West Virginia seems to be confronting the same challenges as we do at the University of Scranton - declining undergraduate interest in Latin American Studies and continued questions from colleagues and administrators about the universities' allocation of scarce resources to "under-performing" departments. A few years after arriving in Scranton, we were approaching 30 students enrolled in our Latin American Studies program. As we have moved to offering a major and and concentration (roughly equivalent to a minor), we are now at two majors and eleven concentrators.
I don't know if this is a general pattern.For those of us at the University of Scranton, I don't think that our students have a strong interest in international affairs. Many do, obviously, but I don't think that the level of interest reaches those at other institutions. We have a good number of students whose interest in Latin America flows from their participation in volunteer trips to the region and to the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, D.C. and to the history of the Jesuits in El Salvador. However, that has not translated into interest in studying the regionally academically. One barrier is language. Students generally don't want to complete the Spanish-language requirements for completing the concentration and the major. We, the faculty, don't want to remove the requirements (yet).
We are also, unfortunately, more limited in terms of faculty than we were a few years ago. That means we offer fewer classes in the program. While one of our Spanish language professors will most likely be replaced, I can't say that the Philosophy Department's interest in hiring a philosophy professor who can teach Latin American Thought, or something similar, is high on their agenda. How is everyone else doing?
Back to Guatemala and the Rios Montt trial. The International Justice Monitor has an update with A New Judge is Appointed to Hear Genocide Trial as Final Decision Around CICIG’s Mandate Approaches.
On April 9, the high-risk appeals court named Judge Jaime Delmar Gonzalez to complete the three-judge trial court set to rehear the case against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt and his head of military intelligence, Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez. They are charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in relation with the killing of 1,771 indigenous people and the rape and torture of many others.
A new trial was scheduled to start on January 5 but was suspended the same day after Rios Montt’s defense attorneys succeeded in forcing the recusal of Presiding Judge Jeannette Valdes. With the naming of Judge Gonzalez, there is again a full panel.
However, many obstacles remain for a new trial to start. The high-risk court’s calendar makes it unlikely that a new date can be set before 2017. Moreover, the former general’s declining health situation could impede a new trial, as he has refused to appear by video conference, as recommended by the Guatemalan national health institute. There is still an outstanding question of whether a historic amnesty might prevent the prosecution, contrary to prior domestic and international decisions on this issue. Further, the investigative judge, Carol Patricia Flores, has not yet resolved various preliminary matters and has refused to do so without Rios Montt appearing in person.I don't remember hearing 2017 before. Ouch. There seems to be a greater likelihood that CICIG's mandate is extended than there is that Rios Montt spends another day in jail.
Next scattered thought. I invited Hermano Juancito to the University of Scranton to give a presentation on his missionary work in Honduras. John is a graduate of the University. In case you are in the area, the talk is scheduled for 6:00 PM in Brennan 228. Latin American Studies might have to do some recruiting tonight.
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