NACCS Board Presents two Resolutions for Member Discussion and Vote: Addition of Special Panesl and Name Change of Student Caucus

Student Caucus Resolution: Name Change

The National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies student caucus has decided to change its name to “Caucus Estudiantista: Estudiantil Activista”

Whereas the membership feels more represented with the new self chosen/created name for our caucus.

Whereas a large part of our membership is involved in some form of activism, our reality as student activists goes beyond the classroom and is not reflected on the present name of our caucus.

Let it be resolved that our caucus name be changed to “Caucus Estudiantista: Estudantil Activista”

The following Pro/Con statements were produced by the Board for members to consider in their discussion and vote.

Pro: It is appropriate that sub-groups within the membership be allowed to guide how their caucus will evolve. Therefore, it should be granted, that if members of a caucus decide that a name change better represents their identity and goals as a unit, this should be allowed to occur.

Con: A name change may not represent all members who would like to participate in this particular caucus.

Rene Nuñez COMPAS Caucus: Addition of Special RNC Panels to 2011 NACCS Conference

Whereas Rene Nunez practiced socially committed scholarship, like organizing the historical conference that led to the drafting and publishing of the Plan de Santa Barbara, once left academic to organize workers and unions, and, as a college professor, worked in the Chicano Studies program at San Diego State University;

Whereas the NACCS organizational by-laws extend to the Rene Nuñez Political Action Caucus (RNC) the role of directing NACCS’s commitment to a socially activist and community oriented scholarship;

Whereas the RNC has had continuous success in providing such direction to NACCS through RNC Special Sessions first under the theme of opposition to the alleged War on Terror (2003-2008) and then through a theme of Participatory Democracy (2009-2010);

Whereas the RNC has successful organized over 16 panels and workshops, has had one article published in a collection of NACCS selected proceedings guiding NACCS toward a socially activist and community orientated scholarship, and is working on a manuscript for publication featuring selected papers from the Special Sessions; and

Whereas the welcoming letter to this year’s NACCS national conference by incoming Chair Devon Pena, in affirming the need to “move beyond discourse to actual mobilization for campaigns against all forms of oppression and exploitation and the structural violence that allows neoliberal capitalism to colonize every single gay, lesbian, transgendered, and straight body on this planet”, concurs with the stated goals of the RNC Special Sessions;

Be it resolved that the 2011 NACCS annual meeting in Pasadena reinstate a space for two RNC-organized consecutive Special Sessions on the afternoon of the third day (normally Friday) of the conference.

Be it further resolved that these RNC Special Sessions will be a normal component of subsequent NACCS annual conference meetings, which may be withdrawn only in the instance of a critical review of the performance of the RNC in organizing the Special Sessions by a representative body designated by NACCS Administration and voted by the general body at the annual business meeting.

The following Pro/Con statements were produced by the Board for members to consider in their discussion and vote.

Pro: As stated in the resolution the goals of the Rene Nunez COMPAS Caucus fit within the emphasis of social activist and community oriented scholarship. Therefore, two special sessions that are selected by members of the COMPAS would guarantee that these issues will always be part of the conference. Additionally maintaining a regular time and day every year would allow members to organize their conference schedule priorities.

Con: Currently, no Caucus has the purview over two special sessions within the conference. With already more qualified submissions of papers and panels than can be accommodated during the conference, the designation of two special sessions by the Rene Nunez COMPAS Caucus would impede on participation of scholars to present their work at the conference. It is believed that the peer review process for papers and panels has adequately selected work by a variety of scholars and activist particularly within the areas of social activist and community oriented scholarship that no special sessions is needed and would in fact detract from the Chairs ability to create a strong thematic conference every year.

This week we’re visiting 3 potential hotels for the 2010 conference. We hope to have dates and hotel confirmed by the end of June.