierrez, the president of the UW-Madison colony of Lambda Theta Phi, expects Garcia's speech to be relevant to students and hopes it will helps create change around campus.
""He is going to be talking about a topic that affects a lot of cultures'¦we are all excited to hear what he has to say,"" Gutierrez said. ""He had a great impact on me and he will do the same for this campus.""
Gutierrez said he was unable to comment on the fraternity's alleged profiling
incident.
Andrew Diaz, vice president of the UW Multicultural Greek Council, expressed a need for more diversity and acceptance on the university campus.
Garcia said one of the goals of his speech is to illustrate how students can learn from the differences of others.
""The great part of a true American society is diversity,"" he said.
Garcia's speech is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Ingraham Hall Saturday, Sept. 29.
