Global Initiative: Latin America

Introduction

Seeking to expand students’ horizons, bring academic departments together in collaboration and infuse a global perspective on its curriculum, SUNY Orange has planned a year-long focus on Latin American culture, heritage, geography, art, music, language and much more as part of its first Global Initiative.

Rooted in the College’s international studies program, this debut Global Initiative project is drawing participation from all corners of the campus community, but it is hoped that as the Initiative gains attention, it appeals to local businesses, civic leaders and community members as well.

“This Global Initiative will recognize the contributions Hispanics have made to areas such as American art, culture and economics. It will also bring Hispanic Americans to the College, thus expanding the community base of the College and helping to strengthen our ‘American culture’ by informing Hispanics and non Hispanics about these contributions,” explains Max Schaefer, SUNY Orange professor who coordinates the College’s theater productions.

A number of the College’s academic departments have incorporated Latin American-based courses into their programs. Additionally, a pair of international trips to Peru and Mexico is planned; Latino lecturers have been invited to speak to both students and county residents; an immigration and migrant work symposium is scheduled; and concerts, art exhibits and plays by Latino artists will be performed by the College’s Arts and Communication Department. Many other events are being planned and will be announced as they are scheduled.

Among the many faculty members who have embraced this Global Initiative are Schaefer, Kathleen Wright, Dr. Jean Carlos Cowan, Dr. Barry Kass and Dr. Demos Kontos. Wright, Kass and Kontos will spearhead the College-sponsored trips to Peru and Mexico while Cowan has organized the immigration and migrant work symposium. Schaefer, who will oversee production of a play by Latino playwright Carlos Morton in November, has joined with many of his Arts and Communication department colleagues to feature Latin American artists in their performances, plays and concerts.

“We really had two goals when we first began discussing this Global Initiative,” says Paul Basinski, coordinator of the College’s international studies program and chair of the Global Initiative team. “We are hoping we can create something meaningful here. It is a project that is collaborative, it is educational and it is intended to be inspirational, too. We want to talk about Latin American history, politics, heritage, culture, in all dimensions, the light side, the dark side, because we feel that is part of our ultimate educational mission here.

“The other part of it is to reach out into the Latino community, and we’ve begun to do that as well. We really want to get a sense of who our Hispanic constituency is, and ways in which we can involve those people who aren’t part of our academic community, both in terms of attending the events, or helping us to set up, participate or sponsor them,” Basinski adds. “That is part of the collaborative piece as well. We think this is a way to present the best side of SUNY Orange to a very large and growing segment of our potential college population.”

Basinski has already seen the on-campus collaboration hit its full stride as a diverse grouping of departments have banded together to create a year-long educational focus that ultimately benefits the students.

Dr. Catherine Chew, SUNY Orange’s vice president for academic affairs, says it is imperative that today’s educational programs stress cultural diversity. “You can’t underestimate the importance of helping students gain a better cultural understanding, given the world we are living in today. This is our first attempt at making sure our graduates leave us having been exposed to what a multi-cultural world means to their work, their existence, and the impact it has on each and every one of us.”

There is a sense among faculty members that this Global Initiative is not just about Latin America and the focus on learning, academics and culture, but that it will help internationalize the curriculum on campus.

“As an anthropologist, I believe that the Latin American Global Initiative is one of the most exciting educational events to be held at the College in the last several years. In our increasingly diverse and complex society, it is vital to a liberal arts education to become knowledgeable about worldwide, national and regional trends and developments which affect all of our lives,” Kass says. “Through the migration to the United States of millions of Hispanics, this country has important historical and current connections throughout the vast region known as Latin America.

“The Hispanic population of the United States is as important to the formation of this country as any of the other many immigrant groups who have entered our borders. The Global Initiative is SUNY Orange’s recognition of the vitality of the Hispanic people and their central place in the development of our nation,” Kass adds.

When the Global Initiative’s focus moves on to another region in the future, whether it is Africa or China or some other locale, Basinski expects the Latin American theme to remain. “I see no reason why once those courses and events have been established, that they couldn’t continue to be taught and utilized as academic tools as part of our curriculum in the future. That would be one of the real legacies regarding the impact that Global Initiative could have on the curriculum in international education.”

An even greater legacy of the Global Initiative will be the lasting impact it will have on SUNY Orange students, as well as faculty, staff and Hudson Valley residents.

 

Global Initiative: Latin America 2007-2008 Schedule of Events

Day	Time	Location	Event
2/21/2008 Febrero 21	7pm	Morrison Hall Mansion	Jacob K. Javits and Latin American Economic Integration Lecture by Salvador Rivera, Ph.D., Professor of History and Sociology at SUNY Cobleskill This Lyceum Lecture, sponsored by New York Council for the Humanities’ Speakers in the Humanities, is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Legislature. Conferencia con Dr. Salvador Rivera, Profesor de Historia y Sociología de la Universidad SUNY Cobleskill, sobre Jacob K. Javits Integración Económica de Latinoamérica
2/22/2008 Febrero 22	8pm	Orange Hall Theater	Real New York Style Latin Jazz with La Familia Sextet and Willie Martinez Estilo Real de NY Jazz Latino con Sexteto La Familia y Willie Martinez
2/22/2008 Febrero 22	12pm	Orange Hall	Master Class with Willie Martinez Clase de Maestria con Willie Martinez.
2/28/2008 Febrero 28	7pm	Morrison Hall Mansion	Bridges That Connect: Latina & Latino Writers in the United States Lecture by Raysa Elena Amador, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Languages and International Studies Dept.; Director of the Latin American Program at Adelphi University This Lyceum Lecture, sponsored by New York Council for the Humanities’ Speakers in the Humanities, is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the New York State Legislature. Conferencia con La Doctora Raysa E. Amador, Profesora y Directora del Departamento de Lenguaje y Estudios Internacionales; Directora del Programa Latinoamericano de la Universidad AdelphiHabrá comidas, bebidas, presentación de fotografías digitales y música típica
3/13/2008 Marzo 13	All day	Middletown Campus	Conference on Latin American Social-Political Conditions Presentation featuring various speakers on a range of topics Todo el día Conferencia de las condiciones socio-políticas en Latino America. Se presentara varias charlas de temas variados.
4/15/2008 Abril 15	6pm	Shepard Student Center	Mexican Night International Dinner Food, drink, digital slides and music Cena “Noche Mejicana” en el Centro Separa, 6 p.m. Habrá comidas, bebidas, presentación de fotografías digitales y música típica
4/24/2008 Abril 24	7pm	Morrison Hall Mansion	Latin American Jazz in the USA Lecture presentation by Joe Conzo, Latin music historian, columnist on Latin Celebrities, Times Herald-Record   Joe Conzo dará una charla sobre la historia del jazz en el valle de Hudson
4/25/2008 Abril 25	8pm	Orange Hall Theater	Dave Samuels Quartet Sponsored in part by Lyceum Series Dave Samuels Cuarteto presentara música en vivo Clase de maestría con Dave Samuels
4/22-29/2008 Abril 22-9		Mexico	Spring Break Trip Trip to the Yucatan area of Mexico over Spring Break led by Professor Kathi Wright. Viaje a Mejico hacia el área deYucatan durante el receso de primavera. Este viaje sera conducido por Profesora Kathi Wright.

Lyceum Winter/Spring Film Series: Latin American Films

Day	Film Title
January 30th Enero 30	Maria, Full of Grace
February 13th Febrero 13	The Mission
February 26th Febrero 26 (Newburgh)	Like Water for Chocolate
March 5th Marzo 5	Black Orpheu
March 12th Marzo 12	The Official Story
April 9th Abril 9	Motorcycle Diaries

GI "Happenings" (pdf / text)

2007-08 Schedule of Events (.doc file)

 

Educational Foundation Travel Scholarship Awarded

PHOTO at left: Talita Thomaz (center), a second-year Liberal Arts student at SUNY Orange, accepts a $500 Educational Foundation Travel Scholarship check that will enable her to join the College’s scheduled trip to Egypt this March. Thomaz, a graduate of Newburgh Free Academy who now lives in New Windsor, hopes to become an art teacher. She plans to transfer to New Paltz this summer after earning her associate’s degree from SUNY Orange in May. Presenting the check are Dr. Demos Kontos, left, SUNY Orange professor and coordinator of the Egypt trip, along with Paul Basinski, chair of the College’s Global Studies department. The Egypt trip is planned from Mar. 22-31 and will include visits to the Pyramids, Cairo and Tut’s Tomb, along with a cruise of the Nile and other cultural activities.

 

International Trips: GI Latin America

The Yucatan: "Voices of Mexico"

In conjunction with the Global Initiative: Latin America, SUNY Orange offered a wonderfully entertaining and enriching visit to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico during Spring Break 2008 (March 22-March 29).

The Yucatan remains one of the most beautiful and mysterious parts of Mexico, lush with history, culture, architecture and wildlife. This trip isled by SUNY Orange Professor, and Fulbright Scholar, Kathleen Wright, who has traveled to Mexico many times.

Highlights of the trip included trips to the historic ruins of Chitchen Itza, Tulum, and Uxmal; a visit to the ancient Mayan underground water site, the Ikkil Cenote.

The past comes to the present with stops at the cities of Merida and Vallodolid, where you will shop the native markets, and tour the European architecture and Cathedrals--a witness to the Spanish influence on Mexico. During play time, you will explore the seaside resorts of Progreso and Playa del Carmen, with their white beaches and super blue ocean.

 

Photos

	Dr. Patricio Navia's lecture officially opened SUNY Orange's "Global Initiative: Latin America" program in April 2006.
	Global Initiative poster
	Patricia Moreno discusses the impact of language barriers on access to health services for immigrants during the first of two College's Immigration and Migration panels (Oct. 17 in Middletown).
	A crowded Assembly Room at the Newburgh Extension Center served as the backdrop for Dr. Margarita Cervantes-Rodriguez's presentation during the College's second Immigration and Migration panel on Oct. 24.
	Playwright Carlos Morton (center) discusses his play "La Malinche" with audience members following a performance by the College's Apprentice Players.