Dear Governor Brewer:

As professors of The Department of Chicana/o Studies at the University of California Davis, we join the national movement of academic scholars, civic and community leaders and the potential victims in Arizona of racial profiling, against of the state of Arizona's new immigration law S.B. 1070.

Our research and years of accumulated experience affirm that there is no way for police to establish and employ "race neutral" criteria to determine whether someone is in this country illegally. There are approximately 200 foreign languages spoken in the U.S. Add to that number the dozens of distinct languages of Native Americans in Arizona, clearly suggests that English only speakers are limited in their ability to communicate and apply an impartial approach for identifying "illegal aliens."

We also protest Arizona's legislation to ban the curriculum of ethnic studies in K-12. In today's world of global tension and mis-information, there is a greater need than ever before to expand the curriculum of ethnic studies.

To infer that a curriculum in ethnic studies can be anti-American and seditious in nature, only serves to demonstrate a form of racial superiority by English-only advocates, state legislators and school authorities of Arizona.

More appalling to us is that S.B. 1070 taxes the time and need for police to address day-to-day matters of crime and justice.

Until S.B. 1070 is rescinded we will support all efforts to boycott Arizona as a state of prejudice and bigotry against immigrants, people of color, and peoples of Mexico.

Hasta la victoria!

The faculty and staff of Chicana/o Studies
University of California, Davis

See full UC Davis News story for a video.

The Department of Chicana/o Studies is an international, cross-disciplinary program of research, teaching, and public service intending to provide U.C. Davis students an opportunity to understand and work with the experiences, values, cultural representations, and socio-economic issues of the Chicano/Latino community. Knowledge of its theoretical and methodological framework also serves students seeking comparative analysis with other populations and global communities.

The department includes a dedicated faculty of accomplished research scholars, inspiring avant-garde professionals, excellent support staff, a curriculum strong in the use of cultural expression, theory and analysis of the intersection of race, class, gender, and sexuality, a dedication to fostering excellent student research, and support for community service activities.

The Chicana/o Studies faculty is internationally recognized for its contributions to Latin American and Chicana/o Studies scholarship, public policy, and community relations. The department's Center for Public Policy, Race, Ethnicity and Gender is acclaimed for its pioneering research and service initiatives in community and public health. And, the department's Taller for artistic expression is advancing unprecedented "college-going" awareness among low-income students of Yolo County.

Our faculty is interdisciplinary, representing a variety of professional fields and perspectives. Our department supports students to ensure academic success and to build an enriched environment for learning. As a reflection of the faculty, the department offers an interdisciplinary curriculum to address the Chicana/o Experience through analysis of class, race-ethnicity, and gender.

Contact Us

Department of Chicana/o Studies
UC Davis
2102 Hart Hall
One Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616
USA

Phone: (530) 752-2421

Fax: (530) 752-8814