Native American Studies Group Will Meet in Arizona

While several academic organizations have announced that they will stay away from Arizona because of the state's new immigration law, the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association is going ahead with its scheduled annual meeting this month in Tucson. The association has issued statements condemning the new law -- which many believe will encourage ethnic and racial profiling -- but also has reminded members that the organization is based at the University of Arizona and that moving a meeting at the last minute can have many consequences.

"Many of our members have written to us in support of this position, while many others have urged us to cancel the meeting or change venues. We appreciate the range of opinions expressed regarding what it means to hold our meeting in Arizona at this moment," said the statement. "As such, we request your support of our commitment to make this meeting a site of sincere and serious coalition-building and collective action. This desire to act responsibly as an organization within the state drives our decision. However, members also should be aware that cancelling our meeting in Tucson or changing venues would have immediate and dire consequences for the Association that so many have worked so hard to build: near-certain bankruptcy, a probable lawsuit from the hotel with which we have a signed contract, and as a result, disbandment. We are also mindful that, while some NAISA members are financially and organizationally in a position to change or cancel their bookings for travel to Arizona, and are certainly at liberty to do so, many members are not in a position to make such changes so close to the meeting without incurring tremendous personal expense."