-
Title (Dublin Core)
-
Autumn Alaniz-Wiggins
-
Abstract (Dublin Core)
-
This oral history interview with Autumn Alaniz-Wiggins, conducted by Alexander Haga and Mae Haggard as part of the "Preserving Chico State Voices for Change"" project, chronicles Alaniz-Wiggins’s transformative journey through academia and activism at Chico State University. Alaniz-Wiggins, a 2024 graduate with degrees in Sociology and Multicultural Gender Studies, reflects on her evolution from a nutrition major to a prominent student leader and Associated Students President. Her experiences offer insights into the challenges faced by first-generation students, the intersection of identity and academia, and the importance of cultural competence in education.
Alaniz-Wiggins recounts her decision to leave Chico State in 2019 to explore diverse work experiences across the U.S., including farming and food education. Upon returning, she transitioned from nutrition to Multicultural and Gender studies, motivated by her dissatisfaction with the lack of cultural and class consciousness in the nutrition program. She highlights systemic inequities within the department and praises the efforts of a singular professor who addressed issues of race and health disparities.
As a student leader, Alaniz-Wiggins served as Director of Social Justice and Equity before becoming Associated Students President. She spearheaded initiatives promoting equity, inclusivity, and community-building on campus. Her narrative illustrates how her intersecting identities—Black, Hispanic, Native American, Muslim, queer, and first-generation—shaped her advocacy and academic focus. Alaniz-Wiggins also discusses her current pursuits, including international work exchanges and a documentary project in Pakistan, reflecting her continued commitment to global social justice.
The interview explores Alaniz-Wiggins’s personal ties to food justice and her critique of neoliberal approaches to nutrition education. She shares candid reflections on her struggles with academia and the resilience required to navigate systemic barriers. Alaniz-Wiggins’s candid storytelling provides a view of her experiences as a student, activist, and community member at Chico State, offering invaluable lessons on perseverance, identity, and the transformative power of education.
Further, the interview elaborates on Alaniz-Wiggins’s involvement in student organizations, which shaped her activism. Clubs like the Sociology Association (SACs) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) provided a broad perspective on student experiences and inspired engagement on critical issues, such as advocacy for Palestine. These organizations offered both a grassroots view of campus life and opportunities for direct action, complementing her leadership in AS.
Listeners can expect an inspiring account of how one student’s journey reflects broader themes of social justice, identity, and the ongoing pursuit of meaningful change in both local and global contexts.
-
Interviewee (Bibliographic Ontology)
-
Autumn Alaniz-Wiggins
-
Interviewer (Bibliographic Ontology)
-
Mae Haggard
-
Alexander Haga
-
Date Created (Dublin Core)
-
October 24, 2024
-
Format (Dublin Core)
-
WAV
-
Length (Schema.org for LinkedDataSets)
-
1 hour, 19 minutes, 16 seconds
-
Library of Congress Subject Heading (Schema.org for LinkedDataSets)
-
First-generation college students
-
Black college students
-
Associated Students of California State University-Chico
-
Multicultural education
-
Copyright (Dublin Core)
-
Researchers may make free and open use of the Meriam Library’s digitized public domain materials without obtaining permission. However, some materials in our online collections may be protected by U.S. copyright law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Use or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use (Title 17, U.S.C. § 107) requires permission from the copyright owners. The use or reproduction of some materials may also be restricted by terms of the Meriam Library’s gift or purchase agreements. Responsibility for determining rights status and permissibility of any use or reproduction rests exclusively with the researcher. The Library asks to be credited as the materials source whenever possible.
-
Collection number (Dublin Core)
-
UA-016-01
-
Collection Project (Dublin Core)
-
Preserving Chico State Voices for Change
Autumn Alaniz-Wiggins (transcript)
