Student Organizations
ILASSA
The Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association (ILASSA) was formed by graduate students to encourage more active student participation in institute and campus affairs concerning Latin American Studies and to provide a voice in the direction of the LLILAS program. ILASSA provides orientation activities and also sends representatives to the Council of Graduate Students (COGS) and other campus activities. Membership is open to all UT students with an interest in Latin America.
The association sponsors activities to foster exchanges on Latin American topics; to encourage involvement with Hispanics; to collect aid funds for disaster relief in Latin America; and to help in new student orientation. ILASSA also helps provide job- and internship-seeking services for graduate and undergraduate students. The annual Latin American Studies Student Conference is a major responsibility of the association.
ILASSA is also social in nature, sponsoring events during the term that focus on nonacademic pursuits. These include a highly successful coed intramural sports tradition, planned and impromptu parties, Friday evening get-togethers, and canoe, beach, and camping/rock-climbing trips. The institute provides a lounge in Sid Richardson Hall 1.302 for use by association members.
ILASSA's annual Student Conference is the oldest student-run academic conference on Latin America in the country. The ILASSA Conference offers students from UT-Austin as well as other institutions in the United States and abroad the opportunity to present their research in the style and atmosphere of an academic conference, attracting participants from foreign academic institutions and the United States. Career planning activities also occur. Hosting the conference gives ILASSA a unique opportunity for leadership and a chance to share that special Austin and LLILAS warmth. Students visiting from outside the Austin area are housed by ILASSA students during their stay in Austin. The conference is funded by LLILAS, the sale of the ever-popular ILASSA T-shirts, and other events. Local businesses are solicited for contributions or discounts for the conference participants, as well.
ILASSA XXIX Annual Student Conference
Chupacabra
Purpose
Chupacabra is the listserv of ILASSA (the Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association). At any one time, between 100 and 150 people subscribe to Chupacabra to share and stay up-to-date on information that interests us: LLILAS and ILASSA events, Latin America related job postings, Latin America related news, happy hour, and general information sharing (e.g., "Anyone speak Quechua?"; "How do I contact Archbishop Ruiz of Chiapas? "; "Where's the best place to get a beer in Austin?"; etc.).
Who may subscribe?
In the interest of maintaining Chupacabra as the primary electronic forum for ILASSA students, subscribers shall be limited to the following groups: any student, faculty, or staff member of the University of Texas at Austin and any alumnus of LLILAS. The following groups are expressly prohibited from subscribing: persons with no direct affiliation with the University of Texas. Exceptions shall be permitted at the discretion of the assembled ILASSA membership (i.e., a vote at a meeting).
How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Visit https://utlists.utexas.edu/ to subscribe or unsubscribe to the Chupacabra List.
Activities
Meetings:
During the school year ILASSA holds regular meetings to discuss and plan upcoming events and activities. ILASSA meetings are announced over Chupacabra. They usually occur every other Friday at 4:00 pm in Sid Richardson Hall Room 1.320.
Happy Hours:
Every Friday evening ILASSA members gather at one of the many eating & drinking establisments in Austin to relax, socialize, and generally have fun. Happy Hour times and locations are announced over Chupacabra and at meetings.
JAMS:
JAMS are one to two hour discussion sessions on a particular topic dealing with Latin America. They are held periodically throughout the year. Any ILASSA member can organize and facilitate a JAM. JAM times and locations are announced, usually well in advance, over Chupacabra and at ILASSA meetings.
ILASSA Officers for 2008-2009
President
Chris Woodruff
Vice President
Candace Lopez
Secretary
Laura Gutierrez
Treasurer
Meghan Vail
Graduate Student Assembly Representative
Emily Spangenberg
Listserv Administrator
Sean Sellers
Administrative Liaison and Alumni Coordinator
Giovanni Batz
2009 Conference Coordinators
Haydn Kihm
Claudia Rodriguez
Lindsey Engelman
Lindsay Adams
Cultural and Academic Committee Chair
Nashielly Victoria
Lora Hollingsworth
Social Committee Chair
Sean Sellers
Lindsey Engelman