Friend, Colleague, Professor, Mentor, Inspiration Don Luis Leal Dies at 102

ProfessorEmeritusLuisLealatwork(copyrightUCSB,2008).

ByFranciscoLomelí

UCSBEmeritusProfessorLuisLealwasborninLinares,NuevoLeón(Mexico)onSeptemberl7,l907.LealexperiencedtheMexicanRevolution,theGreatDepression,WorldWarII(asasoldier),theCivilRightsera,theChicanoMovement,theestablishmentofthefirstPhDinChicanoStudiesintheUnitedStatesatUCSB,andthefinancialcollapseofthelastdecade.Duringthistime,hetaughtattheUniversityofChicago,theUniversityofMississippi,EmoryUniversity,andtheUniversityofIllinoisatChampaign‐Urbana(l7years),beforecomingtoUCSB,wherehehasengagedthecampusandtowncommunitiesforthelast30years.DonLuis,ashewasknownbycolleaguesandfriends,diedattheageofl02onJanuary25,2010.

DonLuisimmigratedtotheU.S.inl926tostudymathematicsbuthewassoonluredintothestudyofLatinAmericanliterature.ForhisdoctoratehefocusedonMexicanliterature,afieldthatinthel940sandl950swasvirtuallyignoredbytheacademy.Lealgainedinitialnotorietyinl956principallythroughhisunmatchedBrevehistoriadelcuentomexicano

(BriefHistoryoftheMexicanShortStory),amanuscriptthatwellexhibitshismeticulousandoriginalresearch.HewentontoproduceapopularbookonMexicanculturetitledMéxico:civilizacionesyculturas(Mexico:CivilizationsandCultures),inadditiontomonographicstudiesonMexicannovelistsJuanRulfoandMarianoAzuela(thelatter,theauthorofLosdeabajoorTheUnderdogs).Leal’sinterestintheMexicanRevolutionpeakedwithhisbookCuentosdelaRevolución(ShortStoriesoftheMexicanRevolution).HeeventuallycametobeconsideredthetopexpertonthesubjectofLatinAmericanMagicalRealismandMexicanliteratureoverall.

Itwasnotuntilhe

retiredfromtheUniversityofIllinoisandmovedtoGoletain1976thatDonLuisembarkedonanothercareer:scholarofChicanoliteraryhistory.HisoutstandingworkinthefieldofChicanoliteratureincludes:AztlányMéxico:perfilesliterariosehistóricos(AztlanandMexico:LiteraryandHistoricalProfiles),NoLongerVoiceless,andoverl00articlesonChicanoorU.S.Latinoauthorsandtopics.HisstudiesonChicanoliteraryhistorynaturallygrewfromhisexpertiseinLatin

Americanliterature,clearlyoutliningtheoriginsofatraditionasfarbackasthel550s.

ProfessorLealwasalsoatirelesscommunityparticipant,havingservedasaboardmemberofLaCasadelaRazaandotherorganizations.Hismanyachievementsledtonumerousawardsandrecognitions,suchastheSantaBarbaraHispanicAchievementCouncilawardandtheScholaroftheYearbytheNationalAssociationforChicana

andChicanoStudies.HisawardsincreasedinstatureandsignificanceduringhislateryearswiththeprestigiousAztecEagleinl99lfromtheMexicanPresidentCarlosSalinasdeGortari.ThisawardwasinturnpartlyresponsiblefortheestablishmentoftheLuisLealEndowedChairinChicanoStudiesatUCSBinl995,heldpreviouslybyProfessorMariaHerrera‐Sobek,andheldnowbyProfessorAídaHurtado.Inl997LuisLealreceivedthe

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NewsNepantlafrom

INSIDE CHAIR’S MESSAGE 2 UPCOMING EVENTS 2 PHOTOS 3 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT 4 DEPARTMENT NEWS 5

UCSBChican@StudiesNewsletter,Winter,2010,No.1

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UCSB CHICANA/O STUDIES Department Faculty

Gerardo Aldana

Ralph Armbruster-

Sandoval

Edwina Barvosa

Dolores Inés

Casillas

Mario Garcia

María Herrera-

Sobek

Aída Hurtado

Francisco Lomelí

Horacio Roque

Ramirez

Chela Sandoval

Tara Yosso

Department Staff

Sonya Baker

Joann Erving

Katherine Morales

Department Office

1713 South Hall University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93106 (805) 893-3012 (805) 893-4076 ucsbchstnews @gmail.com

www.chicst.ucsb.edu Newsletter Editors:

Gerardo Aldana Inés Casillas Aída Hurtado

MESSAGEFROMTHECHAIRMarch1,2010markedmy9thweekanniversaryservingasChairoftheUCSBChicanaandChicanoStudiesDepartment.ImustsaythatithasbeenapleasureandhonortofollowinthefootstepsProfessorofAnthropologyJuanVicentePalerm,whoservedasInterimChairforthelastcoupleofyears.Underhisabledirection,thedepartmentmovedforwardwithmanyaccomplishments,includingtherevisionofthegraduateprogram’srequirements,increasingthenumberofmajorstocloseto200,andthesuccessfulrecruitmentofanewChair.Hisdedication,wisdom,andfair‐mindednesssustainedthedepartmentuntilanewChairwasrecruited.Hispositiveleadershipalsomadethedepartmentfertilegroundfornewandexcitingdevelopments.Hewillbesorelymissed.

Myinitialexcitementaboutassumingthisnewandexcitingpositionwastemperedonthe4thweekofthequarter.Thehonorable,esteemedanddistinguishedcolleagueProfessorLuisLealdiedattheageof102(seethespecialcommentaryinthisissuebyProfessorFranciscoLomelí,amemberofourdepartmentandChairoftheDepartmentofSpanishandPortuguese).Thepassingof

DonLuis,ashisfriendsandcolleaguesaffectionatelycalledhim,gavemetheopportunitytomeetthelargerChicana/Latinocommunityoncampusandbeyond.IndividualsreturnedtoUCSBtogiveDonLuisonefinalfarewellanditwasthroughtheirtestimoniosduringthememorialserviceandentierrothatIwitnessedthesolidarity,history,andaffectionmanyindividualshadforDonLuisandthedepartmenthehelpedbuild.IwashumbledbyDonLuis’svision,dedication,scholarshipanddreamsfortheDepartmentofChicanaandChicanoStudies.Ifeelhonoredtofollowthemapheandotherslaidbeforeusandlookforwardtohelpmakethedreamcometofruition.

Amongthedevelopmentsinthedepartmentisthise‐newsletter,whichProfessorsGerardoAldanaandInésCasillashavegraciouslyagreedtoproduce.Wewantedtocreateaspaceofcommunicationwithourvariouscommunitiesandconstituenciestoacknowledgeouraccomplishments,announceourfutureplans,andhighlightmanyaspectsofourdepartment.Thee‐newsletterwillbeproducedquarterly(exceptduringthesummer)andwehopetogainextensivereadershiplocally,nationally,andinternationally.Welookforwardtoyourreactionsandsuggestionstomakeoure‐newsletterasuccessandsomethingtolookforwardtoeachquarter.Anyandallsuggestionsarewelcome.Insolidarity,AídaHurtadoChairoftheDepartmentofChicana/oStudiesandLuisLealEndowedChair

LuisLeal,cont.fromPage1NationalMedalfortheHumanitiesfromthenPresidentBillClinton.

ManyhavereferredtoDonLuisas“elmaestrodemaestros”(theteacherofteachers),reflectedinpartinadualconferenceatUCSBandMexicoCityontheoccasionofhis100thbirthdayin2007.Thebookl00añosdelealtad/l00YearsofLoyalty:InHonorofLuisLealconsistedofessaysbyoveronehundredcontributors,takingupl,456pages.Thismonumentalworkspeaksdirectlytohisregardasascholarwhohastouchedinnumerableliveswithhiserudition,generosity,encouragement,exampleandhumor.

Hewillbemissed.UP‐COMINGEVENTS:

LATINA/OEDUCATION&ADVOCACYDAYMondayMarch29,20108am‐5:30pm4205EducationContact:Prof.TaraYosso,yosso@chicst.ucsb.eduSPRINGQUARTER:CHSTCOLLOQUIUMSERIESWednesdays,4‐5pmDoloresHuertaGatheringRoom,1623SouthHall

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ThisQuarterinImages

UCSBstudentsandfacultyattheUCLASexyCorazónConference,February12.FacultyatthefuneralofDr.LuisLeal,February1.UCLAProfessorofEducationDanielSolórzano’slectureonracialmicroaggressionsattheMCC,March1.FacultyandStaffRetreatandwelcomeforincomingDepartmentChair,ProfessorAídaHurtado,December15.HieroglyphicmemorialforProfessorEmeritusLuisLeal.

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FACULTYSPOTLIGHTProfessorDoloresInésCasillasAssistantProfessorDoloresInésCasillasjoinedthefacultyin2007.Priortothat,sheheldaprestigiousUniversityofCaliforniaPresident’sPostdoctoralFellowshipatUCSantaCruz,havingearnedherPh.D.attheUniversityofMichiganinAmericanCulture.ProfessorCasillasexaminesrace,genderandlanguagepoliticsinthemedia,withastrongfocusonradioasasiteofpoliticalassertionandregulation.Sherecentlypublished“AMorningDoseofLatinoMasculinity:U.S.Spanish‐languageRadioandthePoliticsofGender”(Latina/oCommunicationStudiesToday,2008),andisteachingCHST107,“PoliticsofLanguage,Accent,andTranslation.”ProfessorCasillasservestheDepartmentasChairofitsUndergraduateCommittee.ShelivesinSantaBarbarawithherson,Lazlo,andpartnerAndrewCsordás.CHST:Whatdoyoubelievetobethemostexcitingtrendsinyourfield?IC:EventhoughtheareaofLatinoMediaStudiesisrelativelynew,there’sacropofwomenouttherewhohaveanimpressiveemphasisongender.IsabelMolinaGuzmanjustcameoutwithabookcalled,Dangerous

Curves:LatinaBodiesintheMedia;DeborahParedezwroteaphenomenalbookabouthowwerememberSelena;MaríaElenaCepedajustcameoutwithabookcalledMusicalImagiNationaboutColombianidentityandtheLatinMusicBoom.There’sjustalotofexcitingworkandit’snotsuperficialorjusttextualanalysis;it’sreallyinterdisciplinary;it’sambitious;andit’sreallychallengingtraditionalnormsabouthowweviewLatinoStudies.So,I’mreallyinspiredbythesecolleaguesatdifferentuniversitieswhoarecontributingtothiskindofgenderedspecificfocus.CHST:Whatintellectualfadsdoyouthinkhavepassedtheirlimelightorareontheirwayout?IC:Ithinkdefinitelythe—thismightbetoodisciplinespecific—buttheideaof“viewerresistance.”Thewholeideathat‘we’regoingtobuythatandit’s[anactof]resistance.’Andwe’regoingtotuneintothatandit’sresistance.InMediaStudies…Ithinkit’safad.Likeyouknowwhat?They’reconsumers;it’sacapitalistsystem,andwemightbeover‐readingit.CHST:Sothatthetropealmosttookoverthedata?IC:Exactly.CHST:Whoweretwouniquecontributorstoyouracademicaspirationsandformation?IC:Well,definitely,myundergraduatementor,AdaljizaSosa‐Riddell[UCDavisProfessorEmeritaofChicana/oStudiesandFounderoftheUCDChicana/LatinaResearchCenter].Shementoredmefortwoyears.Shetaughtmetoconsider–eachtimeIwrite

something–itspoliticalsignificance.EveninMediaStudiesorLatinoStudies,shewouldalwaysaskthat.So,evenanencyclopediaentryIjustco‐authoredwitha[UCSBCHST]undergraduatestudent,youknow,Icatchmyselfaskinghimthattoo.Howarewegoingdefinethisterm?Whatisitspoliticalsignificance?

Andtheotherperson,definitely,wouldbeRosaLindaFregoso[UCSCProfessorofLatinAmericaandLatinoStudies].Sheservedonmydissertationcommittee;shewasmypost‐docmentor.Irefertoherasmyacademicmadrina,becauseIfeelsospoiledbyher.Iaskforaletter,oradviceorfeedbackandsomehowIgetit,whichiswhatgodmothersdo.CHST:Youhaveayoungchildandapartnerwhoalsoworksfulltime.Doyouhaveanyritualsthathelpyoukeepabalance?IC:Everyweekend,weschedulesomethingforus,whichishardtodowithapartnerwhoalsoworksfulltimeattheuniversity.Butwedo.Everyweekend,weask:whatisgoingtobeoureventthisweekend?Thatisnotanerrand.We’renotgoingtogotoCostcoasourevent.We’llgotothezoo;walkalongthewater;visitapark.Andthathelps.CHST:Wheredidyougrowupanddoyouthinkithasanimpactonwhatyoudotoday?IC:IwasborninStockton,butIwasraisedinasmalltowncalledWeed,California.It’sfortyminutesfromtheOregonborder.Ithasapopulationofthreethousand.IthasthelargestAfricanAmericancommunitynorthofSacramento.The

predominantAsiancommunitythereisLaotianandCambodian—mainlyrefugee.AndthemajorityofMexicansaremigrants,becauseitislocatedin‐betweentheCentralValleytomatoesandtheWashingtonapples.Sopeoplewouldsettleinthere.Andtheaveragesocio‐economicstatus—IthinkthelasttimeIchecked—wasliketwenty‐seventhousanddollarsayear.It’sverydifferenttogrowupinaverysmallcommunity.WehavethisstereotypethatLatinoStudiesorChicanoStudiesisinL.A.;thatit’sintheseurbanareas.AndwehavestereotypesaboutruralLatinosorMexicanos.AndIhavefoughtagainstthat,saying:actually,that’snotthecaseatall.Andeveninmywork,oneofthechapterslooksatradio,duringtheChicanoMovementinruralareas,asawayofsayingthattherewereMovementactivitiesinplacesthatwerenotL.A.Anditdidn’thavetobeamarchanditdidn’thavetobeontelevision.Itcouldbeintheseotherkindofmediumsandinthesedifferentmodesandstillbeverypolitical.SomaybeinthatwayI’malways,I’mconstantlydefendingruralMexicanos,ruralLatinos.CHST:Whatwasyourfavoriteclassingraduateschool?IC:Actually,myfavoriteclassingraduateschoolwas…it’smyfavoriteclasstoteachnow.Andit’sapoliticsoflanguageclass.Icallit‘politicsoflanguage,accent,andtranslation.’ItookitwithFrancesAparicio,whobecamemyco‐chair.Butitwasallaboutlanguageideologies.Latinos,howtheyaresurveilledwhentheyspeakSpanish.They’resurveilled

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SELECTRECENTTALKS&PUBLICATIONSGerardoAldana.“Gender,theMaizeGod,andthePoliticsofFertility:are‐contextualizationofClassicMayanritualbloodlettinginAncientMesoamerica.”NationalHispanicHeritageMonthaddresstotheNationalLibraryofMedicine,Washington,D.C.,October28,2009.EdwinaBarvosa.“MultipleIdentityTheoryandtheImplementationofSchoolIntegrationPoliciesintheEraofVoluntaryIntegration,”Paperdeliveredatthe2009AnnualMeetingoftheAmericanPoliticalScienceAssociation,Toronto,Canada,September5,2009.MarioGarcia,ed.ChicanoLiberationTheology:TheWritingsandDocumentsofRichardCruzandCatólicosPorLaRaza.Dubuque,IA:KendallHuntPublishers,2009AidaHurtado.“‘Liftingasweclimb’:EducatedChicanas’socialidentitiesandcommitmenttosocialaction.”InMexicansinCalifornia:Transformationsandchallenges,editedbyRamonGutierrezandPatZavella,111‐129.Chicago:UniversityofIllinoisPress,Chicago,2009TaraJ.Yosso,W.A.Smith,M.Ceja,&D.G.Solórzano.“Criticalracetheory,racialmicroaggressions,andcampusracialclimateforLatina/oundergraduates.”HarvardEducationalReview,79,4,(2009):659‐691.InWinterQuarter,2010,MarioGarciaorganizedaconference“TheMexicanRevolutionof1910:A

CentennialConference.”ThekeynotespeakerwasProf.RamónEduardoRuiz.Thefilmmaker,RayTelles,previewedhisforthcomingPBSdocumentary“TheStormThatSweptMexico.”PanelparticipantsincludedProf.KateBruhnfromUCSBandProf.AlexSaragozafromUCBerkeley.DEPARTMENTAWARDSAidaHurtadowasalsoawardedthe2010AssociationforWomeninPsychologyDistinguishedPublicationAwardfortheSexRolesspecialissue,"IntersectionalityofSocialIdentities:AGenderPerspective,"whichincludedthearticle:Hurtado,A.,&M.Sinha,“Morethanmen:Latinofeministmasculinitiesandintersectionality.”SexRoles59(2008):337‐349.TaraYosso’sCriticalRaceCounterstoriesAlongtheChicana/ChicanoEducationalPipeline,(Routledge)washonoredin2009withtheAmericanEducationalStudiesAssociation’s2008Critics’ChoiceBookAward.FACULTYSPOTLIGHT(cont.)whentheyspeakEnglish.ApariciowaslinkingittoAnzaldua’sideaoflinguisticviolence.Itwasanamazingcourse.Andoneoftheassignmentswastowritealinguisticautobiography.Fivepages—anditwas,tothisday,oneofthehardestpapersI’veeverhadtowrite.WhichIthoughtwassocompelling.AndIlovedit.Andit’soneofmyfavoriteclassesnowtoteach,andtheyallwritelinguisticautobiographies.IthinkIrelateathowdifficultitis,andevenafteralltheseyears,Iempathizewith

themwhenI’mreadingit.AndIonlyreadliketwoorthreeaday,becausethey’resoheavy.SothatdefinitelywasmyfavoriteclassthatItookandmyfavoriteclassIteach.CHST:WhatwillyoubedoingonDecember22,2012?IC:[Longpause]December22,2012?[Laugh]Wheredidyoucomeupwiththat?[Laugh]CHST:Good.Nextquestion.WhendidyourealizeyouwereaChicana/oStudiesscholar?IC:IthinkIrealizedthatwhenIwasgettingmyMaster’sinEducationatMichigan.ItwassupposedtobeatheoreticallybasedM.A.Idon’twanttobetoonegative,butinanutshell,Ididn’tfeelaschallenged.AndIrememberthinking:myChicanoStudiesandmygendercoursesasanundergraduateweresomuchharderthanthisMaster’sprogram.AndyetIjusttraveledacrossthecountrytobeataprogramthat’stopteninthenation.Andthere,that’swhenIknewIwouldratherfreakoutaboutatopicandapaperandstrugglewith

it,thanfeellikeI’mwastingmytimeintheclassroom.AndIthinkthat’swhenIknew:okay,Idon’tthinkthisarea’sforme.IthinkIneedtopursuemoreChicanoStudies,LatinoStudiestypetopics.

MAYAN SUDOKU

CONTACTUS:Withcommunityoralumninewsitems,toprovidecomments,orjusttogetbackintouch.WealsohaveopportunitiesforyoutosupportChican@StudiesatUCSB.ucsbchstnews@gmail.com