The federal government’s decision to shut down DEI initiatives under the guise of legality and so-called divisiveness argument is nothing more than prior restraint—a well-known and heavily frowned-upon form of censorship. And as history has shown us, prior restraint is not just a direct violation of the First Amendment, but one of the biggest threats to a democratic society.
Merit and fairness
The new U.S. government administration ordered the dismantling of all federal DEI programs under the argument that such programs are discriminatory and undermine fairness. The government claims they want to implement a purely merit-based system. This view misunderstands the role of access and achievement programs and the structural inequities they aim to address and favors the meritocratic fallacy of effort and talent.
President Elect
“Madam President” should have been a better title for this post. Not today, not yet. Donald Trump is now the President-Elect of the United States and will soon take office as the 47th President. Unlike in 2016, I’m neither shocked nor surprised. Although I hoped and voted for a different outcome, this feels like just another day. I am, however, concerned about how the divisive rhetoric from both sides during this election cycle will continue to affect race relations in America. I’m going to step into political analysis to try to make sense of this moment.
A garbage joke
“There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico”. For those of us with Puerto Rican roots, who cherish both the island and the country we now call home, these words cut deep. They sting, but they also clarify something profoundly troubling. This “joke” isn’t just about Puerto Rico; it’s another thread in a long, ugly pattern. A pattern where people are reduced to a label or a slur, where darker skin tones, different languages, and diverse cultures are treated as defects rather than the gifts they are.
Buen viaje
Gracias Tió Cristóbal por haberme regalado mi primer cuatro; por siempre tener un catre listo cuando te visitábamos de niños; por dejarme usar tu TransAm para llevar a pasear “la jeva” cuando yo era apenas un chamaquito; por ser un gran tío, pero también un amigo. Gracias por tu corazón generoso que siempre daba sin pedir nada a cambio. Gracias por tu ejemplo de lucha. Gracias por compartir tu vida y tu gran sentido del humor con todos nosotros. ¡Coño, que mucho te vamos a extrañar!
Barbarism
The recent legal execution of a man in Alabama, where nitrogen gas was used as a sanctioned killing method for the first time, starkly highlights the ongoing and deeply troubling issues surrounding capital punishment. This case, involving an individual who not only endured a previously failed execution attempt but also suffered visible convulsions during the procedure, starkly illustrates the barbaric nature of the death penalty and underscores the urgent need for society to reevaluate and ultimately abolish this inhumane practice.
Confianza marchita
La confianza es la base de cualquier relación, ya sea entre individuos o entre ciudadanos y sus instituciones gubernamentales. Cuando una madre pierde a su hijo y las autoridades la mantienen en la oscuridad durante meses sobre las circunstancias de su muerte, esa confianza se quiebra. El caso de Dexter Wade es más que solo una tragedia familiar; es un relato emblemático de los problemas sistémicos en nuestro aparato de justicia que impiden la formación de una confianza genuina.
Librorum prohibitorum
La censura no es un fenómeno nuevo. La censura es milenaria. Y en la mayoría de los casos, la censura es herramienta de opresión. Ahora, si me hubieran dicho que en la era de la información censurar libros en las escuelas se convertiría en tendencia, probablemente hubiera fruncido el ceño en señal de incredulidad.
A new journey
This week I say goodbye to my job of 14+ years to start a new professional journey (CV has the details). Throughout the many years serving students, I’ve had the privilege of crossing paths with many amazing individuals. One of those happened to be my “boss” of many years, Bruce Weaver. Rarely you cross paths with a person of such a kind heart who’s also committed to provide students not just great service, but an excellent academic experience full of kindness, respect, and compassion.
Por siempre RBG
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you”. –Ruth Bader Ginsburg