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From the Editor
Welcome to the Best of Borderlands 2001-2012, a collection of articles previously published in our EPCC research and writing student publication, part two. We chose this year’s articles before the president’s current “zero-tolerance” policy towards immigrants went into effect this spring and long before his meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. What a surprise it was to look at our choices and realize that six of the stories were about immigrants and two others concerned Americans at war in Asia, including one about POWs in the Korean War. As we went to print, North Korea had released the remains of 55 Americans on the 65th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting (but not the war), the first since 2007, when such exchanges were stopped because of North Korea’s nuclear program.
We realized that many of the local history topics students choose to research in my English 1302 class (Research Writing and Literary Analysis) remain contemporary, with new chapters being written every year. Hence, we have included a short update for each story, most of which were researched and written by Rachel Murphree, librarian at NW Campus, and faculty editor of our publication. Our hope is that interested readers will read some of the recommendations on the subject and visit places that are mentioned in our articles.
We found several memorials to Korean veterans and Bataan survivors both in El Paso and in Las Cruces, and we include photos of some of them. We invite readers to visit both Veterans Memorial Park at 1151 Roadrunner Parkway in Las Cruces and Old Glory Memorial in El Paso, adjacent to EPCC’s Transmountain Campus.
Image caption: Isabel Hernandez, Student Editor
The student editors of the volumes represented in this issue still have a place in my heart. Their work continues to read well, and the information they provided is still important. Three young women served as editors for three different volumes of Borderlands: Gretchen Dickey (volumes 21, 22, 23); Adri Alatorre (volumes 24, 25, 26); and Heather Coons (volumes 27, 28, 29), a testament to their dedication and interest in the publication. They are now professionals in the community in education, health and journalism.
Rachel Murphree has been a godsend to me, both during the year when she provides a library orientation for researching local history for my students, and during the planning, writing, photographing and editing of our publication. After this issue appears in the Sunday edition of the El Paso Times, Rachel will then place it on the web as another school year begins. My deepest thanks to you, Rachel.
Image caption: Ruth E. Vise, Faculty Advisor & Editor
I dedicate this issue to Monica Wong, friend and former head librarian at NW, and two lovely nonagenarians who departed this earth late last year: Lily Alvarez, a war bride (WW II) originally from Alsace-Lorraine, France, who owned Martin’s Bookstore in El Paso for decades; and Paulette Dupré from Nîmes, France, a lovely friend and exquisite cook who loved to read American novels.
I could not sign off without congratulating my daughter, April, who began this adventure with Borderlands with me when she was seven, on her wedding to Brandon Berglund last October.
Readers, new and veteran, I hope you will find a story or two (or more) that you enjoy. If you have an idea for a topic, check the web at EPCC Borderlands (27 issues) to make sure we haven’t already published an article on the topic, and then email me at rvise@epcc.edu or give me a call at 915-831-8841.
Ruth E. Vise, Faculty Advisor
Faculty Editor, Borderlands
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From the Faculty Editor
In helping to choose the best of Borderlands for the decade we are covering, I looked for good writing, importance of the story to the history of the El Paso region and how the subject had changed in the years since we’d written our articles. I was struck with how topics in the news then are relevant now.
On the 65th anniversary of the cessation of fighting in the Korean War, our government is still wrestling with security issues and return of soldier remains from North Korea. However, it is encouraging to report the increase of local memorials to soldiers of this once “forgotten war.”
Image caption: Rachel Murphree, Faculty Editor
The anti-immigrant rhetoric of the current administration and recent highly publicized mass raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recall the shameful events of the 1930s when our government enforced repatriation of thousands of Mexican-Americans.
The images of children torn from their migrant parents’ arms and sequestered with no plans for their reunification recall the Japanese internment camps during World War II as the U.S. Supreme Court overrules the Korematsu v. United States decision of 1944. We highlight the immigration activism of Herlinda Wong Chew during a time when Chinese people were excluded from immigrating, just as the Supreme Court allows a travel ban against people from a different area of the world which will tear apart other families, some of whom are American citizens.
I have always been interested in women’s history and have toured Hull House in Chicago. I’ve enjoyed knowing the intersection of Jane Addams and her settlement house activity with El Paso’s Progressive Era and social reformers, but I’m sad to report that Houchen Community Center is still closed after several years of being shuttered.
And so it goes … some things change, others stay the same, and some improve. We hope you’ll enjoy perusing our selection of the Best of Borderlands 2001-2012.
Rachel Murphree, Faculty Editor
Borderlands Web Librarian
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Acknowledgements:
Special Thanks to:
Dr. William Serrata, President, El Paso Community College
Steven E. Smith, Vice President of Instruction and Workforce Education
Dr. Lydia Tena, Campus Dean & Dean of Instructional Programs, Northwest Campus
Dr. Julie Penley, Associate Vice President of Instruction & Student Success
Lorely Ambriz, Head Librarian, Northwest Campus
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Thanks to:
Rachel Murphree, Librarian & Faculty Editor, Northwest Campus
Helen Bell, Librarian, Northwest Campus
Terri Zarate, Yvonne Lopez, Son Bell, Yolanda Barboza, Leo Alferez, Yasmin Nunez, Ludivina Quevedo and Mark Rodriguez, Northwest Library
Elvia Guzman-Jarnagin, Marisela Hernandez and
Sonya Rosalez, Campus Dean’s Office, Northwest Campus
Rosa Rodriguez, Oscar Acevedo, Adriana Badillo and Erick Bautista, Northwest Campus ASC
Laura Gaither, Nancy Coe, Martha Najera and Emma Uresti, Northwest Campus ISC
Fred Morales, El Paso Historian
Danny Gonzalez, Border Heritage Center, Main Branch, El Paso Public Library
Robert Díaz, President, El Paso County Historical Society
Martin and Norma Hernandez
Donald Murphree
Susie Dorsey
Ruben Ramirez, Photo Editor, El Paso Times
Victor Calzada, Photographer, El Paso Times
Vernon “Randy” Carothers, President, El Paso Texas Flags Across America, Old Glory Memorial
Judge M. Sue Kurita
Judge Patricia B. Chew
Alejandro Acosta Jr.
David Pérez Lez
Harry Steen
Anita Dawson
Margaret and George Lang, Debbie Luna, Conchita Alvarez
All the students who researched local history and submitted illustrations in Ms. Vise’s English 1302 classes
Cover photos by Isabel Hernandez, Donald Murphree and Susie Dorsey
Borderlands is published annually by El Paso Community College, P. O. Box 20500, El Paso, TX 79998. It is written by students and staff of the college. All rights reserved.
Printing is by PDX Printing, 100 Porfirio Diaz, El Paso TX 79902, a private firm in no way connected with the El Paso Community College. Funds for the publication of this supplement are provided by El Paso Community College District; however, the views and opinions expressed in this
magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the El Paso Community College staff, faculty, administration and board. Submissions become property of El Paso Community College.Furthermore, El Paso Community College does not accept responsibility for possible errors in the accuracy of studentresearch that is represented in these articles, although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.
El Paso Community College – The Best Place to Start
El Paso Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
