Brown Bag Series showcases research on Latinos

The Brown Bag Series has been helping students and faculty get an insight into Latin American research and Latinos around campus.\nThe series has been going on for a long time, but it was not until recently that La Casa, The Center for Latin America and the Caribbean Studies and the Latino Studies Program collaborated to improve the program.\n“It has been perfect, we all have different resources that we can pull into,” said La Casa director Lillian Casillas. \nCasillas said the program is meant to highlight anyone who is doing research about Latinos here or abroad. The series also intends to introduce Latino faculty into the community.\nArlene Diaz, an associate professor in the Latino Studies program, said the environment of the program is very informal and open. She credits this environment for making people feel more open to ask questions and get to know the speaker and his or her work.\n“I think some students \nattend because their professors are showing their work,” Diaz said. “It’s important for \nthem to see and engage at a different level.”\nThe series occurs every \nsemester. This semester, \nthere are three remaining speakers scheduled to present on various topics.\nArchana Sridhar will speak on April 24 about research she did in Guatemala.\nHer program, “The Uncertainty of Death and Taxes: Tax Evasion and Nonprofit Regulation in Post-War Guatemala,” will focus on tax reform and the role of nonprofit regulation in Guatemala’s economic development. \nSridhar said she first heard about the series after she andher husband went to the Latino Cultural Center to introduce themselves. \nAlthough she has not been able attend the series because of scheduling conflicts, she thinks the series is positive thing.\n“It looks like great topics and people doing really great research,” Sridhar said.\nBoth she and Casillas said it’s a great and brief way for people to learn about what is going on in Latin America.\n“(The series has) given them a taste without having to take the classes,” Casillas said.\nThe upcoming series, which is held at La Casa, will have speakers lecturing on music, fine arts and Guatemala.\nErick Carballo, the series’ next speaker, will discuss music on March 27. He was the first Latin American to win an award at IU for his dissertation, Diaz said.\nCasillas said that while the name of the series refers to the time of day it takes place, only a few people actually bring their lunch.