Last week, we talked with Kim Dominguez from the Social Justice Education Project in the UA Mexican American Studies department about issues brewing in the department between SJEP and the MAS department head and other department faculty.

After the story was published, we did hear back from Dean John Paul Jones of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, regarding what issue the UA Administration has with SJEP and UNIDOS, the student-led group defending Tucson Unified School District’s now dismantled MAS department.

Jones wrote us back, “As you know, some members of UNIDOS are enrolled TUSD students. We have asked only that meetings held on campus not conflict with the District’s daily school schedule. No other restrictions on space have been issued by the administration.”

We also heard back from other knowledgable about the department and its internal struggles, that asked not to be identified, after the story was published Jones asked to meet with MAS faculty on Monday, May 7. Faculty meetings in the MAS department, from what we understand, are a rare occurrence — beyond issues with the UA administration, there is conflict between faculty that forced the department to abandon faculty meetings for many months.

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 10, SJEP and UNIDOS are holding a press conference on the two-year anniversary of HB2281 at the UA Cesar E. Chavez Building, 3:30 p.m.

The press release, below the cut:

May 10th 2012 marks the two-year anniversary of when Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2281 into law. This besieged community has since resiliently continued to pursue education, teach, organize and mobilize with and for students of color. In effort to comply with HB2281, Tucson Unified School District has banned the highly effective program, boxed and stored its books as well as curriculum materials, and fired teachers along with the director. State Superintendent John Huppenthal has publicly stated the University of Arizona’s Mexican American Studies is next. Here is where we, Social Justice Education Project (SJEP) and UNIDOS, again, find ourselves in the cross-hairs of Arizona’s anti-Latino politics, TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone and AZ John Huppenthal once again. TUSD hate has infiltrated our entire community, including the university, with communications to UA MAS Department Head demanding UA MAS discontinue any public displays of solidarity. Chican@s have been silenced in Tucson.

Mexican American and Raza studies, unlike other departments and academic areas of focus, were and continue to be in high demand from the Chican@ community. We are here today to ensure our university faculty and administration is aware of the historical background of this department and its community ties.

This article appears in May 3-9, 2012.

6 replies on “UA Mexican American Studies Press Conference Thursday, May 10”

  3. This is so weird. Most of the cleaning and maintenance staff at the U of A campus are Mexicans.

    The Hispanic community in Tucson is part of the wonderful culture here, with family owned restaurants and other businesses, that have been in business some 30 plus years.

    And I, for one, absolutely LOVE Mexican food. And the music. And the dancers, when they perform at concerts and fairs around this great city. Our new City Manager is a Mexican American for gosh sakes!

    We even have a State Senator who is Hispanic, Raul Grijalva, remember?

    It seems to me the entire issue is at cross purposes, and one thing contradicts the other.

    Talk about paradoxes! This is nothing short of immature and infantile mentality, and the refusal to see people as human beings, regardless of race, color, creed, culture, lifestyle etc. Is Arizona to become known as the Hate State? Is this country to become the same?

    It is time to open people’s minds…and more importantly, their hearts. Enough is enough.

    What a bunch of control freaks!

    What with the new Border Patrol laws, and Governor Jan Brewer’s continuous obvious anti-Mexica/Hispanic mindset, how these issues are to be resolved is beyond my understanding.

    There are also a lot of Mexican American students at the U of A.

    Honestly, I just don’t GET it.

    Why all the prejudice? It is nothing short of sheer racism, and I am sure Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. must be rolling in his grave over this. Heck there is even a Martin Luther King Center at the U of A campus! Good grief. This has to STOP!!!!

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