Tag: Center for Mexican American Studies and Research

University community invited to create Día de los Muertos ofrendas

The Education Department, Center for Mexican American Studies and Research, and Sueltenfuss Library invite you to view Día de los Muertos ofrendas created by students, faculty, and staff, and contribute a photo of your loved one. The ofrendas will be on display beginning Thursday and will remain until Nov. 3. Ofrendas will be display on the second and third floors of Moye Hall and at the front entrance of the library.

Additionally, OLLU will welcome and greet approximately 139 students from neighboring Rodriguez Montessori Elementary who will be on site Thursday from 12:25 to 3 p.m. to view the ofrendas.

Everyone is invited to create their own ofrenda or contribute a photograph of your loved one.   Please let Dr. Belinda Schouten know how you would like to participate in this event. Email her at btschouten@ollusa.edu.

CMASR to host Refusing To Forget Roundtable

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Research (CMASR) will host the award-winning public history organization Refusing to Forget to discuss their work in bringing light to state-sponsored anti-Mexican violence in the early 20th century in South Texas and beyond. The event will be held
Tuesday, Sept. 17
12:20 p.m.
Main Building, Room 311

Refusing to Forget members who will be in attendance include:

  • Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, South Texas College
  • Dr. John Moran Gonzalez, University of Texas
  • Juan Carmona, South Texas College and Donna High School
  • Dr. Benjamin Johnson, Loyola University-Chicago
  • Dr. Christopher Carmona, Our Lady of the Lake University

The university community is invited to join the discussion and meet members of the important effort to combat the erasure of this history.

Learn more about Refusing to Forget at www.refusingtoforget.org.

For information on the event, contact Dr. Carmona at ccarmona@ollusa.edu.

‘Listening to Wars’ presentation to be held on Wednesday

Dr. Christina Baker, Professor of Latin x American Theater at Temple University, will present “Listening to Wars: Enacting Violence on the Contemporary Mexican Stage” in Main Building, Room 311 at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The one-hour talk will center on how theater artists use the aural realm to represent the sonic impact of Felipe Calderone’s “War on Drugs” and ongoing instances of violence. 

Lunch will be provided.

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Research, the Center for Women in Church in Society and the Humanities and Social Sciences Department is hosting the event.

Those interested may also attend virtually at bit.ly/3V6wRX7. For questions, contact Dr. Jessica Hajek at jchajek@ollusa.edu.

Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day on Oct. 11

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Research (CMASR), Saints Production Board and International Folk Culture Center will host an Indigenous People’s Day Celebration on Oct. 11 from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Mall Area.

The event will feature Excy Guardado, who will perform indigenous poetry and flute. There also will be music, artist demonstrations, Pow Wow dancers, stories and food.

Indigenous People’s Day is part of a series of Raza Heritage events being presented by the CMASR from now through November.

Indigenous People’s DayDownload
Raza Heritage 2021 (004)Download

OLLU receives $250,000 to continue first-generation and Hispanic student initiatives

Carlos Alvarez has pledged $250,000 to provide continued funding for programs that serve first-generation and Hispanic university students through OLLU’s Higher Education for a New America (HENA) initiative.

Through this initiative OLLU seeks to become a national model by building on its strengths as a Hispanic-serving institution through special attention to the recruitment, retention and ultimate graduation of all the students it serves. Special programs funded through HENA include OLLU’s Center for Mexican American Studies and Research (CMASR) and the revitalized Comparative Mexican American Studies Program.

This is the second gift Mr. Alvarez has provided for the HENA initiative through his Impetus Foundation. His first gift, also $250,000, was donated in 2010 to launch HENA.

In a letter to OLLU President Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP, PhD, announcing the gift, Alvarez stated he was doing so to “honor your service and dedication during your presidency.”

“This generous gift will support student, faculty, and staff involvement in curricular and extracurricular cultural programming, international and bilingual programs, as well as research and community engagement,” said Dr. Ezequiel Peña, director of the CMASR.

The gift was presented during the Sister Jane Ann Slater Tribute Dinner held at the Omni Hotel on June 16. The event helped raise more than $170,000 toward an endowment in the name of Sister Slater, who will be stepping down as president next month to become the chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Mexican American Studies Conference and Student Research Symposium this week

The Center for Mexican American Studies and Research will be holding its annual conference March 27-28. This year’s theme, “Adding ‘Arts’ to STEM: A Culturally Relevant STEAM,” will showcase and promote student and faculty scholarly and creative activities, which contribute to a broader and deeper understanding of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines and how incorporating arts and culture can engage more students in these fields of study.

The conference will include a Student Scholarly and Creative Activity Symposium on Thursday and the STEAM Professional Development Institute on Friday. Registration is required for the STEAM Institute.

View full conference schedule at www.ollusa.edu/CMASR2014.

History Department presenting two PBS documentaries

The History Department is teaming up with the Center for Mexican American Studies and Research to present two PBS documentaries this semester to promote the new Bachelor of Arts in History degree with a concentration in Integrated Digital and Public History.

ManyRiverstoCrossThe first documentary that will be screened is, “African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross.” The first installment of the film will be screened tomorrow from 12:30-1:20 p.m. The film, by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, PhD, chronicles the rich history of African Americans in the United States from the horrors of slavery to the triumph of President Barack Obama. The film will be screened weekly through February.

LatinoAmericansThe second documentary is, “Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy that Shaped a Nation.” The documentary, based on Ray Suarez’s book of the same title, is the first major documentary film series about Latinos in the United States, from the Spanish Colonial Period to the Chicano Movement. Screening of the film will begin in March and run through April.

To view the full viewing schedule for each documentary, click here.