Interview with Cristina R. Mondragón

Partial Transcript: "If we could just start with a brief description of your early life, where you grew up..."

Segment Synopsis: Cristina Mondragón (CM) born and raised in Racine. Went to Catholic school from grades 1-8 and public school after. Chose UW-Madison because of her mother was an alumna. Studied Secondary Education and Social Studies. Focused on History and in particular Women's history, Latin American history, and Immigration History. CM discusses desire understand her background and culture. Mentions being one of few Hispanics/Latinos on campus. Wants to know how the history of her culture and the events that brought her family to the university.

Keywords: Catholic school; Public school; Racine, WI; Secondary education; hispanic; history; latinx; social studies

Partial Transcript: "Were you involved in any campus organizations while you were here?"

Segment Synopsis: CM matriculates in 1969. Expelled her sophomore year. CM talks about spending most of her time outside the classroom. She then gives an overview of her trajectory in and out of school.

Keywords: divorce; expulsion; marriage

Partial Transcript: "What prompted your decision to go to law school?"

Segment Synopsis: CM was not happy with her classroom experiences. She student-teaches at Madison East. CM shares an anecdote that convinced her she wouldn’t be a good teacher. She started looking at policy issues and was recruited to go to law school. Recalls considering a masters program after taking a class on the "pedagogy of the oppressed".

Keywords: classroom teaching; law school; madison east high school; pedagogy; policy

Partial Transcript: "You mentioned before when you were in the schools, the word 'ugly,' can you specify a bit more what you mean by that?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes the difficulties of working with students and various instances of disrespect towards teachers. Describes tensions within student body with respect to gendered and class-based encounters between students. Reflects on being unprepared for this.

Keywords: Kenosha County; Milwaukee; Racine; Secondary education; public schools

Partial Transcript: "What did you do after graduation, following law school?"

Segment Synopsis: Mondragón was hired by Legal Action of Wisconsin and worked in poverty law for 7 years in Kenosha. Follow-up: Are you currently in family law? Answer: CM has own practice in family law. CM describes difficulties with her boss and working at Legal Action. She realized she could do her work in the private sector. CM liked being in court over appellate work and established her own professional reputation.

Keywords: Legal Action of Wisconsin; Poverty law

Partial Transcript: "Were you able to practice, litigate more [in private practice]?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes being very good at probable cause motions. Wins a big case in her first year catching a police officer for discriminating against her client for being African American. Followup: You did a significant amount of public defending? Answer: Yes, for about 5-6 years but rise of gangs in Racine discourages CM but is back to doing public defender work now and also family law. Describes recent changes in family law.

Keywords: family law; litigation; private practice

Partial Transcript: "I guess we can move into your time at UW, if that's alright, and start from 1969..."

Segment Synopsis: CM reflects on the freedom of college. She describes lots of different people in the dorms. Contrasts this with the insularity of her high school experience. CM describes period as both exciting and rough with lots of barriers being broken down. CM was president of her house/floor and throws first sanctioned beer party where she meets her future husband. Reflects on life in dorms. Recalls Janis Joplin visiting Madison. Describes early involvement in large anti-war protests.

Keywords: 1969; Chadbourne Hall; Janis Joplin; anti-war; diversity; dormitories

Partial Transcript: "So you were involved in types of campus activism..."

Segment Synopsis: CM remembers going to class after Kent state and seeing National Guard on Bascom hill. She describes the tense campus environement. CM goes into Latin American history and Women’s studies in part to stay current. Recalls being around the more violent protests. Follow-up: Did you ever feel unsafe on campus? Answer: CM never felt unsafe despite an attempted mugging and seeing multiple fires from protests. Brings up a car fire on Mifflin and a fire at Sentry Grocery.

Keywords: Bascom Hill; Kent State University; Mifflin; campus activism; safety on campus

Partial Transcript: "Were there disagreement among students?"

Segment Synopsis: Reflects on tensions amongst students and describes active student groups of the time. To CM, SDS was very intense and the Marxist socialists were extremely intense. She says most TAs were socialists. Intellectuals on campus were not really part of anything, which she connects to the innocent student working in Sterling Hall during the bombing. Follow up: Where did you fall? Answer: CM was more active but didn’t want to take place in serious violence; she only wanted to observe. Follow-up: Did any social movements resonate with you? Answer: No. CM didn’t disagree with them but wanted to be more educated. CM doesn't recall how current events were discussed in her Freshmen year classes

Keywords: Marxist Socialists; Sterling Hall bombing; Students for a Democratic Society; social movements

Partial Transcript: 'What classes did you take your Sophomore year?"

Segment Synopsis: CM recalls two interesting English classes. Remembers a Logic class that she struggled in. In the spring of that year CM takes History classes. CM notes that very few people were going to classes.

Keywords: attendence; english; logic; sophmore

Partial Transcript: "So you want to get to Sophomore year? Okay, so this is the really important thing."

Segment Synopsis: CM describes the summer between her freshman and sophomore year. As a sophomore, CM had a dorm room to herself in Chadbourne. She explains the dorms plan for a “little sisters weekend” to which CM invites her cousin, Susan. CM continues that right before this weekend the Sterling Hall bombing occurs. Her then-boyfriend Dan asks CM to meet his uncle who was coming to town to investigate bombing for AFT. CM says lots of people tried to disassociate themselves from radical activities at that point. Follow-up: Did you feel like you needed to disassociate yourself? Answer: CM says yes though she would still participate in anti-war protests.

Keywords: ATF; Chadbourne; Sterling Hall bombing; activism; protests

Partial Transcript: "Do you have any recollections of interactions with police when protesting?"

Segment Synopsis: CM reflects on more violent protesters who ran from police and national guard. Mentions that most people back in Racine were not allowed to visit Madison because of its reputation. CM remembers being very focused on her relationship at the time.

Keywords: National Guard; police; protest

Partial Transcript: "Do you remember protests in May 1970 after Kent State?"

Segment Synopsis: CM says lots of students kept to themselves. She describes this as a scary time. Remembers finding out about Kent State as news of the My Lai Massacre broke. Recalls anti-police sentiment and remembers worrying about leaving her dorm. CM reflects that people didn’t know who to trust. Follow-up: What about university reaction and policy? Answer: CM never saw adults. Recalls the Pail and Shovel party and explains that students took over. Follow-up: How did this impact your maturity? CM agrees it contributed a lot and reflects on her parents letting her make her own decisions.

Keywords: Kent State; My Lai Massacre; Vietnam War

Partial Transcript: "During your Sophomore year, was there talk of what was going on in your classes?"

Segment Synopsis: CM recalls talk of socialism but appreciates learning about new ways of thinking. CM contrasts her Mexican background and the emphasis on selling things. CM doesn’t recall other campus protests outside the war movement. Follow-up: Did the way the war was covered in your classes change? CM says no because by ’68 it was well established who was staying and who wasn’t. CM wondered who outside agitators were on campus and says all serious radicals were underground.

Keywords: Socialism; Vietnam War in UW classes

Partial Transcript: "Can you talk more about leaving UW in 1971?"

Segment Synopsis: CM gets married, tries to go back to UW but didn’t have any ambition to stay in school. CM wanted to be a housewife and joins UW Dames while in school. CM takes secretarial classes and works at Madison General Hospital. Lives on Mifflin street. Works in medical records and really likes this job. CM learns that Karlton Armstrong, one of the Sterling Hall bombers, had worked at the hospital. She describes this as a dangerous time and finds bomb threat on her typewriter. CM divorces and goes back to school.

Keywords: Departure from UW; Karlton Armstrong; Madison General Hospital; UW Dames

Partial Transcript: "What was your return like, when you got back to school?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes her ambivalence about returning to school. She discovers that she has a learning disability, gets tutors, starts to do well, and becomes a full-time student. Follow-up: Any differences in campus climate? Answer: Study body very complacent about politics. CM spends her time studying. She gets to know many South Americans. Studied at Memorial Union a lot. CM reflects on various local businesses. CM doesn't recall many campus protests, focused instead on studies.

Keywords: Campus climate; Learning disability; Memorial Union

Partial Transcript: "Did any classes stick out?"

Segment Synopsis: CM likes all her classes. Recalls great Immigration History professor and also a Women in Literature professor. CM says her best professor was her Tennis professor who has students keep journals. At this time, CM decides to change her name from Christine to Cristina.

Keywords: Immigration History; Women's Studies

Partial Transcript: "What did you do in between graduation and law school?"

Segment Synopsis: CM works in Medical Records Department and then Undergraduate Admissions Office. She works for 2 years and then goes to law school. CM likes working because it exposes her to regular people around the Madison area. Recalls the day Karlton Armstrong re-enrolls.

Keywords: Karlton Armstrong; Law School; Undergraduate Admissions Office

Partial Transcript: "When you went to law school it was 1981? What was that experience?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes positives and negatives of law school. She notes that she served as Student Bar Rep. in her second year and Student Bar President in her last year. She describes the focuses of her studies and the legal practices that interested her early on.

Keywords: Law and discrimination; Law school; Student bar

Partial Transcript: Did you feel a different atmosphere on campus when your came back for law school? Did you have a different perspective because you were older than the majority of the students?

Segment Synopsis: CM reflects on the conservative atmosphere of the Law School and how it impacted her as a minority student. CM describes facing insults from other Latino sutdents. CM also notes being in the Leo program. Attributes conservatism to the elitism of the profession.

Keywords: Leo Program; conservatism; minority student

Partial Transcript: Is there anything else you would like to add about your experience of law school on campus?"

Segment Synopsis: CM had lots of fun in law school. She notes her continued involvement with the women’s program and reflects on different group organizations. CM describes goals of Women’s Law School association, of which she served as secretary. CM remembers lots of great professors and what happened to her fellow students.

Keywords: Leo Program; Minorities in legal profession; Student groups; Women’s Law School association

Partial Transcript: "Is there anything else about your UW experience that you don't think we covered?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes conflicted feeling over how women who become housewives and women who have careers are viewed socially, particularly in relation to her older anti-establishment views.

Keywords: anti-establishment; housewives; women's careers; women's economic opportunities

Partial Transcript: "I feel like we're back in the Nixon era."

Segment Synopsis: CM reflects on current politics and her difficulties processing the 2016 election. She contrasts this with politics of people she knew in school, including her ex-husband, and her parents.

Keywords: 2016 election; Donald Trump; Nixon; Scott Walker; current politics

Partial Transcript: "My very first recollection of coming to Madison was coming into Memorial Union and seeing Beatniks."

Segment Synopsis: CM recalls her very first recollection of visiting memorial union and then everyday life on campus. CM talks about campus safety and crime. CM recalls local businesses on campus and State street.

Keywords: Bascom; Campus crime; Campus safety; Memorial Union; State Street

Partial Transcript: "I remember coming out here when it was below zero..."

Segment Synopsis: CM describes the old course enrollment process in the winter. CM shifts to describing local restaurant culture and remembers Portabella and Paisan's as the places to go.

Keywords: Course enrollment; Madison winter; Pail and Shovel; restaurant culture

Partial Transcript: "How would you describe attitudes on campus toward women's sexuality in the 1960s?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes attitudes on campus toward women's sexuality in the 1960s. A climate of excitement and 'sexual revolution,' with students eager to find mates. Feeling somewhat unprepared for this scene as former Catholic School girls from Racine.

Keywords: Catholicism; Women's sexuality

Partial Transcript: "How did attending Catholic School affect your mindset while in college?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes feeling oblivious at first, unprepared and taken aback by initial experiences in Madison. None of her friends initially shared experiences with having sex. Describes a feeling of sexual freedom on campus. Reflects on this climate and learning about this history of religion in context of her parents' religiosity.

Keywords: Sex; dorms

Partial Transcript: "What about attitudes to birth control at the time?"

Segment Synopsis: Describes a climate where initially few people knew about birth control or condom use, or even STIs. Learning about safer sex practices through word of mouth and "Our Bodies, Our Selves" rather than through the University.

Keywords: Birth control; Community Pharmacy; Our Bodies Our Selves; STIs; Safe sex

Partial Transcript: "When the pill was introduced and you started learning more about it, what were attitudes like?"

Segment Synopsis: Once knowledge about birth control began to circulate, demand for "the pill" was high. Community Pharmacy was extremely helpful facilitating access at the time, in 1972. CM knew people who had abortions.

Keywords: Abortion; Community Pharmacy; Roe v Wadel; birth control

Partial Transcript: "Do you think [sexual liberation] applied to people in the LGBT community, or was it a women-focused revolution?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes that very few, if any, LGBT people were out at the time. Scant experiences with gay men included rumors of men in bathrooms on campus and experiences working with men in the Dept. of Psychiatry. Stronger LGBT community in places like A Room of One's Own, also in law school. Despite this, CM describes hearing about violence within the LGBT community.

Keywords: Gay men; LGBT; Room of One's Own

Segment Synopsis: The early climate of sexual exploration gave way to issues around rape and sexual assault on campus beginning in the late 1960s. CM describes a culture where it was believed to be okay to objectify women, especially in the law profession. Conversations around consent were largely nonexistent.

Keywords: consent; rape; sexual assault

Partial Transcript: "What about feminist groups on campus? Were you a part of any of these?"

Segment Synopsis: CM describes the experience of doing her undergrad degree in the Women's Studies [then] Program. She wishes she had talked more with her mother about these opportunities and experiences.

Keywords: Feminism; HIV/AIDS; Women's Studies Program

Partial Transcript: "Looking back at where women are now in terms of progress, what are your observations?"

Segment Synopsis: Having done divorce law for 35+ years, CM feels especially young women she encounters find themselves in extremely tough circumstances over custody, striking a balance between motherhood and a professional life, or even making ends meet. CM describes shifts in gender roles over the same period.

Keywords: Divorce court; Gender roles; women's progress

Partial Transcript: "It went from fun to scary pretty quickly. We had to really grow up in that fashion."

Segment Synopsis: CM circles back to lack of knowledge about STIs, and that in this climate, having a lover who "stuck around" was a very good thing. Talks about associations between sexual activity and being in love; experiences of this association breaking down for her and her peers on campus.

Keywords: Joy of Sex; Our Bodies, Our Selves; Sex and love