SUBJECT:

UC San Diego César E. Chávez Celebration

Our campus will celebrate the life and accomplishments of labor leader César E. Chávez with a series of activities beginning April 2 and continuing through May 7, 2007. I am pleased to announce the schedule of activities designed to honor this champion of human rights whose contributions have inspired UC San Diego presentations on the history, present, and future of Chicana/o communities. The activities include:

ˇ April 2: activist and author Enriqueta Vasquez will speak on Chicana Activism During the Vietnam War Era at 3 p.m. in the Cross-Cultural Center. Enriqueta Vasquez was a major figure in the Chicano Movement of the late 1960s and the 1970s. Professors Dionne Espinoza of California State University, Los Angeles and Lorena Oropeza of UC Davis will comment.

ˇ April 3: César E. Chávez Celebration Kickoff Luncheon will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Institute of the Americas. UCSD alumnus Victor Nieblas and San Diego activist Olivia Puentes-Reynolds will be recognized for their work to further the ideals of César E. Chávez in their communities.

ˇ April 17: Rudy Guevarra, UCSD professor of history, will speak on Mabuhay Companero: Interethnic Coalitions, 1920s - 1960s at noon at the Cross-Cultural Center. Rudy Guevarra will explore the historical connections between the Mexican and Philipino laborers of the agricultural fields of California which led to their work together in the 1960s to organize for economic justice.

For more information on the César E. Chávez celebration visit the web site at http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/chavez.

I am approving two hours of administrative leave with pay that employees may apply to their attendance at a UCSD César E. Chávez activity, and I ask supervisors to allow employees to attend, as long as the absence does not infringe upon the performance of required job duties.

I would like to thank the members of the UCSD César E. Chávez Planning Committee for their work to coordinate these educational and celebratory campus activities. Please join members of the UCSD César E. Chávez Planning Committee, special guests, visitors and me as we collectively and publicly celebrate the legacy and contributions of César E. Chávez.

Marye Anne Fox Chancellor