Consent Agenda 2014
Resolutions that do not require member votes as
they have no bylaws or financial implication. Accepted by the Salt Lake City attending conference membership.

1. Southern California Foco: Resolution on Re-Instatement of Ann Marie Catano
2. Northern California Foco: Enhancing Representation of Chican@ and Latin@ at the Local, State, and National Levels: the Role of Curriculum in Chican@ and Latin@ Studies
3. Tejas Foco: Support the Tejas Foco’s Resolution for MAS in K-12 Tejas Schools
4. Pacific Northwest Foco: Exploratory committee coordinating the NACCS national meeting with the National MEChA Conference

Resolution #1- Southern California Foco
Resolution on Re-Instatement of Ann Marie Catano
For background information on the events and context for this resolution, please consult this story at: http://www.laprogressive.com/monte-perez-la-mission-college/.

Whereas, Ms. Catano has been suspended for protesting the failure of the college to grant tenure to a drama teacher.

Whereas, Ann Marie has also been at the forefront of other issues.

Whereas, Ann Marie is a brilliant young scholar admitted to Berkeley for Fall 2014.

Whereas, there is currently a whispering campaign saying that something must be wrong because she has three little girls, which offends all of us as a misogynist attitude.

Whereas, Ann Marie has for the past six years pursued an AA degree, finding ways to be a student, mother, worker, and activist.

Whereas, Ann Marie is at the point of graduating and has been admitted to Berkeley for the Fall 2014 contingent on her completing AA studies.

Whereas, Ann Marie has been suspended from Mission Community College and the eight other area community colleges.

Whereas, this suspension is against the free speech rights of all students and has a chilling effect on student speech and protect.

Whereas, students at Mission College are not as fortunate as we are.

Whereas, we are one community and should be concerned about Ann Marie and that only 6.8 percent of the students from Mission transfer to four-year institutions.

Whereas, Ann Marie is one of them and has accomplished this against all odds.

Be it therefore resolved that: The National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies call on Dr. Monte E. Pérez, President of Los Angeles Mission Community Colleges, to immediately re-instate Ann Marie Catano so that she can graduate with an AA degree in time to start her studies at UC-Berkeley in the Fall 2014.

Be it further resolved, that: The National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies calls on Dr. Monte E. Pérez to promote and protect our most cherished and precious resource – our youth – by instructing the campus and other police to respect the first amendment rights of free speech and freedom of assembly among the student population of the Mission college campuses.

Resolution #2 - Northern California Foco
Enhancing Representation of Chican@ and Latin@ at the Local, State, and National Levels: the Role of Curriculum in Chican@ and Latin@ Studies

Whereas, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 has been cited as one of the most significant civil rights legislation passed; and

Whereas, Chican@ and Latin@ scholars and leaders have identified the absence at the ballot box of Chican@ and Latin@ voters as one of the chief obstacles to real political influence; and

Whereas, Chican@ and Latin@ voter turnout translates directly into influence on issues such as immigration, education, campaign finance, affirmative action, environmental regulation, etc.; and

Whereas, it is critical to understand the benefits of building majority-minority districts in which Chican@s and Latin@s constitute the majority of the total population; and

Whereas, Chicano/Latino Studies programs endeavor to empower faculty, staff, and students to be agents of change in the economic and political realities of their communities and the broader world;

Whereas, Chicano/Latino Studies is organized into interdisciplinary departments that provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to examine the historical and contemporary experiences of Chican@s and Latin@s; and

Whereas, in Chicano/Latino Studies there is an emphasis on equity, social justice, and community involvement;

Therefore, be it resolved that Chican@ and Latin@ Studies reemphasize the importance of students participating in in-depth, hands on research experience in the community leading to enhanced political empowerment for our communities; and

Be it further resolved that it is critical to emphasize the importance of Chican@ and Latin@ Studies courses on voting and political power in order to help remove barriers and enhance our political influence and leverage in local, state, and national elections; and

Be it further resolved that the Northern California Foco will sponsor a local Foco conference in February 2015 on political action, including work with state and local representatives, school boards, and water districts.

Resolution #3 – Tejas Foco
Support the Tejas Foco’s Resolution for MAS in K-12 Tejas Schools

Whereas, the majority of school-age children in the State of Texas are now Mexican American and this percentage will continue to grow;

Whereas, the economic success of the State of Texas is dependent upon the quality of the education of its children and their ability to meet the challenges of the 21^st century job market;

Whereas, studies show that there is a direct link between academic success and the students’ positive self-image and knowledge of one’s culture, identity, and history;

Whereas, Mexican American Studies has been designated a Field of Study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and that courses and degrees in the field, including advanced degrees, are currently being offered by community colleges and universities across the State of Texas;

Whereas, Mexican American Studies can help Mexican Americans, and all Texas children, gain positive knowledge of Mexican American culture, identity, and history, and succeed academically, and in turn help Texas succeed in this rapidly changing state and global economy;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the membership of the National Association for Chicana & Chicano Studies endorse and support the Resolution for the inclusion of Mexican American Studies into the curriculum and instruction provided and approved by the Texas State Board of Education, from Pre-K to 12^th grade, both as part of the existing curriculum and textbooks, as well as the establishment and development of stand-alone courses, curriculum, and textbooks in Mexican American Studies, to include history, literature, arts and culture.

Resolution #4 - Pacific Northwest foco
Exploratory committee coordinating the NACCS national meeting with the National MEChA Conference

Whereas strong scholar activists are crucial to the future of our field and organization,

Whereas the NACCS conference needs to be accessible to undergraduate students to facilitate membership growth,

Whereas student participation and engagement with NACCS is critical to their academic development,

Whereas graduate students and undergraduate students may not have access to mentorship on their campuses,

Whereas Movimento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlan (MEChA) is historically connected to and critical to the development and promotion of Chican@ studies,

Whereas the MEChA and NACCS conferences are now scheduled separately and place a burden on students to attend,

Whereas student input is crucial to structural and institutional vitality of NACCS and MEChA,

Therefore let be it resolved that the NACCS board set up an exploratory committee to look into the feasibility of coordinating the NACCS national meeting with the National MEChA Conference.