Kennesaw State University
Special Film Event on Immigration
Wednesday, November 18, 7-10 PM, SO 1019
The Department of Foreign Languages, the Center for Latin American and
Iberian Studies, and the KSU Spanish Club are pleased to announce the tenth showing
in a series of films on immigration. This semester the focus is on documentaries
about contemporary issues on immigration. The award-winning films selected are
meant to spark discussion on the issues presented on account of their production
values and the depiction of its subjects.
The critically acclaimed Crossing Arizona (2006), directed by Joseph Mathew
and Daniel Devivo, presents the conditions that have sparked controversy about
Mexican immigrants crossing into the USA through the Arizona desert. Some
individuals perceive the problem as a humanitarian concern.
Others insist it is a matter of national security and the American
way of life. Both sides voice their opinions and concerns to let the
audience decide what the best course of action should be in
solving the crisis at the border. Meanwhile each group is taking
action: the former by providing aid in the form of basic
necessities; the latter by organizing citizen groups to help border
patrol officers in their efforts to guard the border. Still,
thousands of people continue to venture north in search of better
living conditions. When in 1993 the USA began to seal its border
with Mexico, the idea was to stop the influx of people. However,
since then, more people have died trying to cross the border than
ever before. Something must be done about it before the crisis brings forth
disastrous consequences that will forever change relations between the two
neighboring countries. This documentary is meant to spark dialogue about illegal
immigration.
The film will be introduced by Dr. Elaine Levine, Professor at the Center for
Research on North America at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and
Visiting Researcher at the Burruss Institute for Public Service, who will also lead the
Q&A session at the conclusion of the film. The movie will be shown at 7 PM in the
Humanities and Social Sciences Building (S0), room 1019 (bldg. #22 on campus map).
The 77-minute DVD version is in English, and it is intended for mature audiences
only. Admission is free and parking will be available at the Visitor Information &
Parking (lot #7 on campus map). As always, you are welcome to bring along your
friends.
For additional information about this event or the whole series on immigration,
please contact the event organizer, Dr. Ernesto Silva, Assistant Professor of Spanish
& Senior Fellow at the KSU Center for Latin American and Iberian Studies, at
esilva@kennesaw.edu.
For directions on how to find the SO building and where to park on campus,
please visit http://www.kennesaw.edu/admissions/pdfs/ksu_2d_map.pdf.