For more than two decades, the J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium at New Mexico State University has been bringing together scholars and experts with community members and students to address critical social issues. During the 21st annual event April 7-8 at Corbett Center Student Union, the symposium will revisit a controversial and often emotional topic in the borderlands.
"The feminicides are one of the worst human rights calamities in contemporary history in this region," said Cynthia Bejarano, symposium co-chair and NMSU Regents professor of gender and sexuality studies. "Across Latin America, femicide or feminicide are recognized as legal terms. It's part of the legal discourse across much of Latin America, but it has not been recognized here in the United States."
"As a university, we should be very much practicing the exchange of the marketplace of ideas and to bring together our local Las Cruces community, as well as our community in Ciudad Juárez and throughout Mexico and throughout the state of New Mexico," said Teresa Maria Linda Scholz, symposium co-chair and vice president of NMSU's Office of Land-Grant Inclusive Mission. "We need to talk about gender violence, particularly in this moment when there are national issues regarding heinous gender crimes that have occurred and that have huge implications. We need to talk about these issues as a community."
This year's symposium is titled: "Ni Una Más: Standing Together Against Feminicides and Gender-Based Violence." The song "Ni Una Más," which translates to "not one more," is a 2021 pop ballad that serves as an anthem against gender-based violence.
In 2006, "Justice for the Women of Juárez" was the symposium's topic. This year, eight panels, including families of feminicide victims, scholars, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and others, will revisit this topic and discuss what developments have taken place over the past 20 years to end and address the issue.
Before the symposium gets underway, however, other events inviting community participation are scheduled this month.
Wear your message. NMSU's American Indian Center, with the symposium committee, will co-host a hands-on experience for students, faculty, staff and community members to create lapel pins with messages to end femicides and gender-based violence from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the American Indian Center.
Paint your voice for all to see. On March 31, the College Assistance Migrant Program Student Council will co-host another hands-on project, with the symposium committee, as part of Farmworker Awareness Week. As a tribute to the 2006 symposium, "Justice for the Women of Juárez," artist Irene Simmons will provide a Zoom presentation and discuss her 2006 outdoor art installation "ReDressing Injustice." Students and community members are invited to paint a small number of dresses that will hang on wooden crosses made by Aggies Without Limits students for an exhibit that will be viewed along University Avenue, publicizing the symposium. Participants are invited to paint dresses and make statements against violence on canvas from 5 to 7 p.m. at Devasthali Hall, Room 106.
"We also want to convey to our students that we really want them to be a part of this, to come to the symposium, to engage, to listen," Scholz said. "The pin-making is a really great opportunity for students to engage in activity around showing their support for the work. Students can join the dressmaking as well, then join us in April for the symposium."
Established in 2005, the symposium is named after the late J. Paul Taylor, a revered New Mexico legislator, educator and advocate known as the "conscience of the New Mexico Legislature." Over the years, the symposium has explored topics such as youth incarceration, Indigenous rights and quality of life in Doña Ana County, among many others.
Attendees can view films screened for the second day of the event or engage in panel discussions and listen to speakers. The symposium co-chairs invite the community to participate in the conclusion of the event, a candlelight vigil led by families and speakers at the Corbett Center outdoor stage, which will include poetry, music and a performance of "Ni Una Más."
You may know someone who deserves to be recognized for their service to social justice. The Social Justice Award will honor a person who goes above and beyond to help create a more just society through community organizing, political engagement and advocacy. The award is given by NMSU's Department of Political Science, Public Law and Administration. Nominations are open until 5 p.m. Friday, March 13. Submit a nomination to Anja Hansen at
Supporters of the J. Paul Taylor Symposium include: J. Paul Taylor's family; the J. Paul Taylor Academy; Victor Muñoz; the Guadalupe Institute; NMSU president; NMSU provost; NMSU colleges; Office of Land-Grant Inclusive Mission; Language Access Plan; division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Management; NMSU Library, NMSU Global Campus; Doña Ana Community College,: NMSU College Assistance Migrant Program and its student council; and the Aggies Without Limits student organization.
"We are grateful to have buy-in from all major units across campus," Bejarano said. "I think it's really critical to see that this is an issue supported by so many across NMSU."
"I want to emphasize that our students are the next generation to take on some of this work because we have very talented students here at NMSU and at DACC," Scholz said. "We have students who are going into law, students who are going to go into health equity, students who are going into politics, and they could play a really important role in this work as we move forward."
Community support ensures that the symposium remains free, accessible, and community centered.To support the J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium, click here.
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-social-justice-symposium-to-bring-together-scholars--students--community/s/b6d03d3a-48af-4698-9cbf-751950cb2ec0
