OCR Text |
Show I Campus News iif nr im rim International Corner k ' , r, Mf , ..... I r f V a by i Myriam Hernandez This article is the first in a series of three on Look for the next two articles in issues of the Forum. MH following To understand what is happening today in Central America, one must go back to the origins of these societies and to the values, attitudes and institutions that Spain gave to the nations of the New World. Latin America. off middle class to poor underclass. They were I in aggressive and organized the troops the civil wars that were to follow independence. The Indians occupied the bottom of the ladder and were abused and exploited by all those above them. They were excluded from national, economic and political life, so they focused on the family, the village and the region where they lived. Independence movements began with a promise to better the Indians and Ladinos. In 1823, with the abdication of General Agustin Iturbide, who chose himself emperor of Mexico, came the proclamation of absolute Central American independence. The United Province of Central America, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica began an independent life with the existing economic and social structure. There were no agrarian reforms and the plantation owners worked their land with 4 semiservile native population. The creoles, who headed the movements of independence, replaced the peninsulars to break the monopoly of trade held by Spain, but did not change labor and land systems. Central America avoided a war with Mexico and Spain by becoming independent. But they could not avoid the pressures for social change that built up in the last years of the colonial era. In the decades after independence, Central Americans found themselves in a series of civil wars instead of building their nations. These civil wars left the new governments impoverished and established an instability which has continued until the present. Dr. Susan Cottier said that we can gain some sense of the problem facing Central America today by speculating on what the United States would look like if the South rather than the North had won the war; if slavery hadnt been abolished, but expanded; and if the southern aristocracy had maintained its political domiDr. Imogene Rigdon, Dean of the School of Nursing, is an expert in the areas of suicide, violent Liberals and conservatives held exclusive nation for ninety more years. loss. and visions of how Central American society should patients, depression Despite the defeat of the Souths social and be organized. Even though the liberals economic system in the Civil War, the heritage believed in change and progress, their ideal of slavery, and racial discrimination would did not match with Central American reality. continue to thwart the development of the Their free-trad-e policies destroyed native South for almost a century. Most of Latin industry. In their desperation to bolster a sagAmerica has never fought this kind of civil war ging economy or infuse new life into a dead one, Rigdon states that violent patients are by Kristie Sowards the to but to defeat a political and economic system based the liberals adopted not only highly authoritarnurses, by learning threatening I'm learning very quickly what, thg 4ean .signs of potential violence, some of the vioian measures that did not agree with their on the exploitation of peasant labor. lence could be prevented. She has also studdoes, said Dr. Imogene Rigdon who'began-servinCentral America began the era of political republican principles, they opened their doors as the Dean of the School of Nursing ied the loss experiences of people who are to foreign investors. independence with its colonial heritage. For middle-age- d and older. She has discovered at Westminster five weeks ago. Neither liberals nor conservatives developed internal and external reasons, the societies that, in many cases, those who are suffering a were created of a society that included all groups vision that were Rigdon comes to Westminster from the due to loss, divorce and authoritand unequal depression need an University of Utah where she was Assistant invitation from others to go on living. arian, largely agricultural and dependent on and classes. Even though they often dominated Professor of Psychosocial Nursing. Rigdon, the outside world for many of the products politics in some Central American countries who spent eight years teaching at the Univerof time, neither side carried necessary for its survival. This was not the best for long periods to begin a life as independent nations. How out their ' ideas or programs successfully. this sity of Florida and the University of Utah, two classes way be will teaching Rigdon was attracted to Westminster because of its Central America gained its independence set Instead, the two sides wore each other down to competency and nursing professional year, size and what she saw as an opportunity to have research. She looks forward to teaching the even more obstacles to a prosperous and demothe point of mutual exhaustion (and a real impact on the program. bankruptcy). research course because of the challenges it cratic future. to forward look dont Most students will school offers. the Rigdon said that presently Any visitor to Latin America can find what Independence came to Mexico and Central We are this class, she adds with a laugh; many long America not as a struggle but as a way for is called living museum ideas from all ages be in the process of a conservative elite in the colonies to preserve and ideologies which coexist. No ideas domilooking at the program beginning with the years ago I was one of those students too. their privileges from democratic reforms hap- nate, none replace the others, none provide an philosophy, Rigdon said. We will look at the ideal model to be followed. This is the special strengths, weaknesses, how we interface and pening in mother Spain. as the and to addition In serving sees her teaching mission. the Rigdon college fascination of Latin America, but also its greasupport In Spain the liberal constitution was written Dean of Nursing, Rigdon is presently a memtest weakness. personal role as one of planning for the fuin 1812 which provided for alimited monarchy, ber of the governing board of the Utah ture, persuading the coliege and community freedom of speech and assembly and The decades after independence in Central promised of the Utah Chair the and Association Nurses to support the nursing program, and being abolished the America witnessed revolt but not revolution. in Spanish Inquisition. Clinical of Council Psychiatric to Specialists engaged in recruitment. The dean needs There no dramatic changes from old were Health Mental Nursing. be visible, she said. By the time of independence, most Central ideas and to new ones. Without a structures American countries were divided into four Rigdon says to Westminsters nursing stuhas held positions at the social groups. The peninsulars were native-bor- n vision of the future, Central America soon went Rigdon Previously, dents: "I hope to continue with the fine things . back to its past of internal weakness and Shands Teaching Hospital, Florida; St. Spaniards whose purity of blood and conthat have happened already. The hallmark of Burn dependence on the new outside powers who nection to the king gave them position of priviHospital, Oklahoma; and the this school is a faculty and deans that are Anthonys to Milwaukee. Center at St. Marys Hospital, lege in the colonies in business, trade and were replace Spain: first England, and then truly interested in learning and students. I the United been States. and Rigdon has written many papers politics. want to see a continuation of this. in Advances as such in published journals President Reagans allegation for maintainThe creoles, Spaniards born in National Science. She has also Rigdon said that she has two personal goals ing imperial domination upon Central AmerAmerica, were next on the ladder. They resMcGraw-Hil- l Handbook of Clinical Nurwhile at Westminster; the first is to increase ica is that he does not want another Cuba close the ented and wished to peninsulars replace to his national limits. Does The Handbook of Nursing, and her own understanding of the global picsing, it justify the creathem as the dominant group. Pearls of Nursing Practice. ture of nursing, and how the nursing protion of a new Vietnam in Central America? It Ladinos, third in the ladder, were people of started in 1981 and now it has taken the gram fits into the whole picture of the colstage loved her to has a is she second said administer Her mixed that proreally blood, ranging in social status from well- - of U.S. goal Rigdon lege. involvement. troop experiences at Westminster so far. She states gram with high academic standards and with a dedication to helping people become that she has experienced tremendous patience and help in learning the system. One very fine nurses. other thing that she has enjoyed is that in her estimation Westminster is not a pretentious When asked what her definition of a fine nurse is, Rigdon responded, A very fine place. The people here seem real, she said. What the college says is their mission, really nurse is totally educated, sensitive, aware of is their mission. the context of the person, and gives care. The nurse bases her care on scientific, social and Rigdon and her husband, Michael, have psychological principles. She is involved in Giaever will be available during free times been married 4 years. Michael is a psycjid1 by Ginny Gale her profession. to meet with students, faculty or staff. He can logist at the University of Utah School of Nobel Prize winner Dr. Ivar Giaever will be be reached by f hone at the Distinguished ResIt almost seems a contradiction that RigFamily and Community Medicine. Their addressing Westminster students, faculty, and idents Apartment, don, with her quick wit and easy smile, is an daughter, Mary Lisa, wants to be an staff during the upcoming Distinguished ResThe public is welcome to attend any of the actress and is anxious to study drama at ident Lecture Series. expert in the areas of suicide, violent pad seminars and activities as well as Westminster. In their spare time, the Rig-dotients, depression and loss. Rigdon became a free 1 lecture given on December 2. December November Chilpublic 30, and and ballet the Giaever the 2, interested in these areas out of a concern for enjoy symphony, drens Theatre at the University of Utah. will be discussing various subjects in the fields Dr. Giaevers visit is made both nurses and patients. The main thrust of possible through Since they have moved to Utah, the Rigdons of math and science. Included will be Genetic an anonymous donor who funds the Distinher study and writings is to understand what have participated in camping, cross country Engineering and Cancer, Super Conductor guished Resident threatens a patients survival and how nurses Program at Westminster Theory, and the Nature of Science. can intervene and help. skiing and short hikes. College. . Rigdon acquires new position g self-stud- y. pure-blood- ed Nobel Prize winner will address Westminster students 488-626- 7. class-relate- ns 6 Forum Issue 6 Nov. 17, 1987 |