Passed by the Notre Dame Faculty Senate, March 7, 1996
Whereas Julian Samora was a professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame from 1959 until his retirement in 1985; and
Whereas he was the first Mexican-American known to have received a doctorate in sociology and anthropology (in 1953); and
Whereas he has been credited with helping to establish medical sociology as an independent subdiscipline; and
Whereas he “turned Notre Dame into a virtual magnet for Mexican-American graduate students” and his South Bend home “into a virtual Mexican-American student center” (the New York Times, February 6, 1996); and
Whereas he established Notre Dame’s highly successful Hispanic Studies Program, from which more than one-hundred Mexican-American scholars graduated; and
Whereas he was one of the earliest and most prolific authors and supporters of the University Press and his most successful title, among many, was Los Mojados: The Wetback Story, published by the Press; and
Whereas he was a co-founder of the National Council of La Raza, widely regarded as the leading Mexican-American civil rights organization; and
Whereas, following his retirement from Notre Dame, Michigan State University created the Julian Samora Research Institute in his honor to continue and expand his pioneering research into the Chicano experience in the Midwest;
Be it therefore resolved that the Faculty Senate of the University of Notre Dame acknowledge with profound sadness the death of our former colleague, Professor Julian Samora, on February 2, 1996, at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and
Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate expresses its profound appreciation for Professor Samora’s extraordinary contributions to the fields of sociology and anthropology and to the Mexican-American community, and for his compelling personal witness of dedication and service to students; and
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Departments of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame for the attention of their faculty, students and staff; and
Be it further resolved that the Faculty Senate observe a moment of silence in respectful memory of Professor Julian Samora.