Professor Avila can be a bit challenging, but if you are interested in the subject, it is all worth it. There are a lot of readings, but most are interesting, and the work is do-able. The final was a take-home essay. I didn't agree with some of the points he made, but overall, he is very well educated and his main point is to make you THINK. So if you are willing to work hard, and actually learn, take his class. :]

What can I say, this guy is a waste of time. His lectures are weird, to say the least, and does his best to show how smart he is--at least he thinks he is--and dumb the class is. He wears these weird outfits that look as if they belonged to John Travolta in the 70s, he spends time talking about how gay is the new black, and answer questions as if he is God's gift to Chicano Studies. Its people like you, Eric, that give the dept a bad name. His lectures are nothing more than a soapbox. This class is a real waste of time. The TA's also left much to be desired. My TA, who was Avila's 'teacher's pet' spent more time following Avila around like a lil lap dog than teaching us. Moreover, in lecture, he tried to act like he was Avila--real good training he is getting. This class sucked.

Lectures were dry and boring. Yep, I said it. He never states an "opinion" and is very ambivalent as to what his point is. It was only until two-third into the course that I had an epiphany in my dorm as to what the hell it was that he was trying to say. I was like a whatever class,.... meh.. I got a good grade and I didn't do all the readings... would I take him again? Probably not.