With national attention focused on immigration, the University of California, Santa Barbara is organizing a variety of free, public events during the first week of May to help provide the campus and local community with information about aspects of the immigration debate.
A "working group" of faculty members and administrators has solicited ideas from professors, students, and staff members for topics and participants in these events, which will include lectures, workshops, and moderated discussions as well as films. Noting that the City of Santa Barbara has designated the first week of May as a period of "reconciliation, dialogue, and action" on the immigration issue, UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang said it was appropriate and important for the campus to play a role.
"We welcome the opportunity to share our intellectual resources in order to foster productive dialogue, and to seek answers to the pressing questions raised by current events," said Yang, who is a member of the UCSB working group. "Promoting discussion and debate is an essential part of both teaching and learning. We believe that we can all learn from the events taking place on our campus and in our community during the week of May 1."
The co-chairs of the 12-member campus working group are Carl Gutiérrez-Jones, a professor of English and director of the Center for Chicano Studies, and Marisela Márquez, director of the Academic Senate's Center for Faculty Outreach. They note that, in addition to organizing events on the UCSB campus for next week, the group is coordinating the efforts of faculty and staff volunteers who will be facilitating discussions in several local schools, including Santa Barbara, San Marcos, and Dos Pueblos High Schools. The working group invites inquiries from schools in both the Santa Barbara and Goleta School Districts regarding the UCSB volunteer facilitators. For more information, interested parties should contact Theresa Pena at the Center for Chicano Studies, 893-5315 or theresa.pena@chicano.ucsb.edu
The group also has constructed a Web site (http://aad.english.ucsb.edu/immigration.html) with a range of information about the immigration issue as well as a complete schedule of planned events on campus and in the community for the first week of May and beyond. The schedule on the Web site will be updated regularly. Some highlights of campus events during the first week of May are below. All are free and open to the public.
Tuesday, May 2
Immigration 101
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Harbor Room, University Center
A review of the current economic and demographic information regarding undocumented immigration to the U.S., along with an overview of the legislation being considered by Congress. The current immigration debate will also be placed in the context of immigration history in the United States. Discussion will be led by Carl Gutiérrez-Jones, Director of the Center for Chicano Studies. Presented by the UCSB Immigration Working Group.
Wednesday, May 3
El Norte: a Film Screening and Moderated Discussion
2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Multicultural Center Theater
The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by Maria Herrera-Sobek, Luis Leal Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies. Presented by the UCSB Immigration Working Group.
Thursday, May 4
Immigration and Education
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Multicultural Center Theater
An overview of the ways that immigration is addressed in the U.S. educational system. Discussion will be led by Laura Romo, an assistant professor at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, and Marisela Marquez, director of the Academic Senate's Center for Faculty Outreach. Presented by the UCSB Immigration Working Group.
Dibujos de Nuestra Frontera / Pictures of Our Border (Performance Art)
8:00 p.m., MultiCultural Center Theater
In a visually powerful performance that addresses issues of the Mexican-U.S. border, immigration, power, and gender relationships, this ensemble combines acting, inventive movement, zany physical humor, and live music to depict real and surreal stories that spring from Latin American and Californian cultures. Presented by the UCSB Multicultural Center.
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