Cesar Corralejo is a Mexican American and Latina/o studies junior also majoring in finance.

Corralejo came to UT as a business major and took his first Mexican American and Latina/o studies class to fulfill a graduation requirement. 

Corralejo’s first class in the program was North American Borderlands with Associate Professor C.J. Alvarez, which covered the history of the U.S./Canada and U.S./Mexico borders. He said taking the course helped him discover that the major could be something he’s interested in.

“I really fell in love with the course, and I fell in love with what they make you think about and how it expands your thinking,” Corralejo said. “So to find a whole major … it was kind of like finding a secret passion.”

Corralejo was in a class for his finance major in the spring when he said he learned the Mexican American and Latina/o studies Department had been consolidated in an email announcement from University President Jim Davis. He said the environment at the McComb’s School of Business, juxtaposed with the news from his other major, upset him even more.

“It makes you wonder, what’s actually the difference between these two programs?” Corralejo said. “Why this over that? It was very frustrating to be limited in a place where it’s supposed to (have) academic liberty.”

While he said he hadn’t noticed any loss of academic resources after the consolidation, Corralejo said he has felt confused about what his program will be as an academic unit moving forward.

“I know I’m confused, and I know other people are kind of worrying about ‘What really is there?’” Corralejo said. “‘What can be done?’ Because it’s already done.”

Corralejo said he’s confused by the September news that the Provost’s Office rejected a department proposal to retain major status for Mexican American and Latina/o studies and other ethnic and gender studies programs.

“I think that removing (major status) would be undoing years of work and progress to this institution, and it’s a disservice,”. Corralejo said

After graduating, Corralejo said he aims to combine his finance knowledge with the perspective gained from Mexican American and Latina/o studies to create his own business and give back to his community. He said he’s also considering graduate school in an adjacent ethnic studies field where he could contribute his own research.

“There’s not a class or experience where I wouldn’t be thinking about the major and what I’ve learned in (Mexican American and Latina/o studies),” Corralejo said. “It’s applicable to every single facet of my life … I feel like that’s where the value comes from. It’s made me a more well-rounded person, a better academic.”