Student Success Fee Brings Pulitzer Prize Author Junot Daz to Campus
A reading and book signing is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 31.
D铆az's novels and short stories unfold in his native country, the Dominican Republic, and in the Dominican-American communities of New York and New Jersey, where he grew up.
D铆az's appearance at 黑料吃瓜 is supported by the Student Success Fee and hosted by the (MALAS) graduate program in the College of Arts and Letters. MALAS student Fernanda Vega Huerta wrote the successful grant; MALAS program director William Nericcio will MC the reading.
Immigrant rights
In a telephone interview, D铆az outlined the major themes of his writing鈥攎asculinity, intimacy, histories of oppression, the African diaspora and immigrant experiences.鈥淢y solidarity and my labors are directed toward securing and expanding immigrant rights,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have a political system that doesn鈥檛 serve anybody but the elite. That鈥檚 highly disappointing and highly problematic.鈥�
Vega Huerta studies literature from a feminist perspective through the work of trans-border writers. She said she hopes D铆az's presentation will spark discussion and help the San Diego community better understand immigrants鈥� contributions to the U.S. economy and culture.
鈥満诹铣怨� will have the opportunity to hear from a distinguished writer, scholar and activist about issues that are currently dividing our nation,鈥� she said.
About Junot D铆az
D铆az won the Pulitzer Prize for the novel, 鈥淭he Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.鈥� His other works of fiction include 鈥淭his Is How You Lose Her鈥� and 鈥淒rown,鈥� a collection of short stories.He is the recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award, a MacArthur 鈥淕enius鈥� Fellowship, the PEN/Malamud Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and PEN/O. Henry Award.
About the Student Success Fee
The Student Success Fee was approved by 黑料吃瓜 students in spring 2014 and became effective in the fall of that year. Approximately 10 percent of the fee is dedicated to enhancing student success through expanded academic related programs. The remainder is used to increase the number of tenure-track faculty positions and course sections.Examples of academic related programs include, but are not limited to: student colloquia, lecture series, seminars, student projects, student competitions, student forums, student exhibitions, student productions, student performances and participation at professional conferences.
