TUCLA

V Annual Tulane Undergraduate Conference on Latin America

Saturday Dec. 1, 2007 Jones Hall 102 and 108

Sponsored by the Stone Center for Latin American Studies

The Stone Center’s annual TUCLA conference is an interdisciplinary undergraduate symposium in which seniors from the Latin American Studies core seminar present their individual research projects. TUCLA was formally launched in Fall of 2003 as a means to provide Latin American Studies undergraduates with an opportunity to present papers in the style and atmosphere of an academic conference. The conference is designed to enlist all of Tulane’s LAST seniors in a shared discussion of the region, its society and its cultures.

Coffee and Welcome 8:30 – 9:00

Session I 9:00 - 10:30

Panel 1: Encounter (102 Jones Hall) Encounters/Dis-Encounters: Demythologizing Inter-Cultural Communication in Latin America

Robyn Orth, “Indigenous Revolt in Chiapas, : The Chamula Rebellion and Miscommunications” Sophie Healy, “How the Irish ‘Hicieron la America’: An Autobiographical Journey through Irish-Argentine Identity Creation” Lauren Ledbetter, “The Effects of Power Distance on Managerial Practices: A Look at in Mexico” Discussant: Prof. Justin Wolfe, Department of History

Panel 2: Creativity (108 Jones Hall) Representing Adversity, Voicing Dissent: Culture, Identity and Social Justice in Mexico and the Southern Cone

Meaghan K. Callahan, “Countering Repression with Creativity: Canto Nuevo and the Pro- Democracy Movement in Chile, 1973-1990” Brian Doran, “Forms of Dissent during the Argentine Military Dictatorship and the 2001 Economic Crisis” Lauren Shepley, “Macho Macho Man: Mexican Masculinities Expressed in ” Discussant: Prof. Christopher Dunn, Department of Spanish and Portuguese

Session II 10:45 - 12:15

Panel 3: Exchange (102 Jones Hall) Ambivalent Alliances, (Un)Equal Outcomes? The Problems and Promises of Neo-Liberalism in Latin America

Roxana Díaz Gómez, “CAFTA-DR: Toward Poverty Reduction in Nicaragua” Anne Zembron, “Mexico’s Progresa- Anti-Poverty Program: The Way to a Better Future or Just Another Dead End?” David Klauber, “’s Battle against AIDS: Lessons for and the Health Implications of CAFTA” Discussant: Prof. Jeffrey Stacey, Department of Political Science

Panel 4: Nation (108 Jones Hall) State Sovereignty, Civil Society and the Transitioning Latin American Status Quo

Judith deRouchey, “Fueling Chavez: The Impact of Venezuela's Oil Economy on Hugo Chavez's Presidency” Courtney Patterson, “A Success Story: Securing the Panama Canal” Lucien Bruno, “Spreading the Weak State Thin: Governmental Decentralization in Colombia”

1 Discussant: Prof. Casey Kane-Love, Department of Political Science

Lunch 12:15 – 1:00 Greenleaf Conference Room (By invitation only)

Session III 1:00 – 2:30

Panel 5: Identity (102 Jones Hall) Engendering the Body Politic: Masculinity, Maternity and Sexuality in Contemporary Latin America

Lexie Kirylo, “Institutionalizing Tolerance: Changing Attitudes toward Homosexuality in Cuba” Ilan Roth, “Virility and Violence: The Masculine Identity of Argentina’s Barrabravas” Janike Ruginis, “The Paradoxes of Motherhood in Argentina: Defying or Supporting Traditional Roles?” Discussant: Prof. Vicki Mayer, Department of Communication

Panel 6: Welfare (108 Jones Hall) Sanitation, Education, Domination: The Politics of the Public Good in the Age of Globalization

Nathalie Hendleman, “Population Control Gone Wrong: Family Planning Institutions and Fertility Decline in Brazil” Rebekah Heuberger, “Lack of Government Authority and the Mexican Health Crisis” Erin E. O’Flaherty, “Del Agujero: The Perpetual Cycle of Educational Inequality in Argentina” Rosa Mathai, “Rethinking of the U.S.-Cuban Embargo: U.S. Minorities at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana” Discussant: Prof. Laura Murphy, School of Public Health

2 Panel 1: Encounter Encounters/Dis-Encounters: Demythologizing Inter-Cultural Communication in Latin America

Robyn Orth, “Indigenous Revolt in Chiapas, Mexico: The Chamula Rebellion and Miscommunications” In Chiapas, Mexico, in 1869, subordinate Mayan peoples mobilized to resist oppression from ladinos, an ethnically mestizaje group that controlled land tenure. These indigenous peoples fought to defend communal land tracts that were being taken over by ladinos. I argue that an indigenous group, the Tzotzil, reacted to ladino encroachment by attempting to invert the colonial power structure and establish self-determination. Ladinos oppressed indigenous groups through an enduring colonial power relationship of dominance and subordination. The Tzotziles resisted ladino oppression by forming a new sanctified cult of Catholicism. They symbolically broke from ladino dominance through a ritual of mock crucifixion in which an indigenous figure replaced the “White Christ.” Ladinos reacted by assassinating rebel leaders and writing counterinsurgency prose. What followed was a violent reactionary struggle fueled by misconceptions and miscommunications between the two groups. Ladinos tried to reconcile indigenous mobilization through rhetoric of colonial domination and subordination, while the indigenous groups resisted that pattern of rhetoric. This study offers a new analysis of the Chamula rebellion that engages important issues of cross-cultural communication.

Sophie Healy, “How the Irish ‘Hicieron la America’: An Autobiographical Journey through Irish- Argentine Identity Creation” The Irish Diaspora dispersed millions of Irish immigrants and their culture across the world. In the context of the mass emigrations from Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Argentina played a major role as a receptor nation, receiving thousands of Irish immigrants. This paper analyzes the process of identity formation of the Irish community in Argentina during this period and the impact on Argentine culture of the Irish. Some experts have suggested that Irish identity in Argentina during this period of settlement and immigration was not representative of a “true” Irish identity; instead it was diluted by an overpowering Anglo image. By considering the environment and the conditions of this frontier nation and by expanding the concept of “Irishness” (as more than just the Gaelic language and shamrock symbols), I argue that there is an underlying Irish- Argentine identity among this immigrant group that is distinct from the British identity in Argentina. Through a historical analysis of the migratory processes to Argentina and from Ireland, the immigrant experiences, information from Irish immigrants or descendents, and a personal exploration of my own family history this paper explores Irish-Argentine identity formation and defines the immigrant experience in Latin America between the 1850’s through the 1930’s.

Lauren Ledbetter, “The Effects of Power Distance on Managerial Practices: A Look at Maquiladoras in Mexico” Maquiladoras are production facilities located in Mexico in which non- Mexican companies capitalize on the low cost of labor to manufacture goods for less. Goods from maquiladoras are production-based and generally for export purposes. Although the labor force is purely Mexican, managers of these facilities are often who have different cultural beliefs. This paper argues that U.S. managers of Mexican maquiladoras must understand the nature of the Mexican culture and adapt an autocratic management approach in order to remain competitive. I focus on one of the four main dimensions upon which culture varies across countries: “power distance.” Power distance can be defined as the level of inequality between managers and labor that the subordinates are content to endure. The gender of workers, nature of work in the maquiladoras, and the national culture of Mexico all contribute to continued inequality among groups. I use theories from the field of organizational psychology, as well as case studies of organizations in order to asses the management needs of the maquiladoras.

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Panel 2: Creativity Representing Adversity, Voicing Dissent: Culture, Identity and Social Justice in Mexico and the Southern Cone

Meaghan K. Callahan, “Countering Repression with Creativity: Canto Nuevo and the Pro- Democracy Movement in Chile, 1973-1990” After the coup d’état of 1973 in Chile, the face of the nation was changed. Military government was the prime rule under the leadership of General Augusto Pinochet. Repression in Chile was common and oppositional movements formed. This paper addresses the question of whether art plays a major role in the success of social movements. I argue that Canto Nuevo not only responded to the repressive nature of the military government, but the genre represented a direct way to return freedom to the people. Both in formal and informal settings, the creation and performance of Canto Nuevo songs allowed the Chilean people to get their oppositional message to the government while simultaneously regaining certain freedoms, such as open expression and communication that the dictatorship had taken away.

Brian Doran, “Forms of Dissent during the Argentine Military Dictatorship and the 2001 Economic Crisis” On December 20, 2001, the people of Argentina took to the streets in widespread protest of the rapidly imploding economy. With methods ranging from the cacerolazo, or pot-banging movement, where large numbers of citizens went to the streets banging pots and pans, to the piqueteros who blocked streets and took over closed factories, the techniques used to express frustration varied greatly. While these responses to the political and economic situation were outspoken and widely covered in the media, another period dealing with dissent and protest did not have such a response, namely during the Military Dictatorship of 1977 to 1983. The manners of protest of the situation were very different, even though the consequences of the actions during the dictatorship were much more extreme, taking the form of kidnappings, tortures, and murders. This paper addresses the differences in the manifestation of dissent in these two periods of widespread public dissent, during the Military Dictatorship and the 2001 economic crisis, drawing links between the two. Using examples ranging from public protest movements such as the cacerolazo and piqueteros during the crisis and Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo during the dictatorship, as well as less obvious forms of dissent such as street art and graffiti in both time periods, this paper argues that the similarities and differences reveal established links between the two periods rather than differences underlying their situations.

Lauren Shepley, “Macho Macho Man: Mexican Masculinities Expressed in Amores Perros” In her pioneering work, Judith Burton argues that sex, gender, and sexuality are not natural, biological states but are, rather, performance. Likewise, Stuart Hall explains identity (which gender is part of) as a production which is never complete, always in process, and always constituted within, not outside representation. It is this idea of gender as performance and as something that is constantly changing in relation to time and place that forms the theoretical background for studying masculinity in Amores Perros. Masculinity in Mexico is commonly associated with machismo, both terms that are not easily defined and which have multiple, varying, and even contradictory meanings for different people. Macho Macho Man considers machismo, like masculinity, to be on a continuum, a fluid construct that is continually changing and redefining itself based upon many factors, such as place, time, culture, the individual, history, etc. After establishing a working definition of machismo and identifying what masculinity means in Mexico, the paper applies the theory to Amores Perros. By analyzing the literal performance of three male characters in the movie, I hope to prove that gender in real life is similarly a performance. This paper seeks to answer the question of, does culture create masculinity or does masculinity create culture?

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Panel 3: Exchange Ambivalent Alliances, (Un)Equal Outcomes? The Problems and Promises of Neo-Liberalism in Latin America

Roxana Díaz Gómez, “CAFTA-DR: Toward Poverty Reduction in Nicaragua” Over the last century Nicaragua endured the Somoza Dictatorship, the Earthquake of 1972, the Sandinista Revolution, the economic crisis of the 1980s, and widespread political corruption. Nicaraguan history has had many such unfortunate episodes that not only created disenchantment amongst its people, but also created immense levels of poverty. Nicaragua took its first democratic step towards new beginnings with the elections of 1990. It appeared that after years of bad luck, Nicaragua might still have some chance to recover through good government that would enhance economic activity, social programs, and improve the overall status of living for the people. After two decades, however, there is still a lack of economic development that has widened the gap between the social classes. Nicaragua needed a solution to its economic problem and in October 2005 it signed CAFTA-DR, the trade agreement of the Central American countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica), the Dominican Republic, and the United States. This paper hypothesizes that the enhancement of economic activity that CAFTA-DR, over an extended period of time, will reduce Nicaragua’s poverty levels and provide a better standard of living for its citizens. Evidence gathered from experience with other similar Free Trade Agreements, such as NAFTA, will help to illuminate how this will occur and will point to potential obstacles that the DR- CAFTA can overcome.

Anne Zembron, “Mexico’s Progresa-Oportunidades Anti-Poverty Program: The Way to a Better Future or Just another Dead End?” Mexico has a history of failed social welfare programs, which have left its poor (specifically the rural poor) generally unassisted and in destitute. As a means of reversing this perverse history, President Zedillo inaugurated the Progresa (now called “Progresa- Oportunidades”) anti-poverty program in 1997. Through its unique focus on building “human capital” and providing qualifying families with cash transfers, rather than in-kind benefits such as tortillas or milk, I argue that this program accomplishes more than merely bandaging over immediate concerns. For these reasons, and more, I contend that Progresa-Oportunidades may be deemed a success. The ways in which Progresa-Oportunidades has achieved its goals, and how this program differs from past, failed programs, constitute the main argument of the paper. However, in addition to this assertion, the paper goes on to critique Progresa-Oportunidades’s future limitedness for the “graduates” of the program in that there is no job assistance or placement phase to help transition graduates into the formal labor sector. In this way, the paper to prove the comparative success of Progresa-Oportunidades while encouraging thought as to how the Mexican economy influences the direction, and eventually the results, of the anti-poverty program.

David Klauber, “Brazil’s Battle against AIDS: Lessons for Central America and the Health Implications of CAFTA”

Panel 4: Nation State Sovereignty, Civil Society and the Transitioning Latin American Status Quo

Judith deRouchey, “Fueling Chavez: The Impact of Venezuela's Oil Economy on Hugo Chavez's Presidency” Venezuela is the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter and its oil reserves are among the top ten in the world. Oil revenues account for about half of the country’s government income and contributes about one third of the Venezuela’s gross domestic product. I argue that President Hugo Chavez’s ability to maintain and extend his power is only possible because of his access to Venezuelan oil revenue.

3 Within the international realm Chavez uses the Venezuelan oil economy to initiate South-South politics, negotiate with OPEC, expand international markets, and utilize Cuban assistance. Chavez’s movements within the international realm reaffirm his legitimacy as a leader, increases oil profitability, strengthens Venezuela’s economic sovereignty, and most importantly supports domestic initiatives. Within the domestic realm Chavez uses the Venezuelan oil economy to shut out the opposition, change the Constitution to both strengthen the Executive branch and increase the presidential term limits, and solidify his alliance with Venezuela’s poor constituency. As a result of Chavez’s manipulation of oil revenue, he has successfully solidified his power within the Venezuelan political realm and he claims that he intends to do so for the next thirty years.

Courtney Patterson, “A Success Story: Securing the Panama Canal” The transition of the Canal from American to Panamanian ownership has been hotly debated and contested for decades. Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, concerns have resurfaced over the vulnerability of the Canal. Despite news in 2004 of Al Qaeda contacts in Honduras mentioning the Canal as a possible target, intelligence sources from the United States and Panama confirm that the possibility of terrorist action against the Canal is low. Regardless, the Panama Canal Authority has increased security to protect the Canal against conventional, biological and nuclear attack. In this paper, I argue that the relationship between the United States and Panama is a successful example of military cooperation between the U.S. and a Latin American state. I contend that intelligence sharing, military training and a respect for national sovereignty characterize the mutually beneficial support between the two countries. The superb protection and administration of the Panama Canal is an example of the direction that military coordination needs to be adapted between Panama, its neighbors in Latin America and the United States. Furthermore, it represents the capabilities of Latin American governments to finance, govern and protect sophisticated infrastructure projects to the benefit of their societies.

Lucien Bruno, “Spreading the Weak State Thin: Governmental Decentralization in Colombia” In the developing world, nations have undergone governmental decentralization as a stipulation to receive loans from international institutions. Arguably, these measures allow for greater political representation within each locality so that they may effectively address their own specific issues. But what if the most pressing concerns for a nation affect the entire domestic sphere? In the case of Colombia, decentralizing measures in the 1990’s gave greater autonomy to state and municipal bodies, presenting them with the opportunity to more effectively cater to the needs of their citizens. However, aside from the exemplary case of urban reform in Bogota enacted by a chain of charismatic mayors, the general trend in Colombian politics - local and national - continues to be entrenched with corruption. Along with guerrilla warfare and the drug trade, political corruption was one of the main factors which spurred national legislators to cede power to the municipal level. I argue that decentralizing legislature in Colombia was more an act of desperation on the part of the national government to wash its hands of the nation's mounting domestic problems, more so than a sustainable mechanism which would effectively facilitate better governance. Although decentralization does present the opportunity for more citizen participation, in a regionally fragmented nation such as Colombia, it further weakens the central government's ability to address pressing national issues and, arguably, exacerbates these problems.

Panel 5: Identity Engendering the Body Politic: Masculinity, Maternity and Sexuality in Contemporary Latin America

Lexie Kirylo, “Institutionalizing Tolerance: Changing Attitudes toward Homosexuality in Cuba” Directly following the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro made it clear through both his words and the actions of his regime that the homosexual was not a Communist ideal and, therefore, held no place in Cuban society. This paper argues that despite what the media has conveyed to the outside world,

4 homophobic and intolerant laws, regulations and tendencies within Cuba today are diminishing. Cuba’s socialist government leaders attempted to rid Cuba of homosexuals in the period during and directly following the revolution through the use of rehabilitation facilities, labor camps and imprisonment. Since then, the communist regime has started to loosen its hold on the people of Cuba. This coupled with a growing younger generation that is increasingly modern in its thinking, has led to greater public tolerance of the gay community on the island. I have used The Cuban Constitution and Family Penal Code, as well as books and articles about sexual identity and homosexuality in the periods before during and after the Cuban Revolution to assess and gauge how attitudes have changed within Cuba with regards to the diversification of sexuality in Cuba.

Ilan Roth, “Virility and Violence: The Masculine Identity of Argentina’s Barrabravas” Soccer in Argentina is more than a sport; for many men, it is the cornerstone around which they create meaning in their life. For no group is this more true than for the class of super-fan known as the barrabravas. These gangs of young men, mostly from the lower and middle classes, rally together to commit acts of violence and crime as a way of showing devotion to their team. After the 2001 economic crisis, more Argentine men than ever before found themselves out of work and in marginal economic positions. At the same time, the nation experienced an escalation in the level of violence surrounding its most popular sport. This paper examines the economic and cultural factors which explain the central role of violence in creating the barrabravas’ masculine identity. In a nation where access to a legitimate masculine identity is hindered by economic and social realities, we will explain the alternate masculine complex presented by the barrabravas, what it consists of, and why now more than ever it is so appealing.

Janike Ruginis, “The Paradoxes of Motherhood in Argentina: Defying or Supporting Traditional Roles?” Argentina has faced massive political, economic and social change over the past 40 years. Against the machista tradition, the rise of Peronismo in the early 1940’s gave way to emergence of the influential figure Evita Perón who vouched for the rights of workers, especially women. The military coup of 1976 that gave way to the most conflictive and violent era in Argentine history, sought to counteract the ideals of Peronismo, violating human rights through the torture and disappearance of approximately 30 thousand Argentines. Despite efforts of this oppressive regime to eliminate Evita’s legacy, groups of women were able to organize and seek justice on behalf of the desaparecidos. The women that led the Human Rights movements utilized their role as mothers as a principal way of bringing attention to injustice. I argue that, ironically, these opposing forces—Evita’s legacy and the discourse of the Military dictatorship—enhanced the traditional roles of women and motherhood, in so doing providing a platform for a generation of women who confronted the oppressive state. It was precisely the adoption of these traditional roles that allowed these women to express dissent. This paper examines paradoxical relationship between Evita’s legacy, the military regime and women. Contrary to general perception of the women who fought for human rights as challenging traditional gender roles, I propose that it was precisely these roles that allowed the uprising of the massive human rights movements.

Panel 6: Welfare Sanitation, Education, Domination: The Politics of the Public Good in the Age of Globalization

Nathalie Hendleman, “Population Control Gone Wrong: Family Planning Institutions and Fertility Decline in Brazil” Female sterilization is the most common form of birth control in Brazil. In developing nations, development scholars have often viewed fertility decline as a catalyst for development, as it takes pressure off of resources and gives families a higher standard of living. Brazil’s rapid fertility decline can be used as a model for other developing countries, as it has taken place without incurring significant cost on the government. However, due to the lack of family planning institutions available to monitor population control, the fertility decline occurred in unmonitored conditions. In this

5 paper, I argue that population control can help countries achieve a higher standard of living and relief from poverty; however, if family planning institutions do not effectively monitor the fertility decline, corruption rises among people in power and women end up suffering the repercussions of the corruption. Since the beginning of the fertility transition, women have been led to believe myths about alternative contraception methods, their doctors have over-prescribed caesarian sections, politicians have used clientelism in order to gain their votes, and HIV rates have risen among sterilized women. Without the presence of strong family planning institutions, Brazil will continue to endure a legacy of corrupt population control.

Rebekah Heuberger, “Lack of Government Authority and the Mexican Maquiladora Health Crisis” Although maquiladoras began to spring up in Mexico in the 1960s, the country has witnessed a boom since the passing of NAFTA in 1994. This paper examines the health situation for maquiladora laborers living and working in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Although maquiladoras create jobs for who would otherwise be unemployed, weak environmental quality and a lack of labor protection are correlated to levels of low quality health status for workers. I hypothesized that one of the main reasons for poorer health in the maquiladora region is the lack of authority from both the Mexican government and the American maquiladora-owning companies such as Ford and Johnson & Johnson. Neither of these entities shows an active interest in the health of the border region and the maquiladora workers. Although my research has confirmed a definite health crisis in the maquiladora region, there is insufficient literature available on authoritative roles and their affects on health. However, I maintain that the absence of authority causes the lack of infrastructure, money, and enforcement of environmental and occupational health and safety regulations in the region which in turn leads to poor health and insufficient access to health services for maquiladora workers and their families.

Erin E. O’Flaherty, “Del Agujero: The Perpetual Cycle of Educational Inequality in Argentina” Within Argentina, and specifically its capital city of Buenos Aires, there exists a huge discrepancy between the quality of education that exists between the wealthy and the poor. It is this paper’s contention that the government of Argentina facilitates this inequality of the public primary educational system with its unequal distribution of educational funding, allotting the most resources to the wealthiest regions while under serving those most in need. I argue that the inadequacy of educational funding ensures a sub par public education for lower income residents, and is responsible for their lack of access to higher education. This is visible in the low percentage of publicly educated students from lower income areas within the demographics of the current student populations of the universities of Argentina. In support of my assertion that publicly-educated lower-income students are at a severe disadvantage in terms of their access to higher educational opportunities, I look at factors such as the stratified social dynamics of the differing classes within Argentina, the misguided and ineffective educational reforms of the 1990s, and the antagonism between educators and the state. The continued inability of society’s poorest to receive a quality public education ends opportunities for academic advancement to universities, which in turn perpetuates the “agujero” into which so many of Argentine’s poorest are born, and continue to be unable to escape.

Rosa Mathai, “Rethinking of the U.S.-Cuban Embargo: U.S. Minorities at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana” In a world that seems to grow increasingly more connected with each new telecommunications innovation and international policy, Cuba remains an exception. Shelved on our international radar due to decades-old political conflict, Cuba is ironically located only a few hundred miles from the tip of Florida, yet strict embargos and tightened security have largely kept the global exchange that typifies our interactions with other proximal nations to a virtual nil.But in 2001, a group of American minority students defied their home country’s law and flew to Cuba via Mexico to begin their medical school education. The Latin American School of Medicine in Havana (ELAM, as it is abbreviated in Spanish), was explicitly founded by the Castro regime to educate foreign medical students, but did not formally accept students from the United States until 2001, when U.S. politicians and religious

6 leaders from the traditionally-poor South and the Bronx expressed the need for more doctors in their districts. Since then, the program has persisted to benefit U.S. minorities who typically display low rates of matriculation into graduate. The implications of having American professionals be educated at the charity of an enemy state are great. I propose that while minority U.S. students at ELAM did not explicitly matriculate there with any set, pro-Cuba political ideologies, their controversial decision to cater to their own personal and economic wellbeing despite the U.S. government’s ideology effectively questions the viability of the U.S.’s current anti-Castro policy, revealing the power globalization and a commitment to the rights of education and healthcare have over embargos in an increasingly connected world. The threat of programs like ELAM will only exacerbate in the future as the U.S.’s underserved populations grow and further question the dearth of domestic opportunities for them, especially in an increasingly globalized world, where opportunities beyond U.S. borders readily exist.

7 Participant Biographies

Lucien Bruno is a double major in Latin American Studies and Spanish with a minor in Political Science. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, his philosophy of last-minute decision making has carried him to different parts of the U.S. and Latin America. His introduction to Latin America through a course his freshman year sparked a strong interest in the region, spurring him to take part in the Stone Center’s summer program in , Mexico and a semester in Santiago, Chile. His interest in Bogotá and Colombia grew from his Fulbright proposal, through which he hopes to study bicycle transportation in Bogotá during the upcoming academic year (if he gets it). If nothing else, he can now sit on a street corner in Latin America, stroke his chin and muse, “I know all about this place.” Lucien is currently interning as a medical interpreter for Spanish speaking patients at the Tulane Community Health Center at Covenant House. In his free time he enjoys making art and is an avid player of ultimate (Frisbee).

Meaghan Callahan is a graduating senior from Marblehead, Massachusetts double-majoring in Latin American Studies and Philosophy, with a minor in Spanish. Her interests in Latin America are strongest in the fields of politics and social development, as well as how culture affects both areas. Meaghan has studied abroad for a summer in Valparaíso, Chile and hopes to return there as an English as a Second Language teacher after graduation. Ultimately, Meaghan hopes to be able to work for a non-profit and travel in the Central and South American region.

Judith ‘Garland’ DeRouchey is working towards completing her undergraduate degree at Tulane with a major in Latin American Studies and a double minor in Spanish and Urban Sociology. Born into a military family, Garland has lived in a variety of places such as: Hawaii, Jamaica, Argentina, and Venezuela (twice). She has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and various places in Europe and the United States. Garland’s work experience within the Latin American realm include: an internship in the Diplomatic Security Office in The United States Embassy of Caracas, Venezuela; an internship with The Nature Conservancy (based out of Washington DC) within the Latin American and Legal Department; and an internship which she currently holds at the international merchant company Pulp and Paper, LLC. Graduating in December 2007, Garland intends to move to Washington DC and find a job in the non-profit sector.

Roxana Diaz Gomez is from Managua, Nicaragua and after three years of studies at Tulane has majored in Political Science-International Relations and Latin American Studies and minored in Spanish. Growing up in Nicaragua has enabled her to observe and experience the difficulties that arise from political turmoil and lack of economic development. Her main goal in life is to provide solutions to these problems and help those in poverty by transforming the current mentalities and attitudes of those who govern by implementing the ideas of social consciousness. Ms. Diaz Gomez is currently considering several options for employment but plans to attend graduate or law school afterwards.

Brian Doran is a senior from Portland, Oregon majoring in Latin American Studies and minoring in Spanish and Business. In spring 2007, Brian studied at la Universidad de Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the summer of 2007, he was a recipient of the David Cameron Taylor Memorial Summer Travel and Enrichment Grant, allowing him to travel to Bolivia and Peru and study Andean culture. His interests in Latin America include social justice, international relations, and social movements. After graduation, Brian plans on working abroad for a few years and pursuing graduate school at a later date.

Sophie Healy is a senior Latin American Studies major. Born in Houston, Texas to Argentine parents she has lived with a dual identity which has led to her interest in the major and in her research. She has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Argentina. Her particular areas of interest are identity creation and economic development. While studying abroad in Argentina for the duration of her

8 junior year, Sophie had the opportunity to explore her family history and personal identity. Currently interning at New Orleans City Hall she hopes to work closely with the growing Hispanic Community in the city and take that experience with her after graduation. Upon graduating from Tulane she hopes to work with Hispanic-Americans in her community

Nathalie Hendleman is a Latin American Studies and International Development major. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Sao Paolo and Salvador, Brazil, where she perfected her Portuguese and followed her passion for working with women and children by volunteering in an under-served community school. Having grown up in a Franco-American family, she spent her school years in Los Angeles, CA and her summers in Paris, France. As a result of her multi-cultural upbringing, she is fluent in French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. She is an avid world traveler and hopes to put her traveling experience to good use after graduation, where she hopes to find a job that will allow her to practice her languages and work with women and children overseas.

Rebekah Heuberger is from Charlotte, North Carolina and is a junior Latin American Studies and Spanish double major. She has traveled to Costa Rica twice and had the opportunity to study abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico through Tulane’s summer program. She has worked with the Hispanic Apostolate by teaching English nighttime classes to mostly Spanish and Portuguese-speaking immigrants. Rebekah will be studying abroad in Ecuador in the spring and Brazil during the fall of 2008. She has developed an interest in Public Health and Education in Latin America. She will graduate in 2009 and is planning on going to graduate school for public health and then committing some time to the Peace Corps. In the future, she would like to work for an international non-profit organization.

Alexandra “Lexie” Kirylo of Cambridge, Massachusetts is senior Latin American Studies and Finance double major at Tulane. She is also currently pursuing her Masters of Accounting at the A.B. Freeman School of Business. She has traveled through Spain and Mexico. Lexie’s interest in Latin American Studies stems from a Pre-Colombian Aztec and Inca Art History class she took while attending Harvard University during Katrina semester. She will graduate in May 2009.

Klauber, David

Lauren Ledbetter is a double major in Psychology and Latin American Studies, with minors in Business and Spanish. She traveled to Chile with the Stone Center during the summer of 2006. Her interest in Latin American studies stems from her travels and time spent abroad. After graduation, she plans on continuing her studies in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in first a Masters and then a PhD program.

Rosa Mathai is a senior pursuing joint B.A./B.S. degrees in Latin American Studies and Cellular and Molecular Biology. Originally from Leesville, LA, she is a graduate of the Louisiana School for Math, Sciences, and the Arts with Distinction in History. Her experience with Latin American Studies began in high school, when she researched and defended a Social Studies Fair project on the role of Mexican migrant labor in the U.S. Agricultural Industry, culminating in state-level honors and a senior thesis. Since then she has parlayed stints in Mexico, Costa Rica, and a dental assistant job in Cusco, Peru into internships with Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and applications to dental school. Committed to journalism, she serves as Main Section Editor of the Tulane Hullabaloo newspaper and is a free-lance writer for Men’s Fitness Magazine, among other publications. Her interests in Latin America include U.S.-Latin American relations, Public Health, Human Rights, and Indigenous Cultures.

Erin O’Flaherty is a senior double major at Tulane, with a concentration in Latin American Studies as well as a concentration in Marketing from the A.B. Freeman School of Business. Erin spent the Spring 2007 academic semester in Argentina studying business at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her overarching interest within Latin America is the construction of the middle class, with a

9 main focus on social antagonism and inequality between classes in the urban areas of the Southern Cone. While at Tulane, Erin taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to immigrants through the Hispanic Apostolate of New Orleans, and plans to pursue a Masters of Finance starting in the Fall of 2008. She hopes to continue her study of Latin America by eventually pursuing a Master of Latin American Studies as well.

Robyn Elizabeth Orth is from Pensacola, Florida. She is a Latin American Studies and History Major. Her interest in Latin America stems from her course work in the International Baccalaureate program in Pensacola and has extended into her study at Tulane. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico, which, combined with her coursework in Colonial Latin American history, triggered her interest in ladino-indigenous relations. After graduating this spring, Robyn plans to stay on at Tulane and complete coursework for a MA in History.

Courtney Patterson was born and raised in Sacramento, . She is a double major in International Relations and Latin American studies, with a minor in Spanish. Her interest in the region began when she lived with her sister during her tenure as a Peace Corps volunteer in Diriamba, Nicaragua. Consequently, her studies have emphasized Central America and bilateral relations between the United States and Latin America. Her travels within the region include Panama, Ecuador, Peru and an upcoming honeymoon in Costa Rica and Belize. In May, she will be commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant.

Ilan Roth is a Senior at Tulane University in New Orleans. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, he currently resides in Baltimore when not at school. He cultivated his interest in the culture surrounding Argentine soccer while spending fall semester of his junior year at the University of Buenos Aires. While attending matches of the River Plate club, Roth noticed that the violence and passion surrounding the game was a worthy subject of academic research. He hopes to return to Buenos Aires at some point in the near future to continue his studies in Latin American politics and culture. He will graduate with a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies in the spring of 2008.

Janike Ruginis was born in New York yet has lived most of her life in Cali, Colombia. After two years of college study in Boston, in search for her much missed Latin culture, warmer weather and excitement, Ms. Ruginis transferred to Tulane University in hopes to find what she was looking for. After another 2 years of study, she is a happy graduating senior majoring in both Latin American Studies and Spanish literature. By combining the two, she has gained a better understanding of the influence of historical events in the development of past and present literary movements in Latin America. She spent the last 5 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, an experience that guided her more into understanding the complexity of tango and milanesas. The topic of her essay is merely a reflection of the slight obsession she has developed for the music, art, literature and complex political and social history of Argentina.

Lauren Shepley is finishing up her senior year at Tulane in Latin American Studies and Psychology. With a deep-rooted love and passion for travel, Latin America is a particularly unique and seductive interest for her. After spending a semester on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas during high school and traveling and working in Peru, Costa Rica, and Mexico, this attraction took root and grew. She hopes to one day live in Mexico. She currently teaches ESL with the Hispanic Apostolate, a position she finds great joy in and which she believes is a gateway to a more integrated and peaceful world. In accord with her psychology major, she also works to understand the evolutionary history of human behavior and the differences therein between different cultures. In this search for understanding, she hopes to help find peace among cultures that may see themselves as worlds apart.

Anne Zembron is a senior Latin American Studies and English major from Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her interest in Latin America was first sparked during a Tulane summer abroad program to Guadalajara,

10 Mexico, which was then followed up by a semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ironically, the inspiration for Anne’s paper did not come from her trip to Mexico, but from one of her professors at the University of Buenos Aires who felt quite passionately about the inadequacies of social welfare programs. Anne will graduate in May of 2008.

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