Cesar Corralejo is a Mexican American and Latina\/o studies junior also majoring in finance.<\/p>\n
Corralejo came to UT as a business major and took his first Mexican American and Latina\/o studies class to fulfill a graduation requirement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Corralejo\u2019s 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\u2019s interested in.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d Corralejo said. \u201cSo to find a whole major \u2026 it was kind of like finding a secret passion.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a> from University President Jim Davis. He said the environment at the McComb\u2019s School of Business, juxtaposed with the news from his other major, upset him even more.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes you wonder, what\u2019s actually the difference between these two programs?\u201d Corralejo said. \u201cWhy this over that? It was very frustrating to be limited in a place where it\u2019s supposed to (have) academic liberty.\u201d<\/p>\n While he said he hadn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I\u2019m confused, and I know other people are kind of worrying about \u2018What really is there?\u2019\u201d Corralejo said. \u201c\u2018What can be done?\u2019 Because it\u2019s already done.\u201d<\/p>\n