Faculty and students had made several attempts to change the standing of the Chicano Studies Program from an interdisciplinary program to a department, and the program had even expanded its offerings to include a minor in 1992. However, as the sharp cuts to budgets throughout the 1980s took a toll and Chancellor Charles E. Young maintained his decision and did not grant the program departmental status.
Following two years of discussions and on the eve of Cesar Chavez's funeral, on April 28, 1993, students set in motion a sit-in demonstration by the Conscious Students of Color group. Around 200 students walked across the UCLA campus to the Faculty Center to protest the decision. After the Los Angeles Police Department and UC Police Department officers appeared in riot gear a clash ensued and 99 students were arrested. UCLA pressed charges against the students for vandalizing the UCLA Faculty Center.
Several students and one UCLA professor made the decision to protest the UCLA administration's action by fasting, setting up outside Murphy Hall. They received support from state legislators including Tom Hayden, Art Torres and Xavier Becerra. The hunger strikers were: Juan Arturo Diaz Lopez, Marcos Aguilar, Balvina Collazo, Maria M. Lara, Arturo Paztel Mireles Resendi, Cindi Montanez, Joaquin Manual Ochoa and Professor Jorge R. Mancillas. The photo to the left is of students who participated and is from the La Opinion Newspaper Records, which are held by the Chicano Studies Research Center.