Saving Ethnic Studies

What: Cal State Fullerton's Chicana and Chicano Studies Department is sponsoring a lecture on the “Save Ethnic Studies” movement in Arizona by Chicano studies scholar Rodolfo F. Acuña and a free screening of the documentary “Precious Knowledge.” The event is open to the public free of charge.

When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.

Where: Ruby Gerontology Center
Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92831

Who: Rodolfo F. Acuña is a Chicana and Chicano studies professor at Cal State Northridge. His latest book is “The Making of Chicana/o Studies: In the Trenches of Academe” (2011, Rutgers University Press). It traces the philosophy and historical development of the field of Chicana and Chicano studies — from precursor movements to the Civil Rights era to today — focusing on those allied against the discipline. Acuña is a leader, activist, scholar and founding member of the movement to establish the curriculum in the California State University system, which serves as a national model. He will talk about his book and the struggle for ethnic studies in Arizona.

About The Film: “Precious Knowledge” is a documentary that chronicles the struggle for ethnic studies in Arizona. It follows the lives of several Tucson High School students and their battle to preserve their Mexican American studies classes.

Background: Controversy surrounds the declaration by Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne that the Tucson Unified School District's Mexican American studies program is in violation of a state law that went into effect Jan. 1. Horne was the state's superintendent of public instruction when he wrote a bill aimed at challenging Tucson's ethnic-studies program. Arizona’s Legislature passed the measure last year, and Gov. Jan Brewer signed it into law, amid protests over the state's immigration crackdown. The Arizona law includes a provision that school districts can lose a share of their state education funds if their ethnic-studies programs are found not to comply with the new state standards.

Parking: $2 per hour or $8 for a daily permit Monday through Friday. Details available online.

Sponsors: Cal State Fullerton’s Alliance of Students for an Equal Education, Chicana and Chicano Studies Alliance, Associated Students Inc., and the Association for InterCultural Awareness

Media Contacts: 

• Alexandro J. Gradilla, Chicana and Chicano Studies, 657-278-4210 or agradilla@fullerton.edu
• Mimi Ko Cruz, Public Affairs, 657-278-7586 or mkocruz@fullerton.edu