Merced, CA - UC Merced will host several events next week about the assorted issues related to immigration that are currently at the forefront of national debate.
UC Merced Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey today (April 27) announced the debut of the Chancellor’s Forum on Immigration, to be held on campus during the week of May 1.
“The topic of immigration encompasses a range of complex issues that don’t lend themselves to quick and easy sound bites,” said Tomlinson-Keasey. “At UC Merced, we want to provide students and the campus community with the opportunity to openly engage in discourse that examines the topic from varied perspectives.”
Providing a venue for sharing information and views on current issues of importance, such as the ongoing national debate concerning an overhaul of immigration laws, is one goal of the Chancellor’s Forums.
A planned nationwide job boycott by immigrants on Monday is designed to draw attention to the role immigrants play in the U.S. economy. In addition, many countries celebrate May 1 as International Workers’ Day.
Following is information about events planned as part of the Chancellor’s Forum on Immigration:
Las Voices del Futuro: A Student Discussion on Immigration Issues
Professor Belinda Reyes and other speakers will discuss migration to the United States and its impact on our society and economy. UC Merced students will provide insights on how this affects their families, friends, classmates and the community.
Monday, May 1, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
California Room
Primarily for UC Merced students, faculty and staff due to space limitations.
The Central Valley at a Crossroads: Migration and Its Implications
Hans Johnson is a research fellow with the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) which is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. Hans’ research interests include housing, international and domestic migration, population estimates and projections, and determinants and consequences of population growth.
Tuesday, May 2, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Kolligian Library, Room 209
Free and open to the public.
Did 9/11 Worsen the Job Prospects of Hispanic Immigrants?
Pia Orrenius is a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. As a labor economist and member of the regional group, she analyzes the regional economy of the Southwest with special focus on the border region. Orrenius’ research also focuses on the causes and consequences of Mexico-U.S. migration, illegal immigration and U.S. immigration policy. Orrenius spent the 2004-2005 academic year as senior economist on the Council of Economic Advisers in the Executive Office of the President, Washington D.C., where she advised the Bush administration on labor, health and immigration issues.
Thursday, May 4, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Kolligian Library, Room 209
Free and open to the public.
The Chancellor’s Forum Lecture Series in 2005 focused on regional issues with global implications, such as renewable energy sources, water supply and quality, and urban growth.
