Dear MALCista,

The MALCS Special Conference requires an assessment of our organization as a national body to bridge all aspects of our organization and especially as we work to perpetually nurture and recognize the interconnection of academic labor and social activism.

The Special Conference entails a collective conduit through which we can explore new and existing strategies of bridging letras y cambio social.

As part of that planning, PLEASE RENEW your membership.
Please download the membership form and mail to:

MALCS / ATTN: Lupe Gallegos
1404 66th Street
Berkeley, CA 94702

Siempre,
Keta Miranda
Chair

Good morning Compañeras,
It is a great honor to stand before you in this important event. I start by thanking the coordinators for all your efforts in coordinating this historic event for us. My name is Flor Crisostomo. I Zapotec from Oaxaca, Mexico and I represent La Red Xicana Indigena, a member organization of the Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas and the International Forum of Indigenous Women. I am a mother of three children who has lived apart from them since my arrival in the United States. I am an undocumented worker which has been placed on the lists of fugitives and criminals by this countries federal government. My crime is being a father and mother to my children and trying to provide a decent livelihood for them a right that is or should be entitled to all human beings.

Download complete address here

CGU prides itself on providing its graduate students with a quality and quantity of mentoring not usually found at universities that also serve undergraduates. In addition to classroom teaching, faculty are expected to spend a significant amount of time in an advisory capacity. The successful candidate for this position will be expected to do student advising on curriculum, coursework, exams, portfolios and dissertations; these areas of responsibility are as important as seminar-based teaching.

More info here

A typical teaching load would include two sections per year of a general education course taught in the specialty (e.g., ENGL 116W or 118W) or in the department’s foundations program (ENGL 201 and 202W), two sections per year of 300 and 400 level courses for the major, and either a writing course (ENGL 135W, 137W, or 242W) or a first-year seminar (IDS 101). Several courses in this rotation are likely to contribute to Willamette’s American Ethnic Studies program. For more information about the Department of English, please visit www.willamette.edu/cla/english.

More info here

Before I finished my Ph.D., I worked in the cosmetics industry for ten years as a makeup artist for Lauder Corp, which owns such prestige brands as Clinique, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown and MAC. The cosmetics industry is often a place where Chicanas and Latinas work their way through school, and I was one of them.

Knowing what I know about the industry and who works in it–and knowing that MAC, in particular, markets to women of color a makeup line that caters to their skin tones with multiple pigments–I am appalled by the lack of social awareness that spawned the Rodarte/MAC collaboration that resulted in the “Juarez-inspired” cosmetics line, with colors such as “Juarez,” “factory” and “ghost town”.

While MAC back-peddled and apologized for its “unfortunate choice of names” and promised to donate a portion of its proceeds from the cosmetics to the people of Juarez, their initial decision to go forward with it signifies the lack of awareness about violence against women that have characterized the Juarez situation for the last 10 years. It seems that the Rodarte designers and MAC have more consciousness about protecting animals from harm in testing products than they do about the human lives lost daily in the war zone that is the city of Juarez. It’s hip to personify death in cosmetic colors rather than engage a bleak and violent reality.

Let me explain. Since taking office in 2005, Mexican President Felipe Calderón has escalated the war against drug cartels, and Juarez has been a loci of retaliatory violence between federal police, the Mexican military, U.S. DEA agents, and drug cartels. The violence from the drug war has become so bad that border dwellers from Mexico have been seeking asylum on the U.S. side because their families and businesses have been threatened.

Essay continues at Ms. Magazine Blog…

As MALCS defended immigrant rights, ethnic studies and domestic partners benefits in Arizona by cancelling our 2010 Institute in league with thousands of voices for justice, at the same time we committed our organization to support the incredible efforts of our Arizona colleagues. They have continued to focus on human rights and re-tooled their work to hold a MALCS Arizona State Conference illustrating the basic ideals of MALCS of bridging letras and cambio social.

Info for the State Conference that will be held from July 22 ­ 24, 2010 in Phoenix, Az is at their website (http://malcs.newcollege.asu.edu/) provides details of the agenda and workshops.

To enhance support to our Arizona compañeras, the conference will be on webcast! Additionally, the technology will allow for questions from a national audience to the presenters through real time on email. The Court hearing on the legality of SB 1070 underscores the urgency of the moment. The technological platform provides MALCS with the connections to mobilize support.

Stephanie Mendez adds:
the link for the Arizona MALCS Institute webcast page for national participants to join in the panel sessions. The website is http://live.asu.edu/2010/07/new-college-of-interdisciplinary-arts-sciences/.

Dear Friends,

I am so very sad to report that our dear friend and colleague, Karin Duran, passed away this afternoon [June 11] as a result of complications from a stroke.

It is not possible to say in a single email the extent of Karin’s contributions. Karin began working as a Librarian here in 1972. During her 38 years with us, she had many different responsibilities. Her focus was on reference, instruction and bibliography. Karin also greatly enjoyed her responsibility for the Teacher Curriculum Center—a service to which she was devoted. Karin kindly acted as the Interim Associate Dean in 2005 and as Acting Department Chair during some of the earthquake recovery period. She loved her various responsibilities and this showed in the high quality of her work.

As a senior member of the faculty of the Library, Karin also served on many personnel committees—a duty she carried out with thoughtful consideration. She was also called upon to serve on personnel committees in other departments. She was an excellent advisor on personnel matters.

Since 1977, Karin was an instructor with Chicana and Chicano Studies and very engaged in the life of the department. She was devoted to the students who learned a great deal through her research course.

Contin Information about Karin and her personal and professional contributions can be found at: http://library.csun.edu/KarinDuran.

Karin was an active University citizen serving on a variety of committees and initiatives including the Honors Convocation, University 100, the Teacher Education Council, the Education Doctorate Advisory Board and as an advisor to the Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority among many other activities. Karin was recently inducted into Phi Beta Delta Omega for international scholars. Karin was recognized by the Faculty Senate for her exceptional service when she received the “Extraordinary Service Award” in 2006.

Karin was also very active professionally especially through REFORMA and CARL. Karin also continued to publish and present and shared her extensive knowledge and experience with her colleagues. Many were proud to call her their mentor.

Karin was very active with the community through a variety of organizations including Comision Feminil de San Fernando Valley. For her service to many organizations, she was commended by various elected officials for her efforts for many years running.

Karin was a graduate of CSUN with a major in Spanish. She went on to take her M.L.S. at USC and her Ph.D. in Library Science at USC. Karin was awarded an “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the La Raza Alumni Association and also a “Service to Society Recognition” from CSUN’s Alumni Association.

Whatever Karin undertook, she did with her whole heart. She was dedicated and professional. She was deeply committed to the students and very concerned that they would have a good life. As a colleague, she was exemplary. She was knowledgeable, smart, thoughtful and helpful. Every day of her working life with us, she made a contribution. She gave of herself generously and was always willing to be a member of the team.

On a personal note, I had the privilege of knowing Karin for 18 years. We had countless conversations across the years. Her personal dignity, her deep respect for others, her generous nature and her sincere wish for everyone to do well were the hallmarks of her character. I will miss her very much.

I know you join with me in expressing our deepest sympathies to Karin’s husband, Rick, and to all her family. Here in the Library, in Chicana and Chicano Studies, and in so many departments and areas across the campus, throughout the profession and in the community, Karin had many friends whose hearts are also hurting. May we all express our thanks to Karin for sharing her life with us. It was an honor to know her.

Rick said to me that Karin did not wish to have a service but instead a celebration and a gathering. We will keep you posted on the public arrangements here on campus. Rick also asked that, in lieu of flowers, that we give on Karin’s behalf to the Nativity Catholic School, 944 W. 56th St., Los Angeles, Ca. 90037. Attn. Sister Judy (323-752-0720.)

Thank you for forwarding this email to all who knew and loved Karin.

Susan C. Curzon

Dean, University Library

June 11, 2010

More about Karin at:

http://library.csun.edu/KarinDuran

and at facebook

UCLA will now be the second university in the world to offer a Ph.D. Program that focuses on Chicana/o Studies. The first PhD program in Chicana/o Studies was established at U.C. Santa Barbara in 2005. Michigan State University has a PhD in Chicano/Latino Studies. UCLA now joins their ranks, and will begin accepting applications in Fall 2010. We will admit our first cohort of graduate students in Fall 2011. Only students whose objective is the PhD (we will have no stand-alone MA, in other words), will be admitted. For more information about the program requirements, see our departmental webpage: http://www.chavez.ucla.edu.

Si Se Puede!
Alicia

Saturday, June 26

Breath of Fire Theater. Santa Ana, CA

This is a rare Southern California opportunity where the Bay Area poet, author and playwright, Cherríe Moraga, assisted by Adelina Anthony, to create an environment of intimate and authentic exploration of the writer’s craft and creative impulse. Writing exercises will involve a variety of writing approaches that can be applied to creative non-fiction and fiction, playwriting (especially character work), writing for performance, and poetry.

Some themes to be explored include: · The Beginner Mind. · The Mundane as Metaphor. · The (W)rite to Remember. · The Body of Desire.

Students registering for the full day’s workshop will have the opportunity to discuss with Moraga and Anthony personal and professional questions regarding developing and maintaining a writing practice, making one’s work public and more. Limited Space.

Full Day Intensive: 10am to 5pm Cost: $150.00*

Morning Workshop: 10am to 1pm Cost: $75.00*

* This workshop is being offered to help support the production of “Digging Up the Dirt,” a new play by Cherríe Moraga, produced by Breath of Fire Theater and See-what Productions.

For more information and for registration forms for the workshop, email: info@beathoffire.org; also visit: www.cherriemoraga.com

The past few weeks have been critical moments for our organization. With this letter I am hoping to provide you with both an idea of how we came to develop each of our statements and final position —to honor the targeted boycott by cancelling our national institute and to support our Arizona colleagues by holding a MALCS Arizona State Conference. Hopefully, by examining the two positions we can draw out what we need to do in the following months. By honoring the boycott, we recognize that any decision requires us to understand its impact and to find ways of putting into operation new forms of organizing and mobilizing, of finding ways of materially expressing solidarity.

Prior to the crystallization of a boycott movement, I undertook writing the first MALCS statement. Earlier in the year there was a call to boycott Arizona because of the proposed immigration bill along with other repressive measures that the state legislature would take up (March 24, 2010; http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/03/24-5). The action proposed was for nationwide economic pressure to affect businesses that contribute financially to politicians who support this discriminatory measure—targeting the Arizona Diamondback Baseball Team. At that time, the Exec was in discussion with the site committee about all aspects of the activities there. The site committee clarified that the boycott was targeted at specific companies in order to create pressure on the Arizona tourist economy. Our discussion focused on the Call for the 2010 Institute that addressed the issues before the activists of Arizona from immigration to education to other repressive legislation. In late April, the passage of SB 1070 was eminent, and the site committee with the Exec was aware of how holding our 2010 Institute in Arizona could become one more constituent part of the struggle for justice.

With the first draft of the MALCS position statement, there were calls for a boycott (see http://act.presente.org/go/shame?mid=2153-2894).

One of the leading voices for a boycott is Congressman Raúl Grijalva, D-Arizona, calling for out-of-state organizations to refrain from holding conventions and events in Arizona. But before considering a boycott, Congressmen Ed Pastor, D-Arizona, and Luis Gutiérrez, D- Illinois, stated that they wanted to see direct action from the Obama administration to block enforcement of the new law that would take effect in August. On April 21st, a large meeting at an African American church, made up of activists for immigration reform and other civil rights issues expressed the objectives of a boycott as a strategy for justice, and expressed support if such a call would become the strategy for action (http://us.oneworld.net/article/369336-latinos-blacks-join-fight-civil-rights-arizona ).

On Monday April 22nd, students took up action and blockaded the doors of the Arizona state capitol to stop the passage of the bill (youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW3jD-P7JPs ). The students called for continued action at the Arizona state capitol. At the time, when I was completing the first MALCS statement, the momentum was one in which organizers were portraying that moment as a “freedom summer.” That is, the call was to continue to demonstrate through civil disobedience. Students from Los Angeles immediately heeded the call and sent students to hold the line at the AZ state capitol. By that evening, Jan Brewer signed the bill into law. And Representative Grijalva called for an economic boycott.

And our first statement was issued. In the following days the call for a boycott of Arizona burgeoned. The discussion on holding the 20101 Institute in Arizona packed our email in-boxes. Comments from members, whichever position, reflected our passionate urgency to respond to the new law. Each and everyone looked for ways to honor and support the work of the site committee, the activists of Arizona and at the same time many volunteered to work on any aspect of mobilization and organization.

Then the Exec decided on the poll. Our reasoning was to get as much of the voice of the membership. It was not a vote, but a way for both the Exec and the site committee to get a sense of what the membership wanted. The four areas that were considered–to honor the boycott (cancel or hold outside of Arizona), or to hold the 2010 Institute (to find ways of participating with technological/virtual participation or in ways to minimize economic support to Arizona’s tourist economy) were garnered from the various emails. About 170 people responded. Overwhelmingly, the membership wanted to honor the boycott as well as hold the institute, but in an alternative site (not in Arizona).

As the poll was occurring and email discussion continued, the Exec began the process of following up and finding an alternative site for the Institute. At the same time, the call for the boycott became a targeted boycott. Additionally, there was a call for organizers and educators to mobilize support for the actions in Arizona.  This resulted in a protest of 50,000 on May 29TH. Also, during this time, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund along with other civil rights groups filed a class action lawsuit challenging SB 1070. Moreover, The Exec immediately joined with NACCS and other professional groups in a press conference to protest the passage of SB 1080 on May 19TH at the Arizona State capitol.

Both Monica Torres, Chair Elect, and I went to Arizona to attend the press conference. More than 11 state and national professional associations endorsed, and eight attended. There were three television channels present, two independent documentary makers, one radio station, and a two of Latino magazines. The press release was also published in Common Dreams and in the Chronicle of Higher Education web page.

In addition, we met with the site committee. The site committee’s estimate of events showed the variety of positions on the boycott. What became clear was that a general call for a boycott has crystallized into a “targeted boycott.” This distinction is important as we develop what we can and are able to do in the following months. What was clear to me was that there were two tendencies in reaction to SB 1070 and other legislation. On the one hand, the call for a boycott was one in which many felt that there was the need to create greater national attention to the issues before the democratic organizations of Arizona. On the other hand, the call for people to come to Arizona, that is, for those who oppose repression, came from the need to present a massive response to the SB 1070 and other bills that have and will continue to be on the state legislative agenda. Thus, the call for educators, researchers, and activists to come to Arizona will continue beyond the National Day of Protest on May 29th.

Through the meetings, with both Phoenix and Tucson members and activists, the attention to actions and activities of the youth became an important part of our discussions. Sandy Soto, Lydia Otero and other professors in Tucson joined students on the lines of protest particularly focusing on HB 2281 (which passed last week making it illegal for a school district to have any courses or classes that promote the overthrow of the U.S. government, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity “instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals”). In Phoenix, students who sat in and were arrested were involved in the MALCS site committee and bringing other mujeres to participate in the MALCS event.

The appeal from our Arizona members is that we find as many ways possible to support the MALCS Arizona State Conference–especially, since the  the Court is expected to come to a decision about the constitutionality of SB 1070 in  July. Members expressed that those organizations who are fighting for fair and just immigrant reform are preparing for either a demonstration or celebration when that court decision comes down.

As a result, the MALCSistas are organizing a state conference in a way that allows flexibility to their conference to respond. On their agenda will be the young women who are part of the Capitol Nine (the youth and students who sat in and blocked the doors of the state capitol in April) and to have Sandy Soto who with conviction and honor took up SB 1070 and stood her ground in spite of the hostile reaction of the commencement audience. The Arizona MALCSistas having been activists and participants of the peace and justice communities framed the initial 2010 MALCS Institute call with the very issues of the communities that they have worked with, and with the organizations of Arizona who have been mobilizing for justice for more than 30 years. As a result of the coalition of organizations working together, the MALCS Arizona State Conference will develop plenary sessions that will feature those organizers who are part of the movements and who will be ready to discuss with them what next steps are needed to continue to build the movement for immigration reform and to address the new phase of the cultural wars.

Earlier, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez, Illinois Democrat, said if the law is signed then President Obama must assert the primacy of federal law in this area and tell the state it cannot enforce it. As many of the immigration movement have noted, the Republican Party will not allow the discussion or passage of a national immigration reform bill—as seeing that this has been the conduct of the Republican Party to the various bills in the US legislature. This may be a strategy of the Republican Party— where states implement immigration policy that undermine the Constitution through the language of state’s rights.  If this is so, the sites of the cultural war may shift and it will require greater links between activists of different states and regions. This places upon MALCS, as a national organization, the need to find ways to promote links of interaction.

In order to support the MALCS Arizona State Conference, we are not organizing our usual Institute or any other regional conferences during July 21-24. Moreover, we are working with the Arizona MALCS members to find ways to be hooked into their State Conference. We are discussing ways in which the MALCS Arizona State Conference becomes a form for organizing and developing action as needed. Therefore, the Arizona MALCSistas are working with their tech office for streaming, skyping or webbing so that nationally MALCS is plugged in during the critical days of the court decision (anytime between July 14 to 24th)..

There are still other issues before us. Since taking the position to support the targeted boycott, it is understandable that we are in very different standing and it calls for greater flexibility.

As the Exec deliberated on an alternative site, our discussion focused on the need to develop MALCS as a national organization that can respond to issues that affect our community. Additionally, we felt that having as many members as possible attending would be important, so we considered tagging on to Society for Gloria Anzaldúa Conference from Nov. 5 – 7, 2010 since many of our members will be participating.

As a result, the Exec is calling for a MALCS Special Conference (Bridging Letras y Cambio Social) on November 8th and 9th in San Antonio (at either UTSA or Trinity University). A Special Conference would allow us to develop a discussion to address not simply bylaws, but to consider how to bridge letras and cambio social. While the agenda is not set, some of the ideas include how to enhance MALCS footing in social action as a national organization, an analysis of the immigration laws and the current situation, and to address how women are affected by SB1070-like laws.

There will be more information coming soon. I am hoping that as all of us consider the agenda before MALCS, that you will be patient with the leadership as we try to sort through these new issues before MALCS.

Again, I want to thank you for your tremendous energy, enthusiasm and efforts to keep MALCS unified and organized during these past weeks.

Siempre,
Keta Miranda
Chair