MALCS Archive

(MALCS) Women Active in Letters and Social Change

MALCS Special Conference 11/6 San Antonio

MALCS Special Conference
Bridging Letras y Cambio Social
November 6th and 7th, 2010
San Antonio, Tejas

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

Flor's Keynote Address, Arizona MALCS Institute,

Flor Crisostomo’s Keynote Address, MALCS Arizona Institute, July 22, 2010, Phoenix

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

More Violence Against the Women of Juarez

By Nicole Guidotti-Hernandez, from the blog of Ms. Magazine …

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…

Arizona State Institute Webcast

Chair Keta Miranda writes:

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 (https://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 https://live.asu.edu/2010/07/new-college-of-interdisciplinary-arts-sciences/.

Rest in peace, Dr. Karin Duran

From Susan C. Curzon, Dean, CSUN University Library

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: https://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.

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