Humanizing a Dehumanized Experience: The Voices of Resistance at UC Davis

The Chicana/o/x Studies Department will host our annual Spring Symposium to bring together members of the UC Davis community to highlight our resilience and resistance in times of widespread dehumanization and uncertainty.

 

Our symposium will take place Monday, May 12, 2025 from 12-2:30pm at the Student Community Center Meeting Room D.

Our event, exploring the temporality of resistance, will include:

  • a panel discussion on past efforts of activism and struggle in creating community spaces*
  • and a panel discussion on the present experiences of students and their resiliency*

*Students and community members who attend our event will have the opportunity to contribute to the conversation through dialogue and questions. Submit questions here. 
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Panel 1: Historicizing our resistance [PAST]

  • This panel will be 30 minutes of prepared questions, and 15 minutes of community questions
  • This will be a discussion centered around the historical experiences of (un)documented immigrants in the country, and the history of (student) activism on a local and national scale.
    • Broad guiding questions include: What can we learn from past efforts of student activism and advocacy? How have past efforts to create spaces for (un)documented community members challenged the dehumanizing status quo? How do community spaces in our institution advance activists’ goals? What are the challenges in establishing and leading institutional spaces for community members?  What limitations did you encounter?
  • Panelists
    • SPEAK activist alum (Ana Maciel)
      • Provide insight about past student activism, resistance in creating spaces for (un)documented immigrant students
    • Past director of USRC (Andrea Gaytan)
      • Provide insight into directing, the logistics and institutional experiences of creating a space for (un)documented immigrant students
    • Legal-historical expert (Dr. Raquel Aldana)
      • Provide insight into the shifting historical landscape of responses to immigrants, and the role of the institutions (like the university) in inclusion/exclusion for (un)documented students

——————————————  10-15 minute Intermission —————————————

Panel 2: Resistance in the current struggle [PRESENT]

  • This panel will be 30 minutes of prepared questions, and 15 minutes of community questions
  • This will be a discussion centered around the current experiences of (un)documented immigrants in the country, focusing on student experiences at UC Davis.
    • Broad guiding questions include: How is our student community currently grappling with and responding to our current times? How have the legacies of student activism inspired current efforts of resistance? How can members of our community support efforts of everyday solidarity? What limitations do you feel you encounter when it comes to serving the community?
  • Panelists
    • Current undergrad/SPEAK member (Ximena Hernandez Ayala)
      • Position as student leader, how do you see the space you are in affect students, how do you as your position as a student see other peers affected by current events
    • Current law student working in UCD Immigration Clinic (Jordan Porterfield)
      • How does your work as a law student in the immigration law clinic advance and support our community’s collective action and resistance, broader reflection of current legal situation across country
    • Current USRC student (Josue Piña)
      • Position as student leader, how do you see the space you are in affect students, how do you as your position as a student see other peers affected by current events


Closing reflection: [FUTURE]

  • Dr. Natalia Deeb-Sossa
    • Provide reflection on past, present, and future struggle, resilience, and resistance for our UC Davis community