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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Arlington Center for |
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Mexican American Studies is celebrating its 30th anniversary in |
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2023; and |
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WHEREAS, An interdisciplinary ethnic studies program within |
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the College of Liberal Arts, CMAS was authorized by the 73rd Texas |
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Legislature in 1993; State Representative Roberto Alonzo, the first |
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Mexican American elected to the legislature from North Texas, |
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played a key role in the drive to create the center, which formally |
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opened on October 12, 1994, under founding director JoséÁngel |
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Gutiérrez; and |
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WHEREAS, The center promotes research and the recruitment, |
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retention, and professional development of UTA faculty actively |
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engaged in studies on Latino issues; students can pursue an 18-hour |
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academic minor in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, with |
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classes on literature, history, and politics; CMAS offers |
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scholarships for students as well as funding for faculty members |
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studying related subjects; and |
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WHEREAS, Engaging the wider UTA community, the center |
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sponsors events in both Spanish and English, such as career |
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workshops and speaker series; among undergraduate students at UTA, |
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36 percent identify as Latino, and CMAS helps to ensure that their |
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experiences are reflected and their needs for representation are |
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met; and |
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WHEREAS, The university's mariachi group, Mariachi Los |
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Jinetes, found support through the center when it was established, |
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and CMAS hires the group to perform for occasions throughout the |
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year; serving as a bridge between UTA and the Latino community in |
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the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the center hosts a variety of |
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service outreach activities; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, CMAS has advanced knowledge, |
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understanding, and appreciation of Latino heritage and |
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contributions, equipping Texans to participate more fully in our |
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diverse society and advance more successfully in an increasingly |
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global economy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate The |
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University of Texas at Arlington Center for Mexican American |
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Studies on its 30th anniversary and extend to all those associated |
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with the center sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the center as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |