Course teaches students about Mexico

Students will have the opportunity to learn about Mexico's history and its role with the U.S. from faculty members who have traveled to Mexico and other Latin American countries, when the Latin American studies program introduces a new course in the spring.

The course, entitled "Mexico: Cordial Partner or Alien Neighbor?" will be headed by Larry Clayton, history and Latin American studies professor and interim director of Latin American studies.

Clayton said the course will be taught by about eight to 10 UA faculty members who are experts in certain areas the course will cover.

The course number is LAS 396/596 and can count for history or Latin American studies credit, Clayton said.

Clayton said the course outlines the history of Mexico and will also address its role with the U.S. throughout its history and discuss current events.

The course is part of an interdisciplinary studies seminar, which takes place each spring semester. Each spring semester the topic changes. Clayton said Mexico was the topic four years ago.

Raised in Lima, Peru, Clayton has traveled across South and Central America.

He said the Latin American studies program, which began in 1969, has gained and lost popularity during the years, depending on faculty and student interest in the program.

Erik Baklanoff, economics and finance research professor, was the dean of the Latin American studies program in 1969 when it began. He said he is trying to rejuvenate the program and said he hopes this course will help that process.

Baklanoff is one of the faculty members heading up the course. He will be teaching a few of the sessions and will focus on the economic aspects of Mexico's history.

Baklanoff, who officially retired in 1992 and still researches and teaches on occasion, has traveled to several Latin American countries. He has also written several books about those countries.

Clayton said his goal is to educate students about issues with Mexico in the past, present and future.

"I hope students come away with a better understanding of how Mexican people and American people have related to each other historically and now," Clayton said. "And I hope it gives good context with the issues that rise up in the press."

Mary Rountree, a sophomore majoring in public relations, said she is registered to take the course.

Rountree said she has been interested in Latin American studies for some time, and has taken other classes like this one.

Rountree can speak Spanish, and she said she has traveled to Mexico, as well as Guatemala, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.

"The rich culture [of Latin America] is so interesting," Rountree said. "I would one day love to work for an embassy in a Spanish-speaking country."

Suzann Palmour, a sophomore majoring in social work, said having been to Monterrey and Victoria, Mexico a couple of times, she was interested in the course for several reasons.

"I see it as a better way to understand our neighboring country in the midst of today's immigration debate," Palmour said. "I like the fact that the course covers several characteristics of the country rather than just one."

Palmour said she has studied Spanish for three years and is now learning Portuguese.

The course will meet at the Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence facility Room 111 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 to 4:45 p.m.

Those interested in the program should contact Clayton at lclayton@simpleton.net or Baklanoff at ebaklano@cba.ua.edu. Baklanoff said if students have problems registering from the course because of a lack of space, they should also contact him.