Puerto Rico
Debt, Entrepreneurship & Statehood
A long history of U.S. policies have negatively affected the economy and health of the people of Puerto Rico: trade policies which increase shipping costs to prohibitive levels, making the cost of living in San Juan comparable to cities like Miami and Atlanta; utilizing the islands of Puerto Rico as a bombing range for the U.S. Navy; having no right to vote and no representation in Congress certainly shuts their voice out of conversations and decisions that affect them deeply. Today, the U.S. territory finds itself with an unsolvable debt crisis ($72 billion) and 41% of its people living below the poverty line. The devastating hurricane season of 2017 added significantly more challenges to the people of Puerto Rico.
As Puerto Rico’s status as a territory with no representation in Congress is a factor in these challenges, the debate over status has become more urgent. There have been two status referendum votes in recent years, giving Puerto Ricans the chance to voice their preference for statehood, maintaining territory status, or seeking independence from the U.S. Both of these referenda have had their controversies, with 97% voting for statehood in 2017, but that vote being tarnished by boycotts and a very low turnout (22%).
This immersion project will allow participants to meet with university professors, students, and political parties to hear the many perspectives of the debate over statehood and independence. They will visit communities and learn about innovative ways Puerto Ricans are pulling together to confront the economic challenges faced by the island. There will be a day trip to the island of Vieques, which the U.S. Navy used as a testing ground for munitions for decades. Throughout the trip, participants will immerse themselves in the culture and history of Puerto Rico, learning from its people, and coming to a better understanding of the challenges they face.
Sample Itinerary
| Day | Sample Activities |
|---|---|
| Day 1: Travel to San Juan | Welcome and Introduction |
| Day 2: Socioeconomic Community Development | Conversation with Amigos del Bosque Educational Hike of Toro Negro Forest |
| Day 3: Island of Vieques | Guided Tour of la Isla Nena |
| Day 4: Old San Juan | Walking Tour of Old San Juan Visit Forts of Old San Juan |
| Day 5: San Salvador Community in Caguas | Roundtable, Transition to Statehood, Independence And Free Association |
| Day 6: Afro-Carribean and Piñones Experience | Bomba Dance Lesson Conversaton with COPI and Kayaking in Laguna Torrecilla |
| Day 7: Political Climate in Puerto Rico | Coversation with Represtatives of Major Political Parties Lunch with Student Council focused on the Promesa Act Visit Museo de las Américas |
| Day 8: Universidad de Puerto Rico | Coversation about Street Art as Political Expression Dinner with University Students |
| Day 9: Travel back to Gettysburg |
Contact Us
Email cps@gettysburg.edu or call 717-337-6490.