Prof. Pushes Ethnic Studies

Students pushing for an expanded ethnic studies curriculum will have another resource in Enrique R. Lamadrid, a visiting professor in Folklore and Mythology.

Lamadrid, an associate professor of Spanish at the University of New Mexico, says he hopes to help bring the growing national enthusiasm for ethnic studies to the Harvard campus.

"Until very recently, Chicano literature, women's literature and other ethnic literatures have been considered very marginal in terms of legitimacy and quality," he says. "For the first time people are really listening to these points of view."

Lamadrid has focused his research on Indo-Hispanic culture and traditions in New Mexico.

He is teaching two courses this semester, one on Southwest Hispanic folklore and another on Chicano literature.

Many students say Harvard does not have enough ethnic studies courses to satisfy student demand for such courses.

Students cite the lack of an ethnic studies department as an example of the insufficient attention this discipline receives.

"I've met several people who've wanted to concentrate in ethnic studies at Harvard, but it's difficult since ethnic studies courses are not offerred consistently," says Hyewon T. Chong '95, who organized a series of rallies last spring to promote a concentration in ethnic studies.

But steps are being made to increase the emphasis on ethnic studies in the curriculum, says Winthrop Professor of History Stephan A. Thernstrom, a member of the committee on ethnic studies.

"Unquestionably there will be more activity this year, especially in the spring," Thernstrom says. "[Committee on Ethnic Studies] Chair Jorge Dominguez plans to set up a series of ethnic studies workshops next year bringing in some outside scholars and open to students."

Lamadrid says an increased emphasis on ethnic studies will help those students interested in focusing on the American experience.

"You can learn as much about American culture by looking at the periphery as by looking at the center," he says. "People are realizing there's more to American studies than Ben Franklin and Cotton Mather."

Lamadrid says one lesson students can learn from studying the New Mexicans is the power of an awareness of one's culture.

"Spanish is kind of a last refuge for the New Mexicans. It is the last spot secure from Anglo-American hegemony," he said. "Cultural attitudes are invested in folk stories: jokes, information about social relations, and reactions to the Anglo-Americans."