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LALS News
June 3, 2024
What we do is so important
Last week I was inspired by this excellent piece co-written by our Chair, Professor Catherine Ramírez, introducing a two-week series of contributions that "examine the legacy of the Immigration Act of 1924 and the simultaneous launching of the Border Patrol." You'll find other pieces in the series by LALS Assistant Professor Carlos Martinez, and LALS PhD Mauricio Ramírez (forthcoming). If you want more inspiration, come see your peers and favorite TAs online (Zoom) as they give presentations at this Wednesday's research symposium. You can also find inspiration in community, at our end of year gathering this Friday, now at Abbott Square. All LALS affiliates are encouraged to attend!
New in this newsletter:
- LALS End of Year Gathering on June 7th @ 4pm-6pm - now at Abbott Square
- LALS Research Symposium on June 5th @ 11:30am - now on Zoom
- Find out more about the Underground Scholars
- In-person summer class on Latina/o/x Politics
Repeat items:
- Fall quarter and Changes to the LALS 2024-25 Catalog
- Summer enrollment is under way - check out our LALS classes (all online)!
- Checking your Degree Progress and Remaining Requirements
- LALS Student Resources Survey: we want to support you in your career and graduate school plans
LALS News & Events
Meet up with your LALS Community: all students welcome!
Let's take some time to reflect on the many accomplishments of our department and community over the past year! Or just have some pizza and a chat with your LALS peers, faculty, and staff.
Our plans have changed a few times, but this is the last one, we promise! RSVP so we have an idea of who's coming.
Friday, June 7th, 2024
4:00-6:00 PM
Abbott Square
118 Cooper Street
Join LALS faculty, staff, and students at this year's Student Research Symposium!
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 963 3869 9437
Passcode: LALS
OUR 2024 PRESENTERS:
- Zoe Alamillo - Traces of a Disaster: Visualizing Community Resilience in the Wake of the Pajaro Levee Breach
- Bree Booth - Robar y Seducir: The Case of Jose Eusebio Rodriguez
- Sabrina Lamance - Joel Frankel Presentation - In What Ways Does Argentina Ensure Democratic Integrity?
- Hayley Sanchez - Joel Frankel Presentation - Green spaces found in the urban landscape of Buenos Aires
- Sofia Trigueros Ufford - Wildlife Education in Costa Rica (Exploración de Herpetología: Para la Educación de Todos)
- Elsie Vizcarra - Joel Frankel Presentation - Global Planet of Children's "Tiempo de Communicarnos" Project
Introduction to Latina/o/x Politics - Summer Course
Looking for an in-person course this summer? Check out this opportunity:
POLI 31: Introduction to Latina/o/x Politics
Summer Session 2: July -August
Instructor: Anthony Bencomo, M.A.
Email: abencomo@ucsc.edu
Course Description:
In this course, we will use the tools of political science to understand the Latina/o/x community and politics within the United States context. The course is built around five main themes: the politics of identity, voting, immigration, social movements, and legitimacy/trust, with each week focused on one of these elements. Within these broad categories, we will ask questions about gender, citizenship, class, sexuality, and, most importantly, the complexities of power as it relates to political behavior. Much academic attention in political science has been devoted to discussions of the enigma of the Latina/o/x vote. While this work is crucial, in this course, we will also analyze the Latina/o/x community in relation to other political and social elements. Though the course will focus primarily on the politics of Latina/o/x groups in the United States, there will be discussions of connections to Latin America when appropriate. Throughout this course, we will link empirical case studies with the theoretical foundations to push our understanding of the politics of the Latina/o/x community.
Repeat Newsletter Items
Changes to LALS Catalog Requirements in 2024**
**New info: if you were told that you would need to update to the Fall 2024 catalog for your LALS major, that change is now in the system! Email lalsadvising@ucsc.edu if you have any questions.
Read below for information about our new LALS core sequence, additional introductory pathways to the minor and major, and a brand new combined major with the Education Department! Here's a snapshot of the changes, which have been approved but are not yet up on the catalog website.
Students can now choose one of three intro classes for the minor and major (previously LALS 1 was the only option for all majors):
- LALS 1: Intro to Latin American and Latino Studies - offered Winter 2025 with Professor Ramírez
- LALS 5: Intro to Human Rights and Social Justice - offered Fall 2024 with Professor Taft
- LALS 10: Intro to Chicanx/Latinx Studies (Online) - offered Spring 2024 with Professor Arredondo
Students beginning their LALS core courses this quarter (Spring 2024) or next year will take only two core courses and the research lab:
- LALS 100: Concepts and Theories in LALS - offered Winter 2025 with Professor Falcón
- LALS 100A + 100L: Research in LALS + Lab - offered Spring 2025 with Professor Erbig
LALS majors using the 2024 catalog will take five upper-division electives rather than four (combined majors will still take two upper-division electives in LALS). Check out our tentative courses for the 2024-2025 academic year - lots of great options! And you can view the requirements for the New Combined Major in LALS and Education, Democracy, and Justice (EDJ).
Are you looking for a Spanish-language elective? LALS doesn't have one in fall, but you can check out these options: SPAN 105/LIT 189C & LIT 189A
If you have enrollment or prerequisite questions about LALS classes, please email lalsadvising@ucsc.edu and we'll get back to you ASAP.
Checking your Degree Progress and Remaining Requirements
Are you unsure of your remaining requirements? Here are some ways to find out:
- The shared plan you made with the advisor in Google sheets (the name of the plan should be your last name/s and your SID number)
- The Degree Progress Report
- The Catalog Requirements for your LALS program (for 2021, 2022, and 2023)
- Email lalsadvising@ucsc.edu!
LALS Student Resources Survey - Careers and Grad School
Please consider taking 5 minutes of your time to complete this LALS Student Resources Survey, part of a project in development with Assistant Professor Carlos Martinez and our LALS Advising Office. Help us help you get ready for your next steps after graduating!
The UC Undergraduate Experience Survey has opened for enrolled undergraduates and will run throughout spring quarter. The survey helps support departments during academic program reviews, by allowing confidential feedback from students about the quality of instruction, advising, and other aspects of the academic experience. It also provides information about students' experiences with the campus climate and basic needs.
As of May, LALS is in second place in our division for our rate of return, which is awesome! Let's bring it all the way home to first place and give voice to your experience in LALS and at UCSC!!
Counseling and Psych Services - resources on campus and online
Is it time for a self-care break?
Anxiety Toolbox: https://caps.ucsc.edu/groups-and-workshops/anxiety-toolbox.html
30-minute Relaxation: https://caps.ucsc.edu/groups-and-workshops/30-minute-relaxation.html
Groups and Workshops: https://caps.ucsc.edu/groups-and-workshops/groups.html
LALS Undergraduate Advising
https://www.instagram.com/lals_ucsc/
Email: lalsadvising@ucsc.edu
Website: https://lals.ucsc.edu/undergraduate
Location: University of California Santa Cruz, High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Phone: (831) 459-2119