Southwest Studies at Colorado College

Post 1971 Uranium Workers Committee, Grants, New Mexico.

SWS Research Fellows entered and analyzed data from surveys of ex-uranium workers developed and administered by Post ’71 leaders. Students created a power point presentation for leaders to use to educate lawmakers on the need for increased funding for medical research on uranium related illnesses, and for compensation for workers with uranium related illnesses.

[Ongoing]

Legacy of Uranium Mining Damage

Laguna Pueblo

Key findings

Taos County Economic Development Corporation Cañon Acequia and Mutual Domestic Water Associations - With community leaders, developed and administered a survey of water users on their uses of Acequia waters and concerns about the future of water quality and quantity in Taos County.

• Lauren Frinkman '08, Religion/German.
• Ruth Domrzalski '08, Philosophy/Russian.

Taos Land Trust - With leaders of the non- profit developed a pilot survey to ascertain attitudes of land owners towards conservation land easements and development in Taos County.

• Byron Hurlbut '09, Political Science.

Key findings

• Lauren Bogard '07, Sociology - Ms. Bogard developed a pilot study for community leaders’ use of South Valley residents’ agricultural water practices, knowledge of water rights and concerns about land and water issues.

Taos: De Las Cosecha Project:

• Marisela Chavez ’08, Mathematics - Under the direction of community leaders, Ms. Chavez developed a survey of the practices of Acequia water rights users and their attitudes about land, water and the marketing of livestock.

NM American Friend Service Committee:

• Katie Rosing ’07, LAS Sustainable Agriculture and Emma Gamelsky ’08, Art - Under the direction of community leaders, Ms. Rosing and Gamelsky developed an in depth survey to examine the level of economic, environmental and cultural sustainability of small farmers who sold their produce locally and at farmers markets. Ms. Gamelsky designed brochures to educate residents on their water rights.

Key findings

From Dirt Roads and Taos Sunsets, La Tertulia

“At the end of the summer it was fairly evident what had happened. We were paid our stipend; it was not just to help a community separate from us, it was for becoming part of the community.  We had a job to do, and we coveted our duty, though not because it was for a grade or a publication that would display our names. Rather, we had become part of something and we wanted to ensure the results were reliable and understood well enough to be used in the future.”

“Then we left.. While I gained extensive real-world experience about small communities, interviewing, gathering and processing data, I learned tremendous things about my own heritage and origin as well.  Southwest Studies may have not intended their research fellowship to have this kind of outcome.   But ultimately, I’m sure it did.”

Lauren Frinkman ’08