Yuri Castano | Studying south of the border

The University's recent performance in educating students about modern Mexico is dismal, especially at a time when perceptions of Mexico by the average American are still steeped in outdated prejudices.

"For most people, Mexico is Tijuana, Cancun or the four guys working down the street who they think are illegal," said John Lavoy, director of the University's Pennsylvania College Achievement Program, which works with students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Lavoy speaks from the perspective of a white male. My experiences as a Mexican male living in the United States overwhelmingly agree with his opinion. I find that most Americans - including Penn students who are not of Latin American heritage - too often stereotype and degrade Mexican and Latino culture.

Mexico, Lavoy added, is "a tremendously vital place." People of Mexican heritage make up a sizeable and growing population of the U.S., immigration from Mexico is constantly a hot issue and Mexico is a major market for U.S. investments.

Ultimately, the cultural, political and economic influence Mexico has on the United States is phenomenal, yet, as John asserted, "we don't know anything about Mexico."

Where does the University fit in? By next year, there will not be one professor at Penn who specializes in modern Mexico. Furthermore, Penn no longer sponsors a study abroad program in Mexico, and the percentage of Mexican and Latino students on campus is largely unrepresentative of national demographics.

In terms of lack of staff and abroad programs, Dr. Ann Farnsworth-Alvear - director of the Latin American and Latino Studies Program - suggested that it was not the fault of the administration, which she said "is very aware of the need to recruit a Mexicanist."

She also commented that "many departments are becoming aware of a greater need for geographic balance in their curriculum," citing the history department's new interest in hiring and maintaining two Latin Americanists on staff.

These deficiencies in faculty are partly situational, as Penn has lost all four of its prominent Mexicanists in recent years, including Nancy Farriss from History, who is retiring this year, and Doug Massey from Sociology.

There still exists, however, a lack of sustained commitment on the part of the administration to cultivate Mexican studies and LALS studies in general at Penn.

Farriss said in an e-mail interview that the University was "all set to try to hire a junior person who works on Mexico when the Deans' office cancelled the search for this year." This is a devastating step in the wrong direction.

With LALS celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, now is a critical moment to build on past growth and avoid stagnation.

The administration has shown some commitment to globalizing the curriculum.

The Provost's office, for example, announced its Global Initiatives Fund last April to "support faculty initiatives that would enhance our international teaching, research and engagement of an interdisciplinary nature."

Unfortunately, the goal of such an initiative is moot to the development of Mexican studies if there are no Mexicanists on the faculty to apply for it.

Area specialists are not only needed to enhance on-campus studies; without them, study abroad programs in these countries are also at risk.

For instance, faculty members, including Farriss, were critical to the existence of the now-discontinued study abroad program in Oaxaca, Mexico.

It is not enough to have strong study abroad programs in Argentina and Chile, which are among the most Europeanized countries of Latin America.

"One doesn't always know the reasons students choose to study in Buenos Aires, but its not always about a true commitment to Latin American Culture," said Geoffrey Gee, director of the study abroad office.

According to Farnsworth-Alvear, "What's going to make the difference over the next 10 years is faculty recruitment."

More Mexanists on the faculty will fulfil La Casa Latina director Anamaria Cobo de Paci's request for "our students to study in and about Mexico." New faculty will also cultivate increased interest among students by offering them more options to learn about a nation which so dramatically impacts the United States.

The institutional oppression and stigmatization of Mexican Americans and Latinos in this country demands that Penn advance Mexican studies programs.

New faculty will not only nourish and support Latino students at Penn, but will also increase community coherence and tolerance between Latino and non- Latino students.

Yuri Castano is a College sophomore from Mexico City. His e-mail address is castano@dailypennsylvanian.com. Bringing the n Back appears on Wednesdays.

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