PROGRAM

Sponsored by the Center for Housing and Urban Development (CHUD), College of Architecture

MC/Moderator: Miguel Juárez, MLS, Assistant Professor and Librarian/Curator of Hispanic Studies Collections, University Libraries

9:00 AM -- WELCOME

Dr. Jorge Vanegas, Director, Center for Housing and Urban Development (CHUD), College of Architecture

Dr. Tito Guerrero, Executive Vice President and Associate Provost for Institutional Assessment and Diversity

Dr. Karan Watson, Executive Vice President, Dean of Faculties, and Associate Provost

Dr. Joseph Jewel, Director, Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI)

Dr. James Rosenheim, Director, Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research

9:45 AM -- OPENING REMARKS

Pema García, Director of CHUD’s Western Rio Grande Region, Center for Housing and Urban Development, El Paso, Texas

10:00 AM -- MORNING SESSION

"Accountability for Murder in the Maquiladoras: Linking Corporate Indifference to Gender Violence at the U.S.-Mexico Border"
Elvia Arriola, JD, Professor of Law, Northern Illinois University, College of Law

Harvest of Women
Diana Washington Valdez, Investigative Reporter, El Paso Times, and author of the book Harvest of Women, Safari in Mexico, 1993-2005, The Truth About the Murders of Girls and Women in Juarez, Mexico

"Women's Shifting Border Identities on Both Sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border in Light of Persistent and Heightened Violence"
María Socorro Tabuenca Cordoba, PhD, Cultural Theorist and past Dean for the North West Region, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. With Debra Castillo, she has authored the book: Border Shots: From Theory to Practice

12:00 PM -- DISCUSSION

12:45 PM -- BREAK

1:00 PM -- LUNCH ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: "Doing Dangerous Research"

2:15 PM -- AFTERNOON SESSION

"Contra el Feminicio en Ciudad Juárez, una fuerza social llamada Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa"
Marisela Ortíz, Co-founder and Director and María Luisa Andrade, Spokesperson, Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

“Talking Back to History: Women Workers Organize Against Management Violence in the Maquiladoras"
Judith Rosenberg, PhD, Director, Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, a Project of the American Friends Service Committee

"Border Sexual Conquest: A Framework for Gendered and Racial Sexual Violence"
María Cristina Morales, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Texas, El Paso and Cynthia Bejarano, PhD, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, New Mexico State University

4:15 PM -- GENERAL DISCUSSION

CLOSING REMARKS
Dr. Gabriel Carranza, Director, International Programs
Dr. Víctor Arizpe, Chair, Department of Hispanic Studies

5:00 PM -- RECOGNITION OF COMMITTEE AND VOLUNTEERS

5:30 PM -- RECEPTION

J. WAYNE STARK GALLERY, MULTICULTURAL STUDENT CENTER (MSC), UNIVERSITY CENTER

Introduction by Dr. Allessandra Luiselli, Associate Professor, Department of Hispanic Studies
"Moon Over Juárez" -- Dance Performance by The Latina Dance Project, Los Angeles. The Latina Dance Project, made up of nationally known dancer/choreographers Licia Perea, Eluza Santos, Juanita Suarez and Eva Tessler, was formed in 2002 to present a new Latina voice in contemporary dance-theatre. Text by Victor Hugo Rascón Banda. Choreography by Eva Tessler. Music by William Campbell. Costumes by Ann Closs-Farley.

Performed by Licia Perea and Eva Tessler.

"New Moon Over Juárez," is a haunting and beautiful dance drama about a young maquiladora (factory) worker who meets her fate in Cuidad Juárez, where more than 500 women have been murdered over the last 14 years. It is also about two sisters and their bond that brings them together one last time.

and

Book Signing by Diana Washington Valdez (at the Stark entrance from the Flag Room)

Co-Sponsors:
Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities; Office of the Vice President for Diversity; Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI); Women's and Gender Equity Resource Center; Department of Sociology; Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy; Department of Hispanic Studies; Women's Studies Program; Department of English; International Programs; Office of the Commandant; Office of the Vice President for Administration; Office for Latin American Programs and Mexico Center; Mexican American and Latino Research Center (MALRC); Interdisciplinary TAMU Scholars' Consortium on Border Research.

LINKS

Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, a Project of the American Friends Service Committee
http://www.afsc.org

Center for Housing and Urban Development (CHUD), College of Architecture
http://archone.tamu.edu/chud/

Dean of Faculties & Associate Provost Office
http://dof.tamu.edu/

Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research
http://glasscock.tamu.edu/index.html

Office of the Vice President and Associate Provost for Institutional Assessment and Diversity
http://diversity.tamu.edu/

Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI)
http://resi.tamu.edu/

Women on the Border
http://www.womenontheborder.org/

Interdisciplinary TAMU Scholars' Consortium on Border Research Committee:

Dr. Jorge Vanegas, CHUD
Barbara Henry, CHUD
Gloria Harvey, CHUD
Dr. Kathryn Henderson, Sociology
Dr. Nancy Plankey Videla, Sociology
Kim Starz, Philosophy, PhD graduate student
Nancy Lugo, formerly with RESI
Dr. Alessandra Luiselli, Hispanic Studies
Dr. Jose P. Villalobos, Hispanic Studies
Tura M. King, University Relations, Assistance Director
Miguel Juárez, MLS, University Libraries
Katie Elrod, Community volunteer
Miriam Olivares, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, PhD graduate student
Dr. Elsa M. Gonzalez y Gonzalez, Educational Administration
Corina Valdez, Hispanic Studies
Manuela Gomez, Philosophy & Humanities, PhD graduate student
Theresa Survillion, Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource, PhD graduate student

Bibliographies:

Bibliography/Bibliografía by Mike Amezcua
http://www.chavez.ucla.edu/maqui_murders/bibliography.htm

Diana Washington Valdez will sign copies of her book Harvest of Women, Safari in Mexico (1993-2005): The Truth About the Murders of Girls and Women in Juarez, Mexico at the conclusion of the Justicia en Cd. Juarez conference (at the entrance to the Stark Gallery) at the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) at Texas A&M.

About the author

Diana Washington Valdez is an award-winning journalist who has worked at newspapers in the Southwestern United States. Her 2003 series about the Juarez women's murders "Death Stalks the Border" was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. It received a First Place Award from the Texas Associated Managing Editors. She is considered a foremost expert on the Juarez femicides, Mexican politics and the drug trade. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute honored her in 2006 with a Latina Leader in the Media Award for her work on the topic. In 2006, she received the National Association of Social Workers-Texas Media Person of the Year Award for journalism that advances social justice. Her book in Spanish, Cosecha de Mujeres: Safari en el desierto Mexicano, published by Oceano de Mexico and Oceano de España, was a 2006 nominee for the Ulysses Lettre Award for international reportage.

The Killing Fields: Harvest of Women, released last year in English, contains extensive updated material. In 1998, Ms. Washington Valdez was chosen to participate in the North American Journalism Exchange Program, selecting Mexico as her host country. She has collaborated on various projects related to U.S.-Mexico border topics for publications and documentaries in the United States, England, Poland, Austria, Mexico, Canada and Germany. Over the years, she has received numerous other journalism awards and recognitions. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in political science from the University of Texas at El Paso. She teaches political science at El Paso Community College. She is a member of Investigative Reporters & Editors, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She is a U.S. military veteran who held a top secret clearance while in the service.

http://www.harvestofwomen.com/

http://www.dianawashingtonvaldez.blogspot.com/

Conferencia Explorará Asesinatos de Jóvenes Mujeres en Ciudad Juárez

COLLEGE STATION, 22 de Marzo del 2007 – Los asesinatos de más de 400 mujeres y jovencitas en Ciudad Juárez, México en los últimos 14 años va a ser el tema de una conferencia que está por realizarse el próximo 10 de Abril en la Universidad Texas A&M.

"¡Justicia en Juárez! Violencia de Género, Maquiladoras y Problemática Fronteriza” va a llevarse a cabo de 9:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. en la Biblioteca Sterling C. Evans Memorial de Texas A&M.

La conferencia de investigadores y otros interesados o afectados por los asesinatos de Juárez esta patrocinada por 14 diferentes unidades de Texas A&M. La conferencia es gratuita y abierta al público, registro previo es requerido.

Los asesinatos en Juárez iniciaron en 1993, y jóvenes mujeres y chicas de todas clases sociales continúan desapareciendo con muy poca o casi nula esperanza de presentar a los asesinos ante la justicia, según comentan los organizadores de la conferencia.

En este simposio se espera conseguir integrar diferentes disciplinas, e investigación de punta para lograr comprender mejor las razones de la violencia en la ciudad fronteriza mexicana vecina de El Paso.

Los organizadores han declarado que otro objetivo de la conferencia es congregar investigadores de diversas disciplinas para promover el desarrollo de agendas de investigación a largo plazo pertinente a la violencia de género en la frontera México-Estados Unidos y además crear nuevos lazos entre investigadores de ambos países, así como intensificar las relaciones ya existentes.

”La intención de ser anfitriones de este simposio es atraer la atención hacia investigación que ya se ha estado realizando acerca de la violencia y asesinatos en Ciudad Juárez, México”, explico Miguel Juárez, profesor asistente y curador de las Colecciones de Estudios Hispanos en Texas A&M, también miembro del comité organizador de la conferencia.

”El comité esta formado por un grupo de catedráticos, estudiantes de licenciatura y posgrado, y personas de la comunidad que piensan que este tema es importante y merece ser explorado” el añadió. “Soy originario de El Paso y la región de Juárez y esta problemática no solo afecta a aquellos viviendo en la frontera. Por lo que, nosotros que formamos parte del sistema de educación superior, tenemos la responsabilidad de crear conciencia acerca de la situación”.

Entre los oradores se incluye a la socióloga Julia Monárrez Fragoso del Colegio de la Frontera Norte, en Juárez, México, quien presentará su investigación acerca de las raíces sociales y de género de la violencia contra mujeres en Ciudad Juárez. Además, la teorizadora de cultura María Socorro Tabuenca Córdoba, Rectora de la Región Noroeste del Colegio de la Frontera Norte, quien examinará las transiciones de identidad fronteriza ocurridas entre las mujeres de ambos lados de la frontera México-Estados Unidos ante la persistente y creciente violencia.

Entre otros oradores se incluye a Elvia Arreola, profesora de leyes en la Facultad de Derecho de Northern Illinois University, Diana Washington, reportera investigadora del periódico El Paso Times, y Marisela Ortiz, educadora, cofundadora y directora de Nuestras Hijas Regreso a Casa – un grupo de apoyo para familias de las víctimas.

La conferencia va a concluir con una recepción y la muestra de danza “Luna Nueva sobre Juarez”, ejecutada por el grupo de danza The Latin Dance Project de Los Angeles. Esta pieza de danza es un drama acerca de jóvenes trabajadoras de maquiladoras que encuentran su destino en Ciudad Juárez, además es acerca de dos hermanas y los lazos de amor que las une por última vez.

El patrocinador principal de la conferencia es el Centro de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (CHUD) de la Facultad de Arquitectura en Texas A&M. Copatrocinadores del evento son el Centro de Investigación de Humanidades Melbern G. Glasscock, el Instituto de Estudios de Raza y Etnicidad, la oficina del Vicepresidente de Diversidad, el Centro de Recursos de Equidad de Mujeres y Genero, el Departamento de Sociología, el Instituto de Ciencia, Tecnología y Orden Público, el Departamento de Estudios Hispanos, el Programa de Estudios de la Mujer, el Departamento de Inglés, el Centro de Investigación Latina y México Americana, Programas Internacionales, la oficina del Comandante del Cuerpo de Cadetes y la Oficina del Vicepresidente de Administración.

Cualquier persona que desee asistir a la conferencia debe registrarse con anticipación para asegurar su lugar. Para registrarse, envíe un e-mail a bahenry@tamu.edu o g-harvey@tamu.edu.

- 30 -

Contactos: Kathryn Henderson, Sociologia, hendrsn@tamu.edu; Nancy Plankey Videla, plankeyvidela@tamu.edu; Alessandra Luiselli, Estudios Hispanos, luiselli@tamu.edu o José P. Villalobos, Estudios Hispanos villalo@tamu.edu; Miguel Juarez, mjuarez@lib-gw.tamu.edu.

¡Justicia en Juárez! Gender Violence, Maquiladoras and Border Issues

Conference To Explore Murders Of Young Women In Ciudad Juarez

COLLEGE STATION, March 22, 2007 - The murders of more than 400 women and young girls in Ciudad Juárez, México over the past 14 years will be the focus of a Texas A&M University conference April 10.

"¡Justicia en Juárez! Gender Violence, Maquiladoras and Border Issues" will be held at Texas A&M's Sterling C. Evans Memorial Library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The conference of scholars and others concerned or affected by the Juarez murders is co-sponsored by 14 Texas A&M units. It is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested by university officials.

The Juarez murders began in 1993 and young women and girls from all walks of life continue to disappear with little or no hope of bringing the perpetrators to justice, conference planners note.
The symposium aims to apply multi-discipline, cutting-edge research to better understand the underlying reasons for the violence in the Mexican border town across from El Paso.

Organizers say another goal of the conference is to assemble scholars from diverse disciplines to foster development of a long-term research agenda on gender violence on the U.S.-México Border and also to build new and strengthen existing networks of researchers in both countries.

"The intent of hosting this symposium is to call attention to the research being conducted that investigates the violence and murder in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico," explained Miguel Juarez, assistant professor and curator of Hispanic Studies Collections at Texas A&M and a member of the committee planning the conference.

"The committee is comprised of a working group of concerned faculty, graduate and undergraduate students and community persons who feel this topic is important and merits exploration," he added. "I am originally from El Paso and the Juarez region and this issue does not only affect those living along the border. Therefore, those of us in higher education have a responsibility to bring awareness to the issue."

Speakers include sociologist Julia Monarrez Fragoso, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Juárez, México, who will present her research on the social and gendered roots of violence against women in Ciudad Juárez. Also cultural theorist María Socorro Tabuenca Córdoba, dean for the North West Region, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, who will examine women's shifting border identities on both sides of the U.S.-México border in light of persistent and heightened violence.

Other speakers include Elvia Arriola, professor of law at Northern Illinois University College of Law, Diana Washington Valdez, investigative reporter for the El Paso Times, and Marisela Ortíz, educator, co-founder, and director of Nuestras Hijas Regreso a Casa (May Our Daughters Return Home) - a support group for families of victims.

The conference will conclude with a reception and dance performance New Moon Over Juarez by The Latin Dance Project from Los Angeles. This performance is a dance drama about a young maquiladora (factory) worker who meets her fate in Ciudad Juárez, and also about two sisters and the bond that brings them together one last time.

The lead sponsor for the conference is the Center for Housing and Urban Development (CHUD) in Texas A&M's College of Architecture. Co-sponsors are the university's Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research, Race and Ethnic Studies Institute, Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Women's and Gender Equity Resource Center, Department of Sociology, Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Department of Hispanic Studies, Women's Studies Program, Department of English, Mexican American and Latino Research Center, International Programs, Office of the Commandant of the Corps of Cadets and the Office of the Vice President for Administration.

Anyone wishing to attend the conference is asked to register in advance to assure sufficient seating. To register, e-mail bahenry@tamu.edu or g-harvey@tamu.edu.

http://www.womenontheborder.org/conference_flyer_3_19_07__2_.pdf

- 30 -

Contact: Kathryn Henderson, Sociology, hendrsn@tamu.edu; Nancy Plankey Videla, plankeyvidela@tamu.edu; Alessandra Luiselli, Hispanic Studies, luiselli@tamu.edu or José P. Villalobos, Hispanic Studies villalo@tamu.edu; Miguel Juarez, mjuarez@lib-gw.tamu.edu.