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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (196)
Text: Students Continued from Page BI students. Other colleges and universities around the country began to.ask Tulane how they could help, too, Schiffman
Show moreStudents Continued from Page BI students. Other colleges and universities around the country began to.ask Tulane how they could help, too, Schiffman said. - “(Before Katrina], it had never: ‘happened before where an institution ‘simply could not open for a whole Semester,” he said. “Tulane had the plan in place, and it kind of evolved as it went. It allows students to keep their education on track and ous on their academics,” ; Tulane now has 16 students from Puerto Rico and one from the Caribbean island of St. Martin enrolled for the ‘spring semester, Schiffman said. » Other colleges in Connecticut have also taken in UPR students, including ‘Central Connecticut State University, ewhich admitted about 20 in November, ’ Perez, a theater student, said she had planned to transfer to a mainland U.S. University at some point. She just got her chance earlier than expected, she said. _ “We're going to make the most out of it We won't let this opportunity go away ‘or not take advantage of it,” Perez said. pi re just so thankful. It’s a great piace.” ' She’s taking theater courses this Bemnestes and is appearing in plays. Back ‘home, people were floored to learn that She would be going tothesame - : University as “Hamilton” creator and k a i g oe ape star Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has roots in Puerto Rico. “I was able to get all the theater courses that I wanted, and then get into plays, and I’ve met a lot of people in the theater community,’ Perez said. “I’m very lucky to be here. All of us are very lucky to be here. It is a good thing out of all the bad things, so something a bit positive.” Jennifer Curran, director of continuing studies at Wesleyan, said it was a challenge to coordinate the students’ admissions. Trying to call or email officials at a university with no power and limited staff was a logistical nightmare, she said. “I was so happy that Wesleyan had made this a priority and that we were able to pull something together” Curran said. “It was really about everybody saying let’s make this work.” UPR students pay tuition to their school back home, while their host colleges provide room and board at no extra cost. Curran said Wesleyan provided on-campus housing, meal plans and other less formal assistance to get the three students settled in. Manautou and Rodriguez restarted some of their classes at UPR in the weeks following Hurricane Maria. Students and staff were determined to make the best of their return to school, ~ the challenges were severe, they said. “I went to a classroom after the hurricane and there was this big puddle in the middle of the classroom. There was the professor [on one side] and the rest of us were in the other part,” she said. “In another classroom, I was studying and the drips kept coming down on my books” In yet another classroom, students recorded video that showed people scrambling to get out of the way ofa collapsing ceiling, Rodriguez said. It’s a relief “to come from that, to come from people that put in a lot of effort just by being there at 98 degrees aa in a closed classroom,” she said. She said leaving her family behind when they were still in the early stages of hurricane recovery was a heartbreaking decision. But her mother encouraged her to go so she could focus on school. “To come from months of waking up in the morning and looking for food being the thing that you’re going to do that day, figure out how to feed your family because there’s no light, there’s no gas, there’s no ATM,” Rodriguez said. “To come from that and just swipe ina little card at Usdan [the University Center], the first days I would eat so much I couldn’t move afterwards.” The three students said they have friends who were admitted for this semester to Tulane, New York University, Florida State University, Brown University and Boston College. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (195)
Text: Martford Courant PETER CASOLINO | SPECIAL TO THE COURANT WESLEYAN STUDENTS who transferred from Puerto Rico after the hurricane are, from left, Eriam
Show moreMartford Courant PETER CASOLINO | SPECIAL TO THE COURANT WESLEYAN STUDENTS who transferred from Puerto Rico after the hurricane are, from left, Eriam Manautou Martinez, a senior; Vianca Perez Betancourt, a freshman; and Ana Rodriguez Santory, a junior. A SEMESTER OF CALM, FOCUS Displaced Puerto Rican Students Settle Into Temporary Home By SHAWN R. BEALS sbeals@courant.com IDDLETOWN — Three University of Puerto Rico students spending their spring semester at Wesleyan University have settled in to their temporary home in Middletown. Like dozens of their fellow students, they made the difficult decision last year to leave behind families still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria in order to keep up with their studies. Wesleyan is one of several institutions in the state to pitch in and give Puerto Rican students a stable setting so they don’t fall behind. Eriam Manautou Martinez, 22, Vianca Perez Betancourt, 18, and Ana Rodriguez Santory, 20, said the semester away from home has been a challenge, but they’re welcomed by everyone they meet. “I’m a very family-oriented type of girl, so it was really hard. It was really hard to leave them behind knowing that not everything is at full capacity at home,” Manautou said. “The other day there was a blackout in Puerto Rico and everybody on the north part of the island was dark. It’s hard knowing that they’re going through stuff back home, but I know they prefer that we’re here and we're OK and we're studying at a great university.” Back home, the school year already had been compressed because of a strike earlier in 2017. Hurricane Maria in September only compounded the uncertainty they felt about what their studies would be like. Enrolling in the program that brought them to Connecticut “gave us the type of normalcy we needed after the hurricane,” Manautou said, In an interview with The Courant recently, the three students said their university is still rebuilding. Power outages are still common and educational resources there can’t compare yet with what’s available outside the hurricane zone. All three are expecting to return to Puerto Rico after this semester ends in May. Tulane University in New Orleans was the first to take in students from Puerto Rico, just as other universities did for Tulane after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “Hundreds of colleges came forward saying ‘we can take in your students, ” said Jeff Schiffman, director of admissions at Tulane. “It was a great opportunity to pay it forward” He said Tulane officials contacted the University of Puerto Rico after the hurricane to offer to take in some �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (194)
Text: Immigrant Staffer Gets A WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY f > . ar Janitor Facing Deportation Honored For Service, Impact On Students By KATHLEEN MCWILLIAMS
Show moreImmigrant Staffer Gets A WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY f > . ar Janitor Facing Deportation Honored For Service, Impact On Students By KATHLEEN MCWILLIAMS kmewilliams@courant.com Francisco Acosta, the beloved Wesleyan janitor who received a last-minute re- prieve from deportation in December, was awarded the university’s Peter Morgen- stern-Clarren scholarship for his service and impact on students. The award, which comes with a cash prize, is given to a Wesleyan employee whose work benefits students. Acosta was given the award for his work as a janitor in the university’s library, as well for his willingness to help students with their homework. Students said Acosta often helps them with their chemistry, biology, math and physics assignments while he works. Prior to coming to the United States in 200L Acosta was a university professor in Co- lombia, where he taught science and math. “Francisco never fails to put a smile on their face. His kind and empathetic demeanor permeate wher- ever he goes,” the letter announcing the award said. “Francisco has truly done wonderful things for the people around him, bettering the lives of everyone he interacts with.” Wesleyan president Michael S. Roth said Acosta has made a positive impact on many students, staff and faculty at the university. . “Whether it’s helping students with Acosta their homework or just making them smile with a show of kindness, he has become an important member of our community. I’m thrilled to see him recog- nized with this award,” he said. Acosta fled Colombia in 2001, he said, after his life was threatened. At that time, Colombia was embroiled in brutal politi- cal violence, and teachers, like Acosta, were killed for their political views and union activities. After he arrived in the United States, Acosta applied for asylum but his applica- tion was denied. Since then, Acosta has obtained work authorizations from ICE and stays of removal every year — until last year. In December, he was ordered deported WESLEYAN, B6 ; : é COAT A vs Fon, | �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (193)
Text: University Janitor Acosta Receives Six- , Month Stay of Removal By Hannah Reale Features Editor _ Francisco Acosta, a janitor at the University known
Show moreUniversity Janitor Acosta Receives Six- , Month Stay of Removal By Hannah Reale Features Editor _ Francisco Acosta, a janitor at the University known for his congenial nature and enthusias- tically students with their home- work in SciLi, has been granted a six-month stay of removal by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Although ICE initially mandated that he leave the United States on Jan. 24, Acosta learned on Friday, Jan. 19 that he no longer faced immediate deportation. The news broke in a press release from the office of Senior Senator for Connecticut Richard Blumenthal. According to Franklin Soults, Acostas SEIU 32BJ union representative, ICE has not yet formally announced the stay. “The huge outpouring of community support for Francisco Acosta is a testament to the kind of man he is—a hardworking, devoted son, brother, coworker and neigh- bor,” Blumenthal said in the press release. Acosta fled Colombia in 2001, where he worked as a teacher and union advocate, fearing for his life in the midst of a protracted civil war. In the United States, he has approximately 40 relatives who are legal citizens, including his mother, and another 40 who are permanent residents. He has been granted an- nual stays of removal in recent years but was told that he must leave the country at his Nov. 20, 2017 check- in with ICE in Hartford. Members of the University community and Acosta’s union, as well as other con- cerned individuals, participated in a rally on Dec. 18 to express their support for Acosta, attracting the presence of noteworthy individu- als such as Senator Blumenthal and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. Juan Hernandez, the dis- trict leader of 32BJ, spoke to the Hartford Courant about the stay. “We're deeply relieved and grateful for the broad support, in- cluding everyone from the dedi- cated Wesleyan students to the state's highest elected officials, like Senator Blumenthal,” he said. “We now need to maintain this coalition to find a path for permanent relief for Francisco and so many [others like] him.” Although the stay does not guarantee that Acosta will not be threatened with deportation at fu- ture check-ins, it does grant him more time to pursue legal status through his mother. “{United States Citizenship A and Immigration Services] has al- ready approved his citizen mother’s application to sponsor him and I am hopeful that ICE will stay this needless deportation long enough to finalize that process,” Blumenthal said in the press release. “This ex- tension gives us a new chance to prove to ICE that deporting Mr. Acosta and denying a dying woman the care of her loving son would be a misuse of federal resources and a betrayal of American values.” A press release will be held in Hartford on Friday, Jan. 26 at 32BJ’s Connecticut Offices to cel- ebrate Acosta’s stay. Various elected officials, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, will be there to discuss immigration in the United States. Hannah Reale can be reached at hreale@wesleyan.edu and on Twitter as @hannahereale voUS i/ Ej LY 7 os i i “\f j Lo} 7 La/ Nes �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (192)
Text: ODDS From page Al There are now just under 133,000 Latino students in Connecticut public schools, the majority of whom are clustered in Connecticut
Show moreODDS From page Al There are now just under 133,000 Latino students in Connecticut public schools, the majority of whom are clustered in Connecticut cites. In the last school year, 64 percent of New Britain students, 53 percent of Hart- ford and Waterbury stu- dents, 48 percent of Bridge- port students, 45 percent of New Haven students and 44 percent of Stamford students were identified as Latino. While one quarter of students are Latino, only 4 percent of teachers are Lati- no themselves, The disparities translate into education outcomes that | make long-term negative | impacts on the students themselves and the state’s economic health, said Stokes-Hudson, an associate policy fellow at Connecticut Voices. “Breaking down the sys- temic barriers to opportuni- ty that drive achievement disparities should be one of the state’s priorities,” added Wendy Simmons, director of education and equity at Voices. According to the report, Latino students are two times more likely to be sus- pended than their white counterparts. The share of Latino students missing 10 percent or more days of the school year — which means they are, chronically absent — is close to three times the rate of their white peers. And the graduation rate for Latino students is 76 per- cent, trailing the 93 percent graduation rates for whites. Stokes-Hudson said since 2010, some indicators have improved, but they have been improving for all groups. Attendance rates, grades and graduation rates are all better now than they were eight years ago. “The problem we have is the gap hasn't changed,” she said. “ Latino students are still twice as likely to be suspended. That has to be the focus. Why does there continue to be such a large gap? 99 Taking action To reduce inequity and support student success, Lauren Ruth, the study’s other author, suggests dis- tricts do more to conduct anti-bias training and in- crease the number of Latino teachers. The report commends a “Grow Your Own” program now offered in Danbury, Hartford and Waterbury to encourage students in the district to become teachers. While the success of such programs is currently un- studied, research on similar programs in other states suggests that the programs can make a positive impact on high school students’ interest in becoming teach- ers, Voices also wants schools to offer more culturally relevant courses. The study authors ap- plauded new course require- ments in Bridgeport public schools that will require high school students to take either a class in African- American, Latino-American or race relations to graduate. “T think it’s a great thing to prepare students to un- derstand the full history of the U.S., not only a portion of it,” Stokes-Hudson said. To reduce chronic absen- teeism, the report suggests expanding programs that involve Latino parents and community members in interventions. It also wants the state to start releasing detailed suspension and expulsion data separated by race/ethnicity as well as offense. The group also advocates better funding, calling the loss of such services as kin- dergarten aides in Bridge- port Public Schools deeply concerning. The lack of funding, she added, is prob- ably why urban districts don’t invest in more Ad- vanced Placement courses. Robert M. Goodrich, co- founder of Radical Advo- cates for Cross-Cultural Education, a Waterbury- based grassroots education advocacy organization, said he is always shocked and disgusted when racial equity data audits reveal deep and persistent race-based dis- parities. The data tell him Water- bury is not alone in having a growing Hispanic popula- tion and a shrinking His- panic teaching population. “This is a crisis and our students and families de- serve a response that reflects an urgency of a crisis of this magnitude,” Goodrich said. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (191)
Text: THE MIDDLETOWN AN EDITION OF THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER WWwW.MIDDLETOWNPRESS.COM | Saturday, July 28, 2018 | SINCE 1878 EDUCATION Odds against Latino
Show moreTHE MIDDLETOWN AN EDITION OF THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER WWwW.MIDDLETOWNPRESS.COM | Saturday, July 28, 2018 | SINCE 1878 EDUCATION Odds against Latino stude RESS © Report calls for more funding, culturally relevant courses By Linda Conner Lambeck Latino students are the fast- est-growing student population in the state, but a new report says they are also far less likely to have teachers who look like them, be exposed to Advanced Placement classes or score well on standardized tests. The just-released Connecticut SAT results are a case in point. Just 36.4 percent of Latino ju- niors scored in the passing range on the English Language Arts portion of the test and fewer than 16 percent scored at grade level in math. That com- pares with more than half of white students who scored at grade level. Compiled by Connecticut Voic- es for Children, a research-based child advocacy group based in New Haven, the report finds Lati- no students are also more likely than their white counterparts to FS 0 2018 miss school, be punished and drop out before graduation. “Latino students face policies and practices that often are biased and puts them at a disadvantage,” said Camera Stokes-Hudson, a co-author of the report. Only some of it, she added, can be blamed on the complexities of learning a language or navigating the nation’s increasingly difficult immigration policies. RECEIVED nts grow The data Voices conducted the research after interviewing racial justice advocates while looking for data that would help them tackle the disparities. The group first wrote a paper comparing black and white students, then went back and focused on Latino students. See Odds on A6 �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (190)
Text: 4, 2017 THE HARTFORD COURANT fe. lof increasing the number of foster-care kids who are living with relatives, in finding alternatives to removing
Show more4, 2017 THE HARTFORD COURANT fe. lof increasing the number of foster-care kids who are living with relatives, in finding alternatives to removing children from their homes in some cases, and in reducing the population at the high-security Con- necticut Juvenile Training School, which is slated to close. “DCF is making important strides that better support children and families in- volved in the state’s child welfare system, but the state must improve a good deal more to fully meet its obligation to these vulnerable kids” said lawyer Ira Lustbader of Children’s Rights, a nonprofit group in New York City. He’s co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the child-neglect case — known as Juan F. vs. Malloy — that led to a federal court decree laying out the performance benchmarks. The agreement reached by the plaintiffs and Attorney General George Jepsen’s office, reduces the number of outcome measures from 22 to 10 and will lower caseloads for social workers by an average of 25 percent. The legislature does have a role in the plan — in that it will have to provide funding to hire more caseworkers to achieve those lower case limits. The agreement was endorsed by US. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill. Lustbader said that the priorities remain improving the quality of the casework, investigations, and in-home visits by social workers, and assuring that DCF is meeting the need for more consistent medical, | CONNECTICUT = dental, mental-health and substance-abuse services for children. The agreement re- quires Katz to put in place needed reforms in consultation with Raymond Mancuso, the former DCF executive who is monitor- ing the department’s compliance with the federal court decree. Modifying the measures allows DCF to focus more closely “on the areas of greatest need,” Malloy said. He noted that the performance requirements will shrink as DCF maintains compliance. The plan provides DCF “a clear road map” to more quickly exit federal oversight, said lawyer Steven Frederick of Stamford, the plaintiff’s co-counsel. But no one was predicting on Wednesday exactly how long that would take. Continued from Page BI fighting cancer. at 82 years old is wheelchair-bound and “I am one of the principal people who three weeks ago, on Nov. 20. When Acosta went for his annual check-in with ICE, he was told to report back on Dec. 18 with a one-way ticket to Colombia. “I am not a threat to the US.” he said. “My record is clean. I am not a delinquent. In the time I have lived in the US., I have always worked and always paid my taxes.” LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | LSCHNEIDERMAN@COURANT.COM FRANCISCO ACOSTA, 59, who fled Colombia in 2001, lives in Connecticut and takes care of his mother, Nora Serna, who is 82 anda U.S. citizen. She lives in Hartford. Acosta says he has been ordered to go back to Colombia, where he says his life will be in danger. Deportation care for her,” he said. “Because I am alone here, I have more time to help her. In Colombia now, I don’t really have anything or anyone.” Since his asylum application was denied, Acosta has been making yearly check-ins with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. He obtained work authorizations from ICE and stays of removal every year — until Acosta has worked since he arrived in the United States. He had planned to take English classes, but ended up sending the money he made as a janitor back to Colombia to pay for his sons’ college and graduate degrees. At Wesleyan, Acosta is a familiar face. While he cleans buildings, he often uses his background as a high school physics and chemistry teacher to help students with their work. “He’s made a lot of friends there,” said Franklin Soults, the spokesperson for the property services union to which Acosta belongs. Soults said Acosta’s lawyer is expected to file paperwork to reopen his asylum case on Thursday and that they may file a petition for a stay of removal. But Acosta’s case remains up in the air until Monday. So he has purchased a one-way ticket to Colombia for Jan. 15, and if he’s forced to return, he not only will have to leave his ailing mother in Hartford, but also go back to a country that has not yet recovered from the decades of violence he fled. “Tt’s even more dangerous now be- cause, after the peace accord, some of the guerrillas are in power,” he said. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (189)
Text: ONNECTICUT Martford Courant 7.COM/ICONNECTICUT [ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017 RT TO STAY IN U.S. NEARS END After 15 Years, Facing Deportation Wesleyan
Show moreONNECTICUT Martford Courant 7.COM/ICONNECTICUT [ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017 RT TO STAY IN U.S. NEARS END After 15 Years, Facing Deportation Wesleyan Janitor, Who Fled Colombia And Lost Asylum Case, Told He Must Leave Monday By KATHLEEN MCWILLIAMS kmcwilliams@courant.com HARTFORD — When Francisco Acosta left Colombia, and his wife and teenage sons, in 2001, he hoped he’d be able to bring them to the United States soon. After three days of driving from Colom- bia, Acosta crossed the border into El Paso, Texas, and immediately applied for political asylum from the brutal violence he had left behind. Acosta was denied asylum and hasn’t seen his wife and sons since. During his appeal of the asylum case, he came to Connecticut because other members of his family live here, and he now works as a janitor at Wesleyan University in Middle- town. On Monday, he will face a deportation order that will send him back to a country where he says he was threatened with death for teaching and supporting unions. “At that time in Colombia, they killed a bunch of teachers and politicians,” Acosta said, in a interview conducted in Spanish. “They assassinated my companions and they wanted to kill me because they wanted to recruit my students and I was an impediment to them.” After he arrived in the United States, Acosta hired an immigration lawyer who helped him plead his asylum case. The process took seven years, and in 2008, Acosta’s lawyer told him his application had been denied. Acosta is in the unique situation of being the only member of his family in the United States who was not granted legal status. His mother and four of his brothers are citizens, and his three sisters are legal residents. He is also a caregiver for his mother, who DEPORTATION , B6 �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (188)
Text: JANITOR From page Al the agency, asking that the deportation be stayed and his asylum case, which was denied in 2009, be re- opened. Acosta said some
Show moreJANITOR From page Al the agency, asking that the deportation be stayed and his asylum case, which was denied in 2009, be re- opened. Acosta said some 40 members of his family are US. citizens, while another 40 are permanent residents. “My entire family lives in the United States,” Acosta said. A resident of Hartford, Acosta is the main caretak- er for his 82-year-old moth- er, who is battling cancer. He said she also plans to reapply for Acosta to be- come a resident here. Addressing the crowd, Acosta said when he fled he left behind his wife, with whom he has only been able to communicate by phone over the last 16 years. He also has two grown sons who have gone to live in Europe. “By coming here, I lost my wife and my children. Now, if I were to go to Colombia, I would also lose my mother,” Acosta told those rallying outside the agency, the same building that houses U.S. District Court. A spokesman for ICE said Acosta “was issued a final order of removal by a federal immigration judge in 2007. He appealed this decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2007, which was denied in 2009. As a measure of dis- cretion, Mr. Acosta was not placed in ICE custody, how- ever, he is required to re- port to the ICE office with proof that he intends to depart the US. in accor- dance with his final order of removal.” Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan, issued a state- ment last week, pledging the university’s support. “Wesleyan has tried to be helpful to Francisco, and we will continue to reach out to his union and at- torney to see how we can be most useful. I am con- tacting key congressional members to enlist their support, and we will do our best to reverse what seems to be an unjust, mean-spir- ited effort to deport a val- ued member of our commu- nity,” Roth wrote. US. Sen. Richard Blu- menthal, D-Conn., attended the rally. “Whatever ICE does, they should care for this man, and others like him, who can give back to Amer- ica and who are here to escape persecution, seek asylum and pursue the American dream. That is what America is about. We are talking about one hu- man being, but it is a mat- ter of principle and values. Sending Francisco Acosta out of this country would betray values,” Blumenthal told the crowd. “He cares about this country. He cares about his mom and we should care about him,” Blumenthal said. He directed his message to President Trump to help Acosta, who is “seeking safety in this country from the forces of evil, persecu- tion and violence.” The rally was organized by 32B] of the Service Em- ployees International Union, of which Acosta is a member. Acosta had gotten several deportation stays until he checked in earlier this month with ICE and was told to leave the country by Jan. 15. His lawyer, Manuel Nieves, has applied for another stay of removal. “This is the start of a process that we hope will lead to a stay in the future, based on the significant humanitarian grounds that ICE will consider,” Nieves said in a statement. Acosta was fitted with a GPS ankle bracelet after this visit to ICE Monday. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, state Rep. Matthew Lesser of Middletown, state Rep. Edwin Vargas of Hart- ford and state Rep. Michael D‘Agostino, of Hamden, all Democrats, were among those who spoke. Bronin is considering a run for governor, while D’Agostino may seek the Democratic nomination for attorney general; Lesser had, at one point, consid- ered running for secretary of the state. Bronin said there have been multiple rallies in front of the ICE offices, organized around a com- mon theme. “The individuals that ICE is looking to tear away from their families and send home are individuals who came here seeking safety from violence. They came here and built a life. They came here and obeyed the law. They came here and worked hard. They came here and raised fami- lies. ... In many cases, their family members are Amer- ican citizens,” Bronin said. He said sending them home “does not make our communities stronger. It makes nobody safer and it makes no sense. It is cruel and it is senseless.” Bronin said he was raising his voice with others for a “compassionate, common sense approach to immigra- tion.” D‘Agostino said “justice is blind, but we can’t be ay, blind. We’ve got to see what ( is happening here. We’ve got to see what is happen- ing in this country with the policies of this administra- tion. We’ve got to see what they are doing to Francisco and his family, what they are doing to working men and women, 32B] and other unions. ... Most importantly we've got to see that this is tearing apart ... the very foundation of this country because we are all children of immigrants here.” Lesser said we have to work for immigration re- form, but in the meantime “we will do everything we can to have your back,” he said to Acosta. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (187)
Text: THE MIDDLETOWN PRESS AN EDITION OF THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER WWW.MIDDLETOWNPRESS.COM | Tuesday, December 19, 2017 | SINCE 1878 | $1.00 Rally backs By
Show moreTHE MIDDLETOWN PRESS AN EDITION OF THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER WWW.MIDDLETOWNPRESS.COM | Tuesday, December 19, 2017 | SINCE 1878 | $1.00 Rally backs By Mary E. O’Leary er for 18 years in Colombia, Acosta Monday said he fled in 2001 after his HARTFORD — Francisco Antonio life was threatened by guerrillas at a Acosta Serna, a janitor at Wesleyan particularly violent period in that coun- University who, on his break, helps try’s long war. students with their math, is the latest Federal and state officials, friends undocumented individual being direct- _ and representatives of Wesleyan rallied ed by Immigration and Customs in front of ICE’s offices Monday morn- U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., left, with Francisco Acosta Enforcement to leave the country. ing before Acosta had to check in with at a rally for the Colombian native who ICE has ordered deported. A former math and chemistry teach- See Janitor on A8 Wesleyan janitor Ex-teacher with deportation order said his life was threatened in Colombia “If I were to go to Colombia, I would also lose my mother.” Francisco Antonio Acosta Serna, a janitor at Wesleyan University �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (186)
Text: Martford Courant _ ONNE | COURANT.COM/CONNECTICUT | f USTOMS ED TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017 _ Immigrant Prepares To Say Goodbye supporters, Wesleyan
Show moreMartford Courant _ ONNE | COURANT.COM/CONNECTICUT | f USTOMS ED TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017 _ Immigrant Prepares To Say Goodbye supporters, Wesleyan ‘Family’ Rally Against Deporting Colombian Janitor In U.S. Illegally By KATHLEEN MCWILLIAMS kmewilliams@courant.com HARTFORD — Francisco Acosta hugged his brother and sisters Monday morning before walking into U.S. District Court in Hartford with his one-way ticket to Colom- bia in his pocket. As he walked into the building, support- ers chanted, “Si se puede,” Spanish for “Yes we can,” and “Keep Francisco home.” Inside the courthouse, Acosta, 59, was fitted with a GPS ankle bracelet that the federal Immigration and Customs Enforce- ment agency will use to keep track of his movements before his scheduled deporta- tion on Jan. 15. In the hour before Acosta, who works as a janitor at Wesleyan University, presented himself at ICE’s office, supporters rallied outside the courthouse. Support came from his colleagues in the property services union to which Acosta belongs, community activists, local leaders and Wesleyan stu- dents. “Tl tell you, if someone deserves to stay in this country, it is Francisco Acosta,” Hartford state Rep. Edwin Vargas said. “Today we pray they will do the right thing” Acosta fled Colombia in 2001, he said, after his life was threatened. At that time, Colombia was embroiled in brutal political violence, and teachers, like Acosta, were killed for their political views and union activities. After he arrived in the United States, Acosta applied for asylum but his applica- tion was denied. Since then, Acosta has obtained work authorizations from ICE and stays of removal every year — until a month ago, when he was told to report back with a one-way ticket. Acosta is in the unique situation of being the only member of his family in the United States who was not granted legal status. His mother and four of his brothers are citizens, and his three sisters are legal residents. He is also a caregiver for his mother, 82, who uses a wheelchair and has been fighting cancer for the last three years. IMMIGRANT, B2 �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (185)
Text: THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 NEWS Relief: University to Welcome Students from Hurricane-Afflicted Regions Continued from front page how
Show moreTHE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 NEWS Relief: University to Welcome Students from Hurricane-Afflicted Regions Continued from front page how the idea came about. “One of our alums, and actually a former trustee, sent me a note via Facebook saying “Roth! Why don’t we do something like this?’ and I thought ‘huh, that’s a good idea,’ not knowing if we had places,” Roth explained in an interview with The Argus. “But once we have the housing taken care of, we're a big enough place where we'll have room in classes.” Roth explained that once he had the idea in place, he asked for a working group led by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joyce Jacobsen to determine how many students Wesleyan could afford to take on, and who would potentially be admitted. The group de- termined that the money for food and housing will be absorbed by Wes. They estimate that around 10 to 12 students will be admitted from the University . of Puerto Rico and the University of the Virgin Islands. The primary cost for Wesleyan will be food, considering that the additional students in classes will not significantly increase expenses. “The food budget is where we will have to move money into, to pay for the free food,” Roth said. “But as you look at a few thousand students, a dozen additional students don’t make that big a difference. It’s not so much about dollars, for one semester. I mean there is some additional cost, but we can absorb that.” Roth noted that going into this project, there were a few set parameters Wesleyan aimed to meet. “We didn’t want them to pay us, because that will seem like we're just profiting from a disaster, nor did we want to recruit students permanently because that has its own detrimental effects on the region,” he explained. “But helping out in a way so that stu- dents could continue their studies and later go back to their home university seemed like a good thing to do. I’m happy we can do it.” Students who apply must dem- onstrate academic success at their home institutions and show they are proficient in English, by either sub- mitting a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score or speak- ing to a Wesleyan representative via a Skype interview. The application page makes clear that Wesleyan is aware that students may have difficulty filling out and sending certain forms, such as transcripts. “We understand that it may be difficult to get transcripts at this time, but please attempt to get any form of transcripts or records of grades, official or unofficial, to add to your applica- tion,” the application page reads. “We may accept screenshots or photographs of documents.” As of the date of publication, two completed applications have been re- ceived, with several more in progress. While Wesleyan does not have a set acceptance rate at this time, Associate Provost Sheryl Culotta notes that they expect to accept every applicant who looks academically prepared to succeed based on their application. Applications will be due on December 6, or until all spots are filled. For those interested in applying or looking for more information, contact gueststudent@wesleyan.edu or visit Wesleyan'’s webpage on the program for application information and material. Emmy Hughes can be reached at ebhughes @wesleyan.edu or on Twitter @ emmyughes. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (184)
Text: Free Semester for Hurricane By Emmy Hughes Assistant News Editor Wesleyan University will be ac- cepting students from the University of Puerto Rico
Show moreFree Semester for Hurricane By Emmy Hughes Assistant News Editor Wesleyan University will be ac- cepting students from the University of Puerto Rico and the University of the Virgin Islands for the spring se- mester of 2018 as a meaningful way to reach out to students in regions af- fected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Students will pay tuition to their home institutions and will receive free hous- ing and meals, in addition to access to Wesleyan’s academic resources. — Wesleyan University President Michael Roth ’78, who was a driving _ force behind this program, explained Relief, page 2 �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (183)
Text: THE WESLEYAN ARGUS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 NEWS Panel Discusses What it. Means ta Bet atin: By Camille De Beus Staff Writer As part of Latin
Show moreTHE WESLEYAN ARGUS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 NEWS Panel Discusses What it. Means ta Bet atin: By Camille De Beus Staff Writer As part of Latin American Affirmation Month, “The Talk Series: What does it mean to be a Latinx Student?” was held in Woodhead Lounge on Thursday, Nov. 19. The talk was hosted by Kimberly Heras ’17, and consisted of a panel of students and professors from the University. The two professors in attendance at the talk were Assistant Professor of Spanish Paula Park and Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Carlos Dimas. “Td say the main purpose of the meeting on Thursday was to discuss what it means to be a Latinx student at Wes,” Park said. “[It was] also to reflect about how Ajita Campos is responding to the ‘Tecent events on campus.” Ajiia Campos is the principal com- municative instrument for the Latinx community at the University. It strives to educate both Latinos as well as the greater University community on Latinx cultural values and political issues. Park is a new faculty member at the University, and her interest in Thursday's meeting was to learn more about the Latinx community while also commend- ing them for their efforts. “I wanted to start saying that some- times you have to:pat yourselves on the back,” Park said. “For me, coming here and seeing the beginning of this whole month, I was truly surprised, and I was pleasantly surprised that there was all this — going on. There's a lot of organization that’s behind this.” The panel at the meeting covered much ground, talking about a wide variety of topics that covered both current events on campus and the Latinx community it- self. Aidan Martinez ’17, a student on the panel, spoke in depth about this. “T think I’ve received a lot of hate over the last two months because of The Argus [scandal] and now, [though] not so much, the Is This Why campaign,” Martinez said. “T think we are a part of it because we are {students of color]. There - shouldn't be any differentiation between SOCs on campus, because we're all at a our voices are at stake and all of our voices ~ have been silenced historically. I just think it’s a time for unity in our community and between our communities.” That being said, Dimas and Park ‘there's building, and 1 nobody's really owning up to privileged white institution where all of pointed out that the Latinx community has made progress at the University. “Coming here and hearing the con- versations going on, it's exactly [because] ou are a minority here,” Dimas said. y ys “Just the ability to create this room is a huge step. It’s significantly massive, espe- cially within the historical background of this institution. [But].a movement has to continually move forward, [so] where is the next station?” Martinez responded to that question by sharing his hopes for an increased sense of accountability at the University. “T think the biggest thing, at least in my mind, that did not come to fruition in this recent protest at least, is that I want people to be accountable for their words,” Martinez said. “I think that as the student body we very easily blame the administra- tion or North College, and that’s just a building. So when you blame a building, pointing going on within the their actions.” Another issue that came up dur- ing the discussion was one of exhaustion: Often students of color face constant hard- ship by just attending the University as a member of a minority. “An even more concrete goal that I’ve been trying to articulate is the fact that I want students of color to come here and not leave exhausted from just being in this place,” Martinez said. “I personally don’t know what institutional structure could be set up to make sure that [students of color] have an equitable experience to white stu- dents on this campus, because what I need from this campus and what I need to feel like I'm learning and not having to deal with racism on campus or being harassed on campus, etc., might look very differ- ent from what a lot of other people in this room need.” While it is still working towards goals such as these, Park believes the Latinx community is perhaps more diverse than people tend to think. She also mentioned the importance of the community con- tinually asking themselves what it means to be part of this community. “Sometimes it's good to also. ac- knowledge what has been done by you, “by the people before you, and upperclass- men, because a lot has been done,” Park said. “It’s very interesting to hear all these different stories because at the end of the day our stories are [becoming] more pow- erful.” �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (182)
Text: Donation Drive Launches to Support Devastation Caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma By Mason Mandell Staff Writer In response to the devastation in-
Show moreDonation Drive Launches to Support Devastation Caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma By Mason Mandell Staff Writer In response to the devastation in- curred by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, an ongoing donation drive to benefit relief efforts in Puerto Rico will be ac- cepting both itemized and monetary donations through Nov. 30. The donation drive is working through the initiative “United for Puerto Rico” to provide humanitarian aid to the region. The charity, created by First Lady of Puerto Rico, partners with a myriad of corporations in the private sector including Walgreens, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft. “100 percent of the proceeds will go to helping the victims affected by these natural disasters in Puerto Rico,” the website for the organization claims. “Bonnie [Solivan] was the one who spearheaded the effort,” Joanne Rafferty, Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development, wrote in an email to The Argus. “Bonnie wanted to do something since she has family in Puerto Rico and she reached out to me for some help.” In September, with news of her endeavor spreading through word of mouth, Solivan began collecting items among colleagues immediately after the storms. In the meantime, she searched for the right organization that could bring the materials to Puerto Rico. After Solivan settled on United for Puerto Rico, Rafferty distributed flyers to other staff, and then reached out to students through a campus-wide email. These relief efforts combined with a recent Caribbean themed late- night dinner, hosted by the Caribbean Student Association, that took place on Nov. 2. A flyer distributed throughout the University described the event as “a fundraiser for hurricane relief programs in Caribbean regions affected by recent hurricanes.” With over 100 individuals at- tending, $969 was raised, according to Ashley Luthers ’19, who was involved in the event’s operation. In addition to monetary dona- tions, the donation drive is accepting bottled water, hand sanitizer, canned and dry pet food, mosquito repellant, diapers, canned milk, canned and dry food, towels, blankets, solar lights, pil- lows, first aid kits, can openers, dry snacks, trail mix, books, and kids’ toys. These items can be dropped off 23% > ye . fifi ianig in Usdan, SALD offices, room 114 of the Political Affairs Center, and at the Exley Science Center’s help desk. After items are dropped off, they will be taken to a central depository in New York, and from there they will be taken to Puerto Rico. In a statement on their website, United for Puerto Rico says the op- timal way to contribute is through a monetary donation due to shipping costs and backlogs. Mason Mandell can be reached at mjmandell@wesleyan.edu or on Twitter @MasonMandell. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (181)
Text: Latinx Confronts Latin American Studies in By Andrew Fleming Assistant Features Editor Professor J. Kéhaulani Kauanui introduced the Latinx Studies
Show moreLatinx Confronts Latin American Studies in By Andrew Fleming Assistant Features Editor Professor J. Kéhaulani Kauanui introduced the Latinx Studies and Latin American Studies in Critical Conversation panel this past Wednesday. She stated that a dia- logue between area and ethnic stud- ies had been a long-time coming at the University. The event took place at 4:30 pm in Judd 116, drawing a large crowd of students and faculty to participate in a discussion on the boundaries of Latinx and Latin American studies and how ‘each of these departments has evolved over time. As Chair of American Studies, Director of the Center for American Studies, and a professor in both American Studies and Anthropology, Kauanui gathered faculty speakers from a wide range of disciplines in- cluding history; feminist, gender, and sexuality studies; and poetics. She encouraged panelists to explore the topics of diaspora, nationalism, and globalization. Associate Professor of Spanish and Chair of Latin American Studies Robert Conn was the first to speak, beginning with an explanation on how Latin American Studies incor- porate a variety of disciplines by its nature of being an area study. In his personal work, which generally focuses on Latin American writers, Conn discussed how he examines texts in the context of the intellec- tual tradition they stem from, the conceptual framework of the era in which it’s from, and from the place of the production. ‘The latter opened an exploration of the transnational space in which “Latin American” authors write, with Conn focusing on figures such as Alfonso Reyes, Roberto Bolafio, and Simén Bolivar, who he is currently writing a book about. It’s just what the “area” of Latin America is, however, where things get tricky. Postdoctoral Fellow Diane Schwartz followed Conn with an overview of the genealogy of Latin American Studies, which is some- what of a bizarre phenomenon. What is it, after all, that ties the people of Southern Chile to Cubano Marxists? What separates Latin American Studies from simply American Studies? Schwartz explained that the an- swer was the Cold War. In the Cold War era, the United States govern- ment began supporting and creating institutions focused on area studies, searching for means to establish a THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 Opening a Dialogue: North American presence abroad and to keep out U.S.S.R. communists. Over time, the discipline evolved past its neo-imperial beginnings and, after a wave of 1960’s student activism, became a space for other inherently transnational disciplines, such as gen- der and African-American studies. Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies Paula Park then drew on ideas intro- duced by Schwartz to ask where the Philippines belonged in this discus- sion. Though traditionally consid- ered as part of East Asian Studies, the Spanish colonization of this Pacific island mirrors that of many so-called Latin American countries. Are Latin American area studies constrained to geography, or should it rely instead on shared cultural heritage? Park ended her speech by high- lighting a section from her cur- rent work, titled “Latin America in the Philippines,” which discusses Mexican philosopher Leopoldo Zea Aguilar’s trip to the Philippines in honor of one their late national writ- ers José Rizal. After these complex discussions on classifications of Latin America, Assistant Professor of Studies, and Feminist, Gender and Sexuality studies Laura Grappo and Assistant Professor of English Rachel Ellis Neyra worked to shift the focus on Latinx studies, each presenting historical and modern perspectives on how to define the Latinx identity in the U.S.A. Grappo began by summarizing the current state of Puerto Rico in the wake of hurricane Maria. “Before I start 1 want to give a shout out to Puerto Rico, where 3,000,000 million people are with- out power, [where] a bunch of people died in a hospital last night because they had no diesel in the capital, and [where] they still have 60% of the population without drinking water,” she said. “Please continue to call your congressman and tweet at Trump.” Returning to the discussion top- ic, Grappo listed several complaints about the relationship of Latinx and Latin American Studies, including what she perceives as Latin American Studies’ insistence on a formalized Spanish language (imported from Spain), the treatment of Latinx stud- ies as the stepchild of Latin American studies, and the dangerous racial for- mations of Latinos. This latter idea stems from the typical way in which whiteness is constructed, which, as Grappo explained, was from a popu- lation declaring they are not black. Latinos, she says, are now at a cross- American Panel DANI SMOTRICH-BARR, ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Latinx Studies and Latin American Studies in Critical Conversation panel draws crowd to Judd Hall. roads as to whether to try and form a whiteness on the back of black people, or continue as a racially op- pressed group. Neyra followed Grappo with a complex historical discussion that focused on Puerto-Rican nationalists who considered the U.S.A. as an oc- cupying power. She also mentioned the 2010 passing of Arizona's SB 1070, which stridently opposes immi- gration and allows police to identify undocumented immigrants solely by sight. Neyra is currently completing a book titled “Cry Bomba: Listening to Brown Poetics,” which is centered on the historical demand for poetics in Latinx studies. The work will explore a wide variety of tactics, such as salsa and Indie music, live and multime- dia performance, the novel, theater, poetry, and short experimental films, and will feature sounds of upheaval, protest, and sex in Latinx, Chicanx, and Nuyorican aesthetics. At several points, the panel criti- cized the use of the term “Latino,” which, though ubiquitous in and outside academia, is a term stem- ming from racist associations with the white latin race of Europe (e.g. French, Italian, Spanish.). Kimberly Ortega ’20 asked the panel during the Q and A on finding a more ap- propriate way for the U.S.A.’s Latinx population to identify. “I constantly ask that question about phenotype and what Latinos or Latinx should identify with,” she said. “That’s why I asked about it to- day. I’m constantly grappling with what do I identify myself as if there’s no real term.” In response, Professors Grappo and Neyra suggested that language's creative ability means that new terms could be put into use. “They said I should make some- thing up, so I guess that’s what I’m going to do,” Ortega stated. For many of the faculty on the panel, the talk today allowed for them to present their findings of several years of research. Schwartz re- flected on her own work and personal associations with Latinx and Latin American Studies. “From an autobiographical per- spective, this was important to me because I actually started my aca- demic career studying Mexican im- migrants in the United States,” she said. “I was interested in the experi- ence of undocumented Mexican im- migrants and especially interested in immigrant rights advocacy. That led me to want to understand why peo- ple were leaving [Mexico].” This questioning led her to study the increasing movement be- tween the U.S.A. and Latin American countries, and how such movement calls for a dialogue between ethnic and area study disciplines concerning the region. “Immigration, I would say, is the most important aspect that will merge the two fields, at least in cer- tain ways,” Schwartz said. “I’ve come to understand the phenomenon of immigration as key to the historical and ongoing relationship between Latin American and Latinx Studies.” Kauanui looks forward to fa- cilitating more events such as this panel in the future. She is currently working on organizing both a teach- in on DACA—the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy of the Obama administration, which has come under question in the Trump era—and a panel on the state of Caribbean studies. Andrew Fleming can be reached at apfleming@wesleyan.edu. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (180)
Text: “Convocation” Roundtable Kicks off Latin@ Afhrmation Month C/O SONYA BESSALEL Students in the Latin@ community discussed issues surrounding represen-
Show more“Convocation” Roundtable Kicks off Latin@ Afhrmation Month C/O SONYA BESSALEL Students in the Latin@ community discussed issues surrounding represen- tation in the media with CNN correspondent Maria Santana. By Sonya Bessalel Staff Writer Latin@ Affirmation § Month kicked off this Sunday with its open- ing Convocation, featuring keynote speaker Maria Santana 98. The event, which featured current members of Ajta Campos—a student group promoting Latino cultural values and political is- sues, and which organized the event— aligned with the month's larger theme of “Latinas/os In the Media: Our Roles and Representations.” The event was co-sponsored by a number of departments, includ- ing Romance Studies; American Studies; African American Studies; Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Government; and English. The ceremony opened with repre- sentatives from Ajiia Campos recounting the club’s history and tracing the club’ rel- evance to the present day. The club takes its name, “Aju,” from a Mexican war cry during the Mexican-American war, and “Campos? is the last name of Pedro Albizu Campos, a legislator who fought for Puerto Rican independence in the 1930s and ’40s. “The organization gave its members community, and ensured that they had a place and a family at Wesleyan,” said Sam Leiva 16 in his opening speech. “Aja Campos’ efforts were to make Wesleyan a more livable and desirable place for stu- dents.” Roberto Rivera and Lad Santiago, both in the Class of 1974, were among the founders of Aja Campos at a time || ee when there were very few Latin@s at the University. Since its inception, the club has pushed for and attained a Latina/o student house, affirmative action to admit more Latin@ students, special attention and academic advising, and more Latin@ professors. This community has since grown from eight students in the club’ first years to around 10 percent of the stu- dent body today. Following the introduction, fresh- man speaker Katherine Puntiel ’19, a self- identified Afro-Latina, spoke about her experience being a multiracial student of color during her first few months at col- lege. Her speech addressed her family’s sacrifices to get her to Wesleyan and what she is learning along the way. “I am able to use my personal up- bringing to allow me to navigate my Wesleyan experience,’ Puntiel _ said. “Being with Ajua Campos is allowing me to recognize my Latina side with an atmo- sphere of la familia. This is the moment when I am truly learning to accept my Latina Dominican identity.” Senior speaker Christian Nujfiez 16, an English and theater double major, reflected on his growth both in and out of the classroom throughout his college years. “T learned more about what it meant to be a Latino than I ever did in the Bronx,” Niifiez said. “I was able to learn about history, and the often-silenced dis- cussion of intersectionality. I’m one of the very few people of color in the theater ma- jor, and although I am put into uncom- fortable situations in discussions both in and outside of classrooms, I make sure to take back control and disrupt that space because I can.” The event closed with a keynote ad- dress from Emmy-nominated TV jour- nalist Maria Santana 98. A correspondent for CNN en Espafiol, she has covered major news stories including the Sandy Hook shooting and the Boston marathon bombing. Her speech included themes of inclusion in the media. Santana recounted her journey as a first-generation Dominican immigrating to America at age four to becoming a stu- dent at the University, as well as a member of Aja Campos herself. She explained that being at the University helped in im- proving her Spanish and also taught her to question authority. Although she stressed that she sees herself as a journalist first, Santana spoke about how she uses her Latina heritage and perspectives to find stories to share, especially in terms of not turning away potential subjects because of a language barrier. “Being Latina helped me see things which others may have not,” Santana said. “It’s not about finding the story, it’s about finding the connection to people long after the other cameras have stopped rolling.” She further spoke to the benefits of her education at the University. “[My education] taught me not to be intimidated by power, but to ask ques- tions,” she said. “[To current students,] dont ever settle for what they offer you, if you realize what you can do, never take no for an answer.” Ultimately, the event not only spanned generations of Latin@ students at the University in order to paint a cohesive narrative of the presence on campus, but it also aimed to include the wider student body. “T invite you all to create a stronger Latino and student of color community on campus, and continue to reach out to other groups so that we as Wesleyan stu- dents become a collective community to support one another,’ Leiva said. Upcoming Latin@ Affirmation Month Events include Talk series on “The Maid, the Outsider, and the Spicy Latina—Deconstructing the Latina” on Thursday, Nov. 5, and “Latin@s in Politics and the Latin@ Vote” on Thursday, Nov. 12: �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (179)
Text: THE WESLEYAN ARGUS NEWS University Will Host National Dominican Student Conference By Dominique Cameron-Rouge Staff Writer From .March 29 to 31, the
Show moreTHE WESLEYAN ARGUS NEWS University Will Host National Dominican Student Conference By Dominique Cameron-Rouge Staff Writer From .March 29 to 31, the University will host the seventh annual National Dominican Student Conference (NDSC). Started in 2007, the conference serves to unite Dominican col- lege students and alumni from across the country to discuss so- cial issues they face, build social and academic support networks, and celebrate their rich heritage. Stephanie Aracena, a mem- ber of the publicity team for the conference, noted that the NDSC has unique objectives. “Dominicans are becoming the largest group of Latinos at- tending college, and are doing so in large numbers, but we still count in the minority in many schools,” Aracena wrote in an email to The Argus. The website for the NDSC also mentions that Dominican students show diminishing rates of retention and graduation from colleges. Co-chair of the conference Dorisol Inoa 13 echoes Aracena’s sentiments about community with regard to the purpose of the conference. “The idea is to establish a network that may serve help- ful later on in our careers,” Inoa wrote in an email to The Argus. Vice President for Institutional Partnerships and Chief Diversity Officer Sonia Ma fijon, who is involved with orga- nizing the conference, believes that these objectives are effec- tively realized at the NDSC. “As a Dominican American, and when I was a graduate student, I attended the National Dominican Student Conference in New York and benefited significantly by making critical connections to Dominican scholars who supported my research and personal develop- ment,” Manjon said. The theme for this year’s con- ference is social justice. It is titled “Peleando Injusticia, Haciendo Noticias,” meaning “Fighting Injustice and Making Headlines.” The speakers and workshops at the conference range from Dominican comedians to Dominican news an- chors to a University professor who will give a lecture on gender. Inoa explained that the conference will host workshops on gender, the crim- inal justice system, and individual success as a medium for social jus- tice. The conference also hopes to address social justice by hosting a fair featuring various outside orga- nizations. “I anticipate that the organi- zation fair will be the most helpful because we will have representa- tives from many organizations in- cluding Teach for America and the Peace Corps,” Inoa wrote. “We will also have organizations that diver- sify fields, like Dominicans on Wall Street and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers.” Wesleyan’s Dominican Student Association was formed in 2009 after some Wesleyan students at- tended the second NDSC at New York University. Students formed the group with the goal of hosting the NDSC in mind. Aracena explained that a school must go through a rigorous appli- cation process in order to host the conference. “At the end of last year we submitted a proposal including a theme, panelists, where we would get our funding from, spaces we would use for the keynote speaker and our workshops,” Aracena wrote. “We basically had to plan the con- ference as though we had already gotten the gig.” Over the past few months, the students involved with the confer- ence have been contacting organiza- tions and speakers, finding hosts for students attending the conference, and ordering the necessary materi- als. The students hosting the con- ference said they feel it is important to bring events like this to campus. Aracena explained that she feels the conference will increase the visibil- ity of the Dominican community on campus. [noa thinks that the cre- ativity on the University’s campus makes it an appropriate site for the conference. “Wesleyan students are trail- blazers,” Inoa wrote. “I think we could share our ideas with the world, literally. It’s important to bring these types of events to our campus so others can get a taste of the way we think and do things around here.” Those involved in organizing the conference have high hopes for its success. “My hopes are that this con- ference will illuminate the re- search, projects and experiences of Dominican students, faculty and professionals who all contribute to the rich tapestry of American life and culture,” Mafijon wrote. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (178)
Text: 4+ NEWS Students Discuss Fighting N eoliberalism at Encuentro By Daniel Greenberg Assistant News Editor Eight Wesleyan students joined approximately
Show more4+ NEWS Students Discuss Fighting N eoliberalism at Encuentro By Daniel Greenberg Assistant News Editor Eight Wesleyan students joined approximately two to three hun- dred other participants at the New York City Encuentro for Humanity and Against Neoliberalism on Dec. 4. The Movement for Justice in El Barrio, a social justice organization in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, sponsored the encuen- tro (Spanish for “encounter”). “The point of the encuentro was to expand what it means to fight against capitalism and _neoliberal- ism in 2011,” said Paul Blasenheim "12. “[This was done] by bringing a diverse group of people together to talk about their liberal struggles and how we should unite different struggles across borders.” The Zapatista Army of National Liberation, a non-violent revolu- tionary Mexican leftist organization, created the first encuentro in 1996 as an organized conversation about the struggle against neoliberalism. Because of its background, Sunday's encuentro was intended to bring a multinational perspective. “I was interested in going be- cause their struggles against capital- ism present a transnational perspec- tive that brought together people that were fighting against capital- ism and neoliberalism,” Blasenheim said. After hearing about the en- cuentro from the Occupy Wesleyan Group, Rachel Fifer °12 worked to ensure that any interested students would be able to attend the event. She planned for the trip to New York to be as inexpensive as possible and received funding from the Student Budget Committee (SBC) to pay for gas and train tickets. “This [event] stood out to me because it was about having a con- versation, where people could talk about what they thought the prob- lems were,” Fifer said. “I thought this could be a really good thing for a lot of students here to experience an event where it’s not just scream- ing about change, but about hearing where people are coming from.” Of the students who attended the event, many expressed a similar interest in hearing diverse perspec- tives On opposition to capitalism and neoliberalism. “What I found most interesting about the encuentro and this orga- nization was that these people were telling the other side of the story,” said Michael Migiel-Schwartz °14. “We heard the story of neoliberalism from the perspective of working, or- dinary Americans, from the perspec- tive of the losers.” The event itself contained sev- eral presentations about various so- cial justice programs and struggles ongoing in both East Harlem and the international world. It also in- cluded a historical background on past encuentros. Several of the or- ganizers also served on a panel to discuss the various issues they are dealing with. “IT thought it was absolutely fantastic,” Blasenheim said. “Several social justice groups all came togeth- er to tell their stories and talk about issues such as police brutality, ten- ants’ rights, and more global strug- gles against neoliberalism, displace- ment, and capitalism.” However, other students who attended the event were more criti- cal about how the event progressed. “Most of the encuentro that I attended was about presentations.” Migiel-Schwartz said. “I think it would have been better for there to have been more conversation among the people there, because I thought that they were the best part of it.” THE WESLEYAN ARGUS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2011 C/O JAVIERSORIANO.COM Wesleyan students traveled to East Harlem, New York City to participate in an “encuentro.” Blasenheim, on the other hand, viewed the encuentro as a success and argued that the encuentro’s goal was primarily to educate. He further argued that this event could produce several other encuentros throughout America. “T think it was meant for people who weren't as organized to learn from the resistance that the Movement for Social Justice in EI Barrio uses, to use in their own work,” Blasenheim said. Blasenheim also called for bring- ing some of the ideas brought up at the encuentro back to Wesleyan. He accused the University of becoming increasingly capitalistic. “I think the change that it will bring will be a change here at Wesleyan,” Blasenheim said. “I think there is a lot of fighting here on campus against neoliberalism and I think that it is response to the fact that Wesleyan is beginning to run itself more and more like a cor- poration.” The effect that the encuentro will have on both the University and the nation as a whole remains un- determined. However several of the student attendants cited the event's emphasis on the effects of the cur- rent economic system on individuals as one of its strengths. “The focus should be on these people first.” Migiel-Schwartz said. “How do we deal with social justice and market price? There’s always a tension there. And that’s what this organization and others are pointing » out. �
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Title: Latinx Students at Wesleyan (177)
Text: .¢ me FEATURES Page 6 The Wesleyan Argus Friday, November 14, 2008 Latino Awareness Month highlights ‘Many Faces’ By Liz Wojnar Staff Writer When Luz
Show more.¢ me FEATURES Page 6 The Wesleyan Argus Friday, November 14, 2008 Latino Awareness Month highlights ‘Many Faces’ By Liz Wojnar Staff Writer When Luz Burgos ’09, one of the six members of the Ajua Campos Board, finished finals last spring, she still had school-related 2 tasks to complete—she began plan- .ning November’s 19th annual Latino ~ Awareness Month as early as July. Burgos started setting dates for 4 the month’s annual events, such as Convocation, Expresiones de Latinos and El Dia de los Trabajadores, and contacting possible speakers, as they vary from year to year. She even ar- - ranged for the cast of “Platanos and j Collard Greens”—a hit of Broadway romantic comedic play about an in- terracial couple—to perform at the University on Friday, Nov. 14. “You can't book theatre com- panies when you come back to Wesleyan, because it’s too short no- tice for them,” she explained. “If they are touring around campuses they have to spread out their tour in a way that is feasible. You can’t expect plan- ning to happen late September when SBC has just opened up.” Once back on campus in the fall, five underclassmen expressed interest in assisting Burgos in planning the logistics for the month and joined the Board: “We're trying to establish a way so it doesn’t all fall on one person or two people,” Luz said. The members of Ajua Campos then selected this year’s theme: “Embracing Our Culture: The Many Faces of Latinos.” “You can never have enough lawareness],” said Bulaong Ramiz ‘11, a co-chair for the month. “Latino culture is not one thing.” Lesly Alvarado ’11, another co- chair, commented on the month's emphasis on campus outreach. “We want to promote awareness of Latinos on campus and promote diversity,” Alvarado said. “We are not an exclusive community. We are try- ing to open up and be a part of the Wesleyan community.” But while the Board aims to present their events to the entire University community, they noted that often their events are under-at- tended by non-students of color. They design the month so that they can share Latino culture with every- one, not only with the Latino popu- lation. “The goal [of the month] is to make others more familiar with Latino culture, not just the stereotypes,” Burgos said. “You can’t categorize and break it down to one identity. It’s for Wesleyan to learn more. It’s kind of disappointing to see not a lot of non- students of color turn out.” In addition to representing the diversity within and across Latino cultures, the month’s events seek to explore what it means to be inter- racial or “brown,” and to feel in be- tween cultural identities. “We group people together in black and white, not the spectrum that includes so many other people,” Burgos said. “Like with sexuality, there’s a spectrum when it comes to cultures and races, and there's no talk of that...just having an African American studies department and Latino studies department is not enough.” As November is Native American Awareness Month, the Board also at- tempted to tie these themes together in bringing in a unique speaker: Bobby Gonzales, a Taino Puerto Rican, who will speak about his mul- ticultural background and the United States as a multicultural society on Friday Nov. 21. “November [is] Native American month nationally, which was one of the reasons we are having Bobby Gonzales, recognizing indigenity in Latino culture,” Burgos said. Burgos also commented on the fact that despite the University’s nick- name as “Diversity University,” much of this supposed diversity is actually celebrated through student, not uni- versity, work. “People forget that ‘Diversity University’ is created by these months,” she said. “It's not the University, it’s the students. Students are not recognized enough.” While there are many upcom- ing events and lectures, this week- end is especially packed, includ- ing tonight’s play of “Platanos and Collard Greens,” which will be held in Crowell Concert Hall. On Saturday night, La Casa will host “Café Frida,” a showcase of stu- dent artwork, with Latino snacks: A panel on Sunday will discuss “What does it mean to be Latino?” at 8 p.m. at Malcolm X House, and on Tuesday, Pulitzer Prize winning Dominican- American writer Junot Diaz will speak (time and location to be announced). Latino Awareness Month will culminate on Dec. 6, with Noche de Gala, a formal dance for students, alumni and staff. Information about Latino Awareness Month events is posted on a calendar near the Box Office in Usdan, and also on the Wesleyan website at http://www. wesleyan. edu/stuact/lam08. html. Editor-in-Chief Miriam Leshin con- tributed to this article. C/O SCARLETT FELIZ Harold Flores ’09 (above) and Luz Burgos ’09 (below) both spoke at Latino Awareness Month's kickoff event of Convocation, which also featured several other student and alumni speakers. �
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