Â??the New American Nativism’ Topic of Speaker Series at Colorado State University Jan. 30

Ernesto Sagas, associate professor of political science at Southern New Hampshire University, will discuss "The New American Nativism: Confronting the Immigrant ‘Other’" on Jan. 30.

Sagas will speak from 10-11:15 a.m. in Room 208 of the Lory Student Center on campus.

Sagas will discuss how immigration has once again become a hot button issue in American politics and how "New American Nativism" has come to dominate the political debate. His talk examines the ideological underpinnings of the New American Nativism – its targeting of mainly undocumented Mexican immigrants – and how Latino and pro-immigrant groups have reacted to it, its political use during and after the 2006 midterm elections and the current presidential campaign, and the potential domestic and international consequences of the adoption of some of its more reactionary policies.

Sagas has served as assistant instructor of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Caribbean Studies at Rutgers and assistant instructor of Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies at Lehman College-CUNY. He is a member of the American Political Science Association, Latin American Studies Association, Western Political Science Association and South Eastern Council of Latin American Studies. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Vision Hispana and Vote Now New Hampshire Hispanics.

The "New Perspectives in Contemporary Research" Speaker Series has been developed to provide the Colorado State community access to a variety of cutting-edge original academic research. The speakers showcased are innovative senior scholars who have been examining critical perspectives on United States and international cultures, politics and societies. The intent of the series is to enlighten and educate faculty, staff and students to new ideas and perspectives.

For more information, contact Irene Vernon at Irene.Vernon@colostate.edu or call (970) 491-2418.

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