No Grad Student Left Behind: The Personal is Political

This is my UA Reads Blog

2011-02-12T09:26:00.002-07:00

http://uareads.blogspot.com/

Introducing UA Reads at the U of Arizona

The University of Arizona’s College of Humanities, the UA BookStores, and the UA Alumni Association are excited to announce the launch of UA Reads, a university and community-wide common reading program. UA Reads brings the campus and Tucson community together in order to read one book in common and to participate in focused conversations about the book and the topics it raises through discussion groups and events. This exciting new project provides UA students (especially first year students) with a common experience and enhances their critical thinking as they make begin their educational journey at the university. It also encourages a sense of community among students, faculty, staff, and the community-at-large. UA Read’s 2010-2011 book selection is Luis Alberto Urrea’s novel Into the Beautiful North.

Undergraduates from UA’s Arizona Assurance Scholars, as well as students in undergraduate English courses, are among the first organized groups reading the UA Reads book this year. A group of Assurance Scholars has read the novel in order to lead discussion groups and prepare for a meeting with Luis Urrea at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 12-13, 2011.

In the coming years, new and current students will be encouraged to read the UA Reads book before their arrival in the fall. In addition, the book may be incorporated into the college curriculum at all levels. UA Reads will enhance reading and communication skills as well as incorporate critical thinking and informed discussions around a particular topic. The UA Reads program will reach out to Tucson reading groups and public libraries in Arizona, as well as Pima Community College in order to create a greater sense of community and inclusion, and to make the UA Reads blog and website central portals for information on Tucson literacy groups and book events.

The UA Reads 2011-2012 book will be announced during the spring semester 2011.

For a current list of UA Reads events, please see http://www.uareads.blogspot.com

To speak with a UA Reads Program coordinator, please contact:

Kathryn Ortiz at (520) 621-8868 or via email at kortiz@email.arizona.edu

College English, Vol. 71, No. 6, July 2009

2009-06-20T23:59:00.000-07:00

College English, Vol. 71, No. 6, July 2009: "Blogger"

Presenting in New Orleans at 4Cs

2008-04-13T18:40:00.001-07:00

Wildcat Pow Wow U of AZ April 11 2008

2008-04-13T12:25:00.007-07:00

First, sorry for the delay between posts. I was in New Orleans last week, so photos of that are next.

The U of AZ Wildcat Pow Wow was spectacular again this year. I did not use the flash on my camera because I did not want to bother the dancers, so some of my pics are a little fuzzy. You can never take photographs during religious dances, like the Gourd Dance, but it's okay to take them while the dancers are competing. Notice the numbers pinned on the clothing.

A pow wow is a family affair. It's so refreshing to see multiple generations dancing together from Golden Age 50+, Adults 18-49, Teens 13-17, Juniors 7-12, to Tiny Tots. People arrive early with folding chairs, portable shade canopies, and coolers full of food. To begin, there is a Grand Entry headed by the US flag and an Eagle staff held by champion fancy dancers. Next in the Grand Entry come the honored Veterans, elders, and those holding titles such as Miss Native American U of AZ. After these groups, all of the dancers enter from the Golden Agers down to the Tiny Tots. Some of the dances are called "Jingle dance," "Grass dance," and "Traditional."

We ate Fry Bread at the pow wow (every nation has some form of fried dough, like the beignets in New Orleans) which can be eaten plain or with honey or with meat.

I cannot describe the drumming and singing; you just have to hear it for yourself. All I can say is that it's good for your soul.

One of the most important things to know is the EVERYONE IS WELCOME at a pow wow. Besides watching the dancers and eating the food, there are many vendors selling handmade jewelry, clothing, and music CDs. The admission is reasonable enough to bring the home family. For more info:http://www.wildcatpowwow.bravehost.com/

UA Track and Field March 21-22, 2008

2008-03-22T11:32:00.005-07:00

Men crossing the finish line at the Willie Williams Classic. My students, Mark and LaTisha are on the UA team. You have no idea how hard these student athletes work. They are under tremendous pressure keep up good grades while putting in untold hours of training and competition. They are up early every day, so UA is not a "party" campus for them. They take their athletics and scholarship seriously. They often speak of their future plans and careers. I am so proud of them! Both LaTisha and Mark are doing well in my English 102 class at the U of A. Go Wildcats!

See link on lower right side of this page for more photos.

Cholla cactus at Picacho Peak State Park

2008-03-15T20:17:00.010-07:00

Manuel Ortiz, Jr. First family member and first generation (Mexican American) to graduate from high school in 1946.

2008-03-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

My parents had to quit school before the age of 13. My eldest brother was the first of my siblings to graduate from high school. Now, I am in graduate school. My parents and my brother were highly intelligent people who did not have the same educational opportunities as I have had. I am not smarter than they were; I was just lucky enough to have been born after World War II. The post-war years were a time when Mexican Americans vets and others were able to take advantage of the G.I. Bill (college and job benefits and housing). In addition, openly blantant racist behaviors was less tolerated by those, like my cousins. who had gone to war to defend freedom.

Ritchie Valens in studio with Ted Quillin

2008-03-15T10:55:00.003-07:00

Born Ricardo Steven Valenzuela, born 1941 and died 1959, he was probably the first Mexican American rock and roll star. His professional career lasted only eight months.

Ted Quillin (a.k.a. "TQ") is a hall of fame radio DJ who is alive and well and living in Las Vegas.

University of California. International Writing Research Across Borders Conference

2008-03-15T10:22:00.009-07:00

Kathryn (Mexican American), Vivette (Jamaica), Katia (Brazil)

Sunrise over Pacific ocean, Santa Barbara

Our conference group

Campus lagoon

2008-03-05T22:25:00.004-07:00

Wildflowers on the campus
of the U of Arizona

This is one of the best times of the year in Southern Arizona because of how the desert blooms and the daily baseball spring training games. Wish you were here.

The Price of Tomatoes

2008-03-04T08:06:00.005-07:00

Just a thought: After paying $2.99 a pound for tomatoes in Tucson, Arizona yesterday, I paid the same amount for a gallon of gas.

How are these prices related to each other?

The higher the cost of fuel, the higher the price of tomatoes.

Store bought tomatoes are a luxury for the working poor.

I treated myself to these beautiful tomatoes even though they were so expensive.

Life is hard and sometimes, you just have to have something you cannot really afford.

Barak, Hillary, and John: How much will gas be a year from now?

2008-03-03T22:10:00.003-07:00

These were the gas prices posted at Fry's Grocery store on Grant and Alvernon in Tucson, Arizona on Monday, March 3, 2008. I wonder if in a year we'll be saying, "Remember when gas was cheap?" or will we be asking, "Can it really go higher than $4.00 a gallon?"

Instead of engaging in the "performance art" of the presidential campaign, I wish the candidates would address the issues that affect working people, i.e., those of us who pump our own gas.

Instead of attacking one another, why aren't they talking about how they will generate jobs and provide the education and training for those jobs?

It's only March, and I'm already sick of what is so far just a popularity contest.

As far as the so-called "Hispanic" vote goes, my siblings and I are not voting for the same candidates. We are first generation Mexican Americans and did not agree on the O.J. verdict or whether Elian Gonzales should have gone back to Cuba or stay with his Miami relatives. Who is "Hispanic?" First, it's a legal term, not a cultural or ethnic one. "Hispanics" are cholos from East LA, wealthy business owners from Miami, janitors and teachers, Catholics and atheists, Spanish and English speakers, first-generation and those whose families have been here since before the border crossed us. "Hispanic" is a term the US Census uses. We are not a voting bloc.

I can hardly wait until we learn the results of the Ohio and Texas primaries tomorrow, Tuesday, March 4th.

BTW: Happy Birthday to one of my oldest friends, Teresa, on March 7th and one of my nieces, Carol, on March 10th.

Spring Training AZ Diamondbacks at Tucson Electric Park

2008-03-02T11:55:00.005-07:00

Another beautiful weekend - in the 70's - in Tucson this weekend. As usual, I'm spending yet another weekend grading student papers and working on a paper I've been revising for weeks.

But at 2:05 p.m. today, I'll be listening to a spring training baseball game on the radio: AZ Diamondbacks vs. White Sox playing in Hermosillo, Mexico today. Last Thursday, Feb. 28th, the DBacks tied the Rockies 5:5.
Above is a picture of my son, Justin, at the game. Almost nothing makes him happier than watching his Dbacks.

Below is a photo of a true fan.

Buy tickets for spring training or the regular season at http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=ari

First Post Friday Feb 29, 2008

2008-02-29T22:49:00.001-07:00

I was inspired to resurrect this blog after one of the students in my First Year Composition course started his own blog. The pressure of writing the first post is more than I can handle. More tomorrow...