Latin American Studies & Foreign Language Program

Comm 2331 Photography II

Through the Virtual Field School, COMM 2331 Photography II students from Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) and those from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor Design and Representation architecture course participated in a virtual and real exchange. The activity linked students in an intermediate photography class with architecture students at the University of Michigan. An online dialogue covered immigration, as observed through the Red Casa del Migrante Scalabrini. Professor Moran has been documenting the Scalabrini Casa del Migrante, which are run by the Scalabrini missionaries, in Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, Tecún Umán, Guatemala and Tapachula, Chiapas.

The University of Michigan students were in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo February 4 - 8. Along with TAMIU students they visited Casa del Migrante Nazareth in Nuevo Laredo and later visited the Estación Palabra where they saw the award winning documentary "Casa Del Migrante" and another short titled "Audiencia." Both Michigan and TAMIU students attended the screenings, which initiated a conversation about immigration. The exchange of ideas continued online on Tappedin.com. Students shared their photo and architectural projects online.