SUNY New Paltz and Identity Politics

Who would have thought that the in-house style guide at the State University of New York, New Paltz, would be cutting-edge when it comes to Chicano/a onomastics; I quote:

Chicano, Hispanic, Latino, Mexican American These terms, which should be capitalized, have distinct meanings that depend, to a large extent, on the interpretations and preferences of individuals. According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, a Chicano is an American of Mexican descent; however, persons of Central and South American heritage may also consider themselves Chicanos. Chicana is the feminine form of Chicano. Plural forms are Chicanos and Chicanas. A Latino (feminine form: Latina) is a person of Latin American lineage; according to Webster's New Collegiate, Latin America consists of all the territories in the Americas south of the United States, but some Mexicans may prefer to call themselves Chicanos or Hispanics rather than Latinos. Plural forms are Latinos and Latinas. The term "Hispanic," according to Webster's New Collegiate, relates to the people, speech or culture of Spain, Portugal or Latin America. The plural form is Hispanics. A Mexican American is a native-born or naturalized American of Mexican heritage. Since Mexican American is a proper noun, do not hyphenate it, even when used as an adjective: A collection of Mexican American historical artifacts.

Not bad. Not bad at all. Any suggested edits? Leave a comment!