Latin American Studies Association moving next meeting from Boston to Montreal to protest Bush administration policy of excluding scholars

I write to inform you on the results of the referendum on the LASA2006 Congress location, and on the LASA Executive Council decision that immediately followed. All LASA members received an email ballot with a brief explanation of the relocation issue, and request that you vote on the question: “Should LASA relocate our September 2007 Congress from Boston to Montreal, Canada?” In the final tally, 79 percent voted “yes,” and 20 percent “no” with 1 percent in blank. Taking that recommendation into consideration, all but one member of an “extended” 13 member Executive Council voted in favor of relocation.

Once that decision was made, the Secretariat began working immediately to negotiate the move, making sure that the Montreal venue would offer all the conditions necessary for a logically efficient Congress. These negotiations will be completed by the end of July, with the signing of the Montreal hotel contracts.

So, the decision is now official: The XXVII International Congress of Latin American Studies Association will be held on September 6 - 8, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, CANADA. Please be advised that the deadline for submission of proposals for this Congress is September 8, 2006. A full version of the Call for Papers, with instructions and additional information is now available at http://lasa.international.pitt.edu/. Thanks to everyone whose hard work and careful deliberations contributed to this momentous decision, and thanks in advance for the additional efforts that the relocation will require.

We look forward to seeing you all in Montreal!

Best wishes,
Charlie Hale
LASA President