La Voz de Aztlan, April 16 1979
Item
Title
La Voz de Aztlan, April 16 1979
Creator
Associated Students of Fresno State
Relation
La Voz de Aztlan (Daily Collegian, California State University, Fresno)
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
4/16/1979
Format
PDF
Identifier
SCUA_lvda_00102
extracted text
A Special Publication of the Daily Collegian
LA-VOZ -de AZTLAN Monday
April 16, ,1979
· . _C omentarios-Up with .
the Shah!,- Support La· Voz
-Pcige 2
Noticias de La Raz·a ,
A.S. Elections
-Page 3
· Downtown .FresnoA Nice Place to Visit
-Pages ~,5
Pancho Villa, was he a hero or a bloodt~irsty bandit?
(Below) Downtown rresno springs back to life . .
La Mexicana y
-Su Vida Durante
La ReVolucion
-Page 6 P-a ncho Villa-. ·
Separating Fact froin
.. Fiction·.
· -Page 7 ·
Boulevard Nights
Kicks Up _More
· Controversy
· -Page 8
iiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiComentariOs---------iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiii~
ii.iiiiiPageiiiiiiiiii2
La Voz de Aztlan
needs your help
tinuing the newspapers . Naturally it is
important that supporters of La Voz,
Chicano and non-Chicano show up to
lend valuable moral support .
A good turnout could go a long way in
showing the council and the CSUF com-.
munity that there is plenty of support for
the minority publications .
,
We all know that the traditional media
has ignored our needs or exaggera~ed
our presence, in the past. And even now
there is not enough coverage of the
minority community or enough minorities working in the news profession.
Now is the time that we should
demand that the council and the A.S.
Senate give La Voz a positive endorsement so it can continue stronger in the
future .
No longer should we simply
request a continuance of the status quo
or ask that they "leave us alone for another year."
.
Once and for all, it is important that
we put out of business those people who
would destroy or weaken La Voz.
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
Just like the swallows returning to
Capistrano, another springtime ritual
will take place Wednesday(April 18) at
7 p .m . - the yearly challenge to the life of
La Voz de Aztlan.
No one quite knows when this tradition began, but most believe it started
around the time La Voz was born in 1969.
This publication has seen prosperous
and troubled times, all depending on the
prevailing political mood in Fresno .
Fortunately, so far this year we seem to
have had good luck.
But, just as constant as the fight by
many to keep the paper, have been challenges by those who think that LA Voz
has no right to exist.
So, on Wednesday night the CSUF
Media Council will hold a public hearing to discuss Uhuru and La Voz.
The meeting has been called to see if
there is enough interest to justify con-
Up with the Shah ·
"foreigners,·" is not only wrong, but it's
shameful. Even if intended to be a joke,
it's wrong .
Many minority students have forgotten the struggles that their older brothers endured to secure admittance and
financial aid for them.
Some have assimilated to the point of
hypocrisy. They accept the EOP grants
and financial aid, use their minority
status to gain special a_dmission, the~ ·
Although one would tend to believe
that this group is made-up of a few ultraconservative students, it isn't. In fact, a
few black students at CSUF are helping
in the Cf'mical pro-Shah movement.
It is ironic that the members of any
minority group should do this. Blacks,
Chicanos, and other minority groups
have made gains only by tearing down
the status quo and rebuilding it .
To mock a group, even if they are
abandon their ethnicity, their younger
brothers,their people.
It seems sad to me that any minority
group with special status would assimilate to the point of ridiculing another
minority group-"EVEN IF THEY ARE
JUST FOREIGNERS ."
Let's hope they come to their senses
and realize that they are just playing into ·
the hands of bigoted conservative faction
on this campus .
UFW-It's birth,
reason for existence
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an
excerpt from a commentary first published in the San Diego State Univ. news,------------------------------- ·
paper, The Daily Aztec in February. The
opinion piece, written by John W.
Wallace, traces the start of the UFW and
the importance of the survival of Cesar
Chavez' union.
LA VOZ WANTS YOU!
"The United Farm workers was formed
17 years ago, after being one of the most
ignored and exploited labor groups in
the nation. Farmworkers, in most cases
prior to the formation of the union
worked for wages that were ridiculous!;
low ;ind · in conditions that were in-
p;~-~
·
Peliculas-
1-------------------------------~
9r
too rare
~
II
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
MEAT EATER
Don't let the name of this movie fool
you. Meat Eater, which just finished a
run in Fresno is not as gross as it sounds
and isn't even a good horror film. It can
only rank as a poor comedy.
This low-budget film, featuring mostly
unknown performers, is about a derelict
who lives in a theater and seems to like
munching on live rats. He did this durnig
the first few minutes of the film.
Throughout the movie, meat was an excessively recurring theme.
Featured
was pot roast, weiners at all meals, and
they even sang the Oscar Meyer song.
The derelict kilJs four people in the
film. One he hangs, one he throws off
the roo,f, one he electrocutes, and finally
he throws a victim onto concreate while
he munches on popcorn. It all is not very
exciting, neither is Meat Eater.
JUST FRIENDS
Just Friends, a situation co
gives actress Stockard Channing
chance to play a role completely un
the character she played in the
movie, Grease. She gives an impress
performance in her new role.
Playing her new character, Chann
is caught in many difficult situati
In one recent scene she got caught ~
ing her sister's husband,but got
easily by explaining how drunk he
That scene was unrealistic as no w
would believe that flimsy excuse
real life.
Just Friends isn't a good comedv,
it's enjoyable to watch just to see
problems Channing gets into . In
series Channing's sister acts more Ii
casual friend than family and their
versation tends to be formal.
Don't expect too much orginality f
this show. It tends to imitate The
Tyler Moore Show and I Love Lucy .
then again what can you expect fr
television, innovation? ... not a chance
Just Friends can be seen on Ch.
Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
Demagog Reich
elected to city council
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
Something dramatic occurred a few
weeks ago here in Fresno. A demagog
was elected to the City Council. Joe
Reich, a local attorney, won election to
District 3 by.feeding on the emotions of
peopie who did not ltke or understand
Affirmative Action programs.
Despite the sad irony that a man was
elected by all Fresno voters, but is
suposed to represent a district dominated by blacks, maybe we have learned a
lesson.
Those who sought to have
elections citywide, but representing districts regret the change they brought.
Many have talked of instituting a law
suit. The lesson fits the old cliche "look
before you leap."
'
It's a shame that a man like Reich
dosen 't have the sense to see how he is
hurting people who want a chance in the
job market . Reich· ran on a platform of
hate toward minorities and his pitch · ap~~ale~ .~?just e'ntiug~_vot~rs. ~~e 'c,ity.
fn,
J
-
Just Friends
enjoyable
humane,to say the least.
"On Jan . ' 19 of this 'year·, ' Cesar
Chavez, founder of ' the _ut;w; ' led
.3/JOQ. ~E:f!l.b_e_rs , OU ~ ~ st~i~e ·:against
erghrd1ffererrt ·l~ttvce'growef's. i'welveReich has said that he wi II not rehu~dred other UFW ,:nembers s~owed
their support of the action by walking off present Dist. 3 or West Fresno. "I will
: their jobs for one day at six other farms . represent the city of Fresno, including
Continued on Pg. 3 west Fresno," he said.
r./ :a:~{~fud:~ :·
'
u
Review .
"Up with the Shah" - with that bold
delclaration, a small group of CSUF
students has launched a tongue-incheek campaign to annoy Iranian students. The group has apparently photocopied dozens of pro-Shah flyers and
posted them all over the campus.
The group contends that the Iranians
and other Middle East students who
march or set up tables in the Free
Speech area are bothersome and noisy.
We are planning to publish a speciaJ
edition of La Voz de Aztlan for the week
of Semana de La Raza, Cinco de Mayo.
We are asking you to contribute ideas
st~r~es,
features,
poetry,
creativ~
wr1hng, photography, and illustrations.
If you are interested -in h I • • t
would like , to turn . 0 e
OU _or leave a note in' 'the
office or in the Daily Colle .
ff
I
Final copy deadline wilr;:en a~~~~ on :
Friday April 20 1979
•
Meat Eater,
Las
Reich should not do this. · He shoc
realize that most citizens of Fresno a:
now served by their own area cou
men .
Those who now have sound repre
tation don't need another councilm
to serve them .
It's clear t~at Reich's interests
not the district's interest, where
population is 46 percent Mexica
American and 44 percent black .
La Voz de Aztlan is published by the
Associated Students at California State
University, Fresno and the newspaper
staff. Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the La Voz staff, and not necessarily the views of the Associated Students, CSUF or the State of California.
Editor ... Richard Aguirre
Photogi:aphy ... George Aguirre,Ricardo
Pimentel,Lupe Mora
·
• -Ait ... Albfuo Fi-ancO', Arturo Ocampo
.
Reporters ... Dora Lara,Margarita ·Mar- ·J•.',
•tmez;Octavio
Yescas:..· .. '
...
Contributors ... Felix Contreras : Elvia
Ruiz, Dianne Solis, Ricardo Pimentel,
Pedro Ramirez.
.
April 16, 1979
Page3
La Voz de Aztlan
MESSAGE FROM LA VOZ
GRADUATE PICNIC
A graduate picnic for 1979 CSUF
graduates and their families will be held
Sunday April 29 at Kearny Park. For
more information contact Manual Olguin
at 487-1053.
Wednesday night the CSUF Media
Council will hod a public meeting to
discuss UHURU and LA VOZ DE
AZTLAN. Everyone is invited.
The council will be seeking to find out
if there is enough interest in these ~ewspapers to continue their publication. The
meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the
College Union(third floor).
WOMEN AND STRIP SEARCHES
The American Civil Liberties Union
has filed suit for 50 Chicago women
asking that the U.S. District court restrict Chicago police from conducting
body strip searches of women accused of
minor offenses.
The class action suit was filed last
month after women complained that they
were subjected to humiliating body
searches by police after being accused of
only minor misdemeanors and traffic violations.
CHICANO GRADUATION
Wednesday is the application deadline
for the third annual Chicano Commencement at CSUF. The event, being organized by the Chicano Commencement
Committee of the Chicano Alumni
Association, is set for Sunday, May 20
atthe Fresno District Fairgrounds.
Applications can be picked up at
Tutorial Services, the La Raza Studies
office and the EOP office. For more
information call 487-1053.
EOP TALE NT SHOW
The long-awaited EOP Talent Show
will be held Thursday night from 7-10
p.m. in the new Residence Dining Hall.
Emcees for the event will be Darbie
Ford and Manuel Nunez.
Everyone is invited. For more information contact Tony Garduque or Linda
Hernandez in the EOP off ice(J oyalroom 238) or call 487-1021. .
VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON
The Volunteer Bureau of Fresno
will sponsor its 11th annual Volunteer
of the Year Luncheon, Tuesday April 24
at the Holiday Inn. For reservations and
more information, call 237-3101.
I
The April meeting of the Association
of Chicanos in Human Services will be
held tommorrow night at 7 p.m. in the
College Union, room 309.
The focus of the meeting will be on
the International Year of the Child, and
will feature a talk by Alex Saragoza of
the La Raza Studies program.
The Association began last May and
serves two purposes: 1) to establish a
network of Chicanos working in human
services; and 2) to ensure equity in the
provision of social services to the
Chicano community.
Involvement or interest in human
services is the only requirement for
membership.
The suit asks $125,000 in damages for
each woman and that in the future,
warrants would be required for any
search. The suit also asks th?t any
searches required would have to be conducted by a doctor. The ACLU estimates that up to 10,000 women may have
been searched after minor violations in
Chicago alone.
In Houston, Trish Herrera, 25, has
also filed a lawsuit against police,saying
that she was strip searched by Houston
authorities after a minor traffic violation. That charge was later dropped.
Civil
Libertarians
concede
that
searches are justified if a suspect is to be
held in jail, but contend that searches
after minor offenses are inappropriate.
Ditora elected president
Slate sweeps election
UFW Comenta.rio
Continued from Pg. 2
"Chavez and the UFW are striking _for
higher wages, demanding a part of the
vast prof its the lettuce growers are
earning from their labor.
Mexican
farmworkers have shown their support
of the strike by refusing to cross the
picket lines to replace the striking union
members.
"As a result, growers have recruited
high school students and housewives to
help in the harvest by playing up to their
anti-union sentiments. The image of the
UFW, as well as other unions, has never
been a popular one .
"Strikes hurt consumers as well as
growers, causing anger among the
populace . People resent the feeling of
helplessness that accompanies skyrocketing prices resulting from strikes.
Hence, popular opinion most often sides
with the growers.
"Wben violence broke out in the fields
on Feb . 5, the growers immediately
blamed the strikers . With this strategy,
and the help of a newly-hired public
relations firm, th~ ~rowers hope to -gain ·
public sentimet1t.
.
. "However, the strikers had nothing to
gain through violence; only the growers
stood to profit.
"Farmworkers, as well as any other
labor group, have the right to a decent
wage, and the right to strike for it .
CHICANOS IN HUMAN SERVICES
Growers see this dispute as a chance to
destroy the union, break its hold, and
take away its power. But, if the union
dies, the rights of farmworkers dies with
it, and once again, the era of exploitation
returns.
UFWUPDATE
As the UFW strike enters its 13th
week, its scope has broadened and it has
received a boost from the Agricultural
Labor Relations Board.
Last Monday, UFW president Cesar
Chavez left for New York to· gain financial support from East Coast liberals .
On April 7, the ARLB backed up
Chavez' claim that growers were refusing to bargain in good faith and had
hired professional strikebreakers. The
Board issued those charges against Sun
Harvest Growers and said that the firm
"has a duty to bargain at this point in
time."
·
··
. The ARLB also c¼~ged-that: ~~n ·H,a,rvest had "knowingly hired professional
strikebreakers." While a company is
permitted to hire "replacement workers"
it cannot hire paid strikebreakers, who
~re hired again and again over a period
of time at struck farms.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are
highlights and results of the Associated
Students(AS) elections held April 3-5.
Story and results courtesy of the Daily
Collegian.
* Alan Kasparian (PLUS)
998
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #3
*Linda Levy (PLUS)
1,020
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #4
* Sue Stoffels (PLUS)
993
CU BOARD, MEMBER AT LARGE #2
By STEVE SCHMIDT .
* Ronald Ramirez (PLUS)
831
Daily Collegian Staff Reporter
Tom Gaxiola
293
SENATORS:
Positive Leadership for University StuSCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE & HOME
dents (PLUS) · candidate David Ditora
ECONOMICS
handily defeated his indeoendent oppo* William D. Murphy, Jr. (PLUS)
231
-nent, John Osborne, in the
As- Others
21
sociated Students (AS) election.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
The PLUS slate swept all 19 of the of*S .H . Ottemoeller
58
f ices its members ran for--one less than DIVISION OF HEAL TH PROFESSIONS
the total number of offices up for elec- * Naomi Coyle (PLUS)
78
tion in a contest plagued by low voter SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
turnout and few contested seats .
* Kerry Watkins (PLUS)
9
Independent S.H . Ottemoeller was
Emma Bovary
3
the only non-PLUS candidate elected. He
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
was elected Senator, School of EngiKristen M . Eyssell (PLUS)
67
neering .
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
*Linda Ayer (PLUS)
143
PRESIDENT
Reggie Rush
50
* Dave Ditora (PLUS)
914
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
John Osborne (Ind.)
287
56
Jerry Hinkle (PLUS)
LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL.Wf:LFARE ·. ·
*Janet Sale (PLUS)
788
37
* Tjlford Denver (PLUS)
L~is Sepulveqa (~&S)
.
. -. 451
. GRADUATE STUDIE~
C9,LLEGE l.JNION ,Yl~E P,RESll:)~Nl
7
*Mike Emmert (PLUS)
* Jefferey 8. Watson (PLUS)
1,063
1
Kermit
the
Frog
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #1
UNDECLARED MAJORS
* Patricia Oliveira (PLUS)
722
12
*Dave Leathers (PLUS)
Mark Scott (S&S)
457
9
Ken Villa
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #2
*
.*
·la Voz de Aztlan
Page 4 - , · •
April 16, 1
Photos by Lupe Mora
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April 16, 1979
la Voz de Aztlan
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Downtown Mall
returning .to life
By LUPE MORA
La Voz P~otographer
Downtown Fresno's Fulton Mall is a
place where anyone can afford to shop.
It's a place where the old meets with the
new in a fine cultural setting.
It's a place where the insides of
buildings are remodeled but, the outsides are left alone to give the mall a
very traditional look. It's a pleasing
pla~e to be for shoppers of any social
status.
It's also a place where one can find a
very artistic environment.
In general, it's a place where one can
not only shop, but socialize as well.
.;
- . ·.r~-; (ur-OEMRMNJ"cjCOJNan
-C;v:~: ," •- - elJ,:·f ummlc~.MniisWioo
.
. .
.
La Voz de Aztlan
Page6
La Mexicana y Su Vida
Hardships endured, status gained
Mexican Revolution
By DORA LARA
La Voz Writer
In Mexico's Revolution of 1910,men
were not the only participants. Women
also played a significant role. In this as
in other phases of Mexican history, women are often overlooked.
However, during these crucial years
{1910-1917), women fulfilled important
roles as social workers, financiers, journalists, troop followers and of course as
members of the army troops.
The violent phase of the Mexican Revolution broke out in 1913 and was
fought to prove that Mexico belonged to
the Mexican people and not to the major
foreign powers. It was also fought to
bring power to the common man, give
the land back to those who farmed it, and
bring societal benefits to those who
worked for them.
When men began to join the armies
and go off to war, women were left alone
and unprotected. With no other choice
many were forced to follow. According
to James W. Wilkie in Revolution in
Mexico: Years o_f Upheaval, 1910-1940,
the sight of a woman among the army
troops was not an uncommon one:
"The Mexican soldier of the Revolution traditionally traveled with his soldadera, the "soldieress" who loaded his
rifle, cooked for him, and often carried
her latest baby slung in the rebozo on
her back. The soldera served as more
than a moderJ> commissary, she provided the comfort, the companionship
that kept the soldier on the move for
many terrible years."
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
The Supreme Court is now mulling
over what could be the most significant challenge to Affirmative Action
programs ever. Last June, the high
'rt struck down numerical racial
4 uotas in education and ruled that Allen
Bakke,who is white, must be admitted to
the U .C. Davis medical school.
However, even as the 'c ourt ruled that
Bakke had been illegally discriminated
against, Justices upheld the Affirmative
Action concept and said that race could
be used as one of the factors when sett ing school admission policy .
The Kaiser Aluminum vs . Brian F .
Weber case involves the more farreaching issue of racial preference in
employment .
Weber's suit charges that an Affirm~tive Action_plan, instituted by Kaiser
and the United Steelworkers Union in
Gramercy, La ., "discriminates" against
~~ite~ because positions in an apprent1cesh1p program were reserved for nonwhites and women .
,
,
The court's decision on,the e1:ase could
decide the future_• of volunt·a ry AfHrmative Action employment programs in thts
country.
The court recently heard arguments in
the "reverse discrimination" case and
should render a decision by June.
Women in Mexico were at last given a
chance to prove their worth and abilities,
and some did so by service in the armies.
The work of women was real and hard
during these years, according to Phillip
Russell in "Mexico in Transition:"
"In that struggle there were women
officers in the Constitutionalist army and
many women took a direct part in combat, especially in the Red Battalions of
workers. Also, there was an entire combat unit of women in the Zapatista army
under the command of an ex-tortilla
maker named La China."
Other women who gained fame as
soldiers and later became officers were:
Petra Ruiz, Echa Bala, Encarcion Mares
de Panuca, Sra Carmen Parra Viuda de
Alaniz, and Dona Juana Torres. Each
gained recognition for bravery and skill.
Besides exhibiting their talents on the
battlefield, many women joined the
press corps to spread the message of the
Revolution. Juana Belen Gutierrez de
Mendoza, a famous liberal journalist
fanned the fire of Revolutionary ideals
through journals and newspapers, and
was later imprisoned because of this.
Many women suffered such personal
tragedy, yet they continued the fight.
Carmen Serdan, sister of Aquiles
(the first martyr of the Revolution) and
his widow, Dona Filomena del Valle de
Serdan were -among those who helped
organize and collect munitions for rebel
forces. Both later spent time in jail.
Jail terms were not the only negative
aspects that women had to suffer
through during the Revolution. It was
very difficult for soldaderas to maintain a
stable family life. And some women
were pressed into service against their
will.
Some women were forced to join the
armies by order of dictator-general
Victoriano Huerta. According to the
book, "Profile of the Mexician-American
Woman," on one occasion Huerta had
300 women from Morelos sent south to
Quintana Roo.
There,in the hostile frontier, Huerta
hoped to establish a colony with exiled
men who were stationed there. But,
when the plan failed to work properly,
the women were brought back northward
and left at Veracruz with the new children they had bore in Quintana Roo.
But, despite the sacrifices and hardships there were a few positive things
that women gained from the war. Many
were able to work as clerks, secretaries,
smugglers, and telegraph workers. Women were able to travel, learn diverse
Weber case may have wider
impact than Bakke
were · only five blacks among . the 273
This case dates back to 1974 when the
skilled workers. To correct this, fifty
United Steelworkers of America(USWA)
percent of opennings in craft-training
voluntarily began a national program to
ease the effects of past racial discrimi- . programs were reserved for blacks.
Selection to the program was based on
nation in industry .
plant seniority. For the 13 positions,
The program ' s goal was to provide the
created at the plant, seven blacks and six
opportunity for minority workers, mostly
whites were hired.
in the steel , aluminum, and can indusBrian Weber,32, applied for and was
t ries, to f ill vacancies in craft-training
denied a slot. He brought a class-action
programs through Affirmative Action.
lawsuit against his union· and the plant in
This would continue until the underhis behalf and for other white workers.
representation of minorities in these
He charged that blacks with less seniorindustries was alleviated.
ity at the plant had been hired over him,
The Weber case came about after a job
and that the program discriminated
dispute in Kaiser's Louisiana plant. A
against non-minority members of the
factory-training program was installed to
workforce.
bring more blacks into skilled jobs and
Weber won in the U.S . District Court
bring parity to the firm equal to that of
and that decision was uw,eld by _the
th~ community that was . 39 p_
ercent
Fifth District Court of Appeals.
black. , .
.
•
. · .
A ruling for Weber could set a preAt Kaiser' S- .Qramerc;:y plant, there- cedent which could seriously threaten
The union •lawyer s~id that Congress
other existing Affirmative Action , E>ro- ,,
intended only to outlaw the previous
grams. A ruling for the company could
discrimination when it wrote and passeq
strengthen the concept that these prothe law. If Weber wins, Kaiser attorgrams are justly designed to compensate
neys say Affirmative Action programs
for past discrimination against minorcould end.
ities.
•
subjects,and gain
about Mexico.
Many of these things would not ha\.
been possible if not for the Revolution
As the authors in "Profiles"say:
"During the 1910 Revolution, Mexicar
men became united in new relationships
Mexican women. For the first time 1n
Mexican history, women developed po,
tentials on a large scale beside the m
and won recognition as companions
mates ,and partners."
The turbulence of the strife-filleo
years led to a changing of the roles tra·
ditionally assigned to women. In the
long run, women gained the courage to
stand up for themselves. Now that the
destructive Revolution was over, they
would begin the fight for their own civil
rights.
Boulevard Nights
bum rap
From Page8
photographs, yes. Boulevard Nights
1s the story ot two brothers, ex-cholo
Raymond's
assimilated
girlfriend
Shady and the violence between two
gangs that ends in the deaths of Chuco
and his mother.
·
It is significant that there is no Chiccano-Anglo hostility in the movie . To
a certain extent, that holstility in real life
has been the excuse the Chicano has
used for not "making it." ·
Raymond Is decision about what he
wants out of life is not directly affected
by the Anglo. It is he who wants the
boulevard scene and the car customizing
1vu . n 1s ne wno preters taco stands to
restaurants.
Like a lot of people, he is scared
about "what's out there." The barrio
becomes like a womb. Safe. He knows it
just like he knows .gang
life.'
His dilemma is the Chicano's present
state of mind.
Ravmond was fl lot like the Chicanos
who know object to Boulevard Nights.
He was a guy too myoptic to share the
greater visions of what ca·n be.
That is what this movie is all about-the smallness of people's minds .
,~age 7
La Voz de Aztlan
Mexico's Francisco Villa-Revolutionary Patriot or Murderer?
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
EDITOR 's NOTE: This is the second in a
series of profiles of great Mexican h!storical figures or events. Accompanymg
this look at the life of Doroteo Ara· ngo
(better known as Pancho Villa) is a discussion . on this man by Dr. Jose Canales
of the history department and Dr. Jesus
Luna of La Raza Studies.
Pancho Villa. The name conjures up visions of huge cavalry units sweeping across vast,hot desert.
·
One thinks of revolutionists,guerrilla
warriors,ammunition belts strapped across bodies. The imagination runs wild
in thoughts of guns,horses,sweat,
swearing ,money, women ,booze ,and cantinas and stirring corridos. Pancho
Villa was all of that,and more.
The man who was born Doroteo
Arango and didn't drink,smoke or swear
has become the stereotype of the common bandido. But, he was no common
man.
He became a legend in his own time ·
and even today his name is capable of
evoking violent emotions. He has been
hailed and cursed as a great patriot
and bloodthirsty. anglo-lover.
Last Year, Villa was elevated to the
status of national hero and postal stamps
were issued in his honor. The action
touched off cheers and protests among
his countryman.
The following is an attempt to trace
the career of Francisco Villa and get a
clearer picture of who he was, and why
such division about his contributions
is possible.
Early Life
Doroteo Arango was born on June 5,
1878 in Durango, Mexico. He was the
first of five children and was the son of
Agustin Arango and Michaela Aranbula.
He was said to have weighed 12 pounds
at birth.
His father died when he was still
young and he had to work at an early age
on a ranch in order to support the family.
Most accounts say that the young
Arango became an outlaw after one of
his sisters was raped by a ranch foreman
or hacendado. Villa shot the attacker,
escaped to join a gang of outlaws and
changed his name to Pancho Villa. ·
"Bandits were his childhoog heroes as
they were for most of the long-suffering
poor of Mexico," according to William
Weber Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
"Bandits were the only ones strong enough and daring enough to fight against
an oppressive system."
While in the gang, Villa learned cattlerustling and became a skilled marksman
and horseman.
Physical Description
"In 1910 at the age of 32 he was a big
(six feet,200 pounds) man, indescribably
graceful on a spirited horse-he came to
be called the Centaur of the North,"
according to Johnson. However, on the
ground Villa looked awkward, "walking
with the pigeon-toed gai~ of a h?rseman,
his arms thrust outward by· the . great
thickness of _the <;:~e~!- "_ , '. ·. . ,., ·~- ,·
Johnson said VilJa~s ~a(r:\Ya~ ,r~pp~h-__.
brown and almost kinky. · His thick
moustache was over a usually open
mouth and his teeth were strong and
stained brown.
liberty unless he was bad," said Reed.
"The Federal officers also he killed;
because, he explained, they were educated men and ought to know better,"
said Reed . "But, the Federal common
soldiers he set at liberty because most of
them were conscripts, and thought they
were
fighting
for
the
Patria ."
The killing of prisoners was a common
practice of the day , and Villa saw no
reason to buck the trend.
In The Eagle and Serpent, Martin
luis Guzman says that Villa once allowed his bloodthirsty aide, Rodolfo Fierro
to shoot down 200 captured Federales
in a corral. Fierro,who killed for the fun
of it,finished the grisly task,although he
complained of a cramp in his trigger
finger and that his pistols got very hot.
But,Villa tolerated Fierro . "He was
Villa's best friend;and Villa loved him
like a son and always protected him,"
according to Reed in Insurgent Mexico.
Race for Mexico
"But, the feature most people remembered was his eyes," said Johnson.
"They were prominent,light brown and
friendly; howeyer in an instant of temper
they could change."
"He was a natural storyteller and loveed to tell tales about himself, his voice
high pitched, his pronuciation slurred
and careless,his language full of sharp
images(and strangely · 1acking in both
profanity and obscenity)," according to
Johnson.
Joins Revolution
Villa stayed around Chihuahua until
the outbreak of Fransico Madero' s revolt against the 30-year rule of Porfirio
Diaz. Villa was a quick convert to the
cause and respected and feared the gentle and innocent Madero .
With his army of the north, Villa helped Madero gain the presidency. When
Madero was overthrown and later assasinated by the men of "the Usuper,"
Victoriano Huerta, Villa became ruthless. He vowed he would avenge Madero' s murder and topple Huerta.
According to Phillip Russell in Mexico
in Transition, Villa quickly built up a
strong following among peasants ,sharecroppers ,muleskinners ,and peddlers .. all
from the newly-developed and mobile
north.
Military Cunning
Late in 1913, Villa's Division del Norte
was the strike force of the revolution.
"Typical of his style was his taking of
Ciudad Juarez by capturing one of Huerta's troop trains," telegraphing ahead
that he was an advan<i:ing loyal g·eneral•,
then eas.ily capt~r:irig 'the· tity;a:c·c ording-·to Russel-t.t'
'• .·.·:. •;~. ·,:"
: ·,·. :.·_
·
By March, 1914 all of Chihuahua was
Vi Ila's and after confiscating property
of the richest familes there, he began the
distribution of land among the peasants.
While state governor, Villa provided
free food and supplies to the , poor,
banned the sale of liquor,ordered construction of 40 schools,keep control of
prices so food would be afordable, and
even organized daily band concerts.
Mexican Napoleon
But, it was on the battlefield that Villa
gained his greatest fame. He was a self
taught military genius with an incredible
memory. He is considered by many the
greatest general Mexico has ever bad.
Villa's method of fighting was like
Napoleon's, according to John Reed in
Insurgent Mexico. "Secrecy,quickness of
movement,adaption of his plans to the
character of the country and his soldiers" were Villa's traits . He gained the
respect and love of the rank and file and
was able to build a myth that he led a
charmed life and that his army was invincible.
"Villa made his reputation as a leader
of furious cavalry charges and critics
s,aid that was all that he could do. But,
while cavalry charges fitted his stormy
character, Villa was capable of more
sophisticated warfare," according to
Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
Villa also pioneed the use of modern
methods of logistics. He carried supply
trains for his troops and had the only
effective field hospital(40 boxcars) to
care for his enemies as well as his men.
Cruel Killer
But, Villa also gained infamy for
how he fought. Killing and looting
were standard practices in his army
(as well as in his oppon~nt' armi~s) and
p'd soner~ We're always' ~hot. . .
· "'Tl-ie Colorados(Pa'stual Orozco' s
men) he executed whenever he captured
them; because he said they were peons
like the revolutionists and that no peon
would volunteer against the cause of
I
'
'.
:
After Villa had toppled Huerta, there
was a great race among the revolutionary factions, led by charasmatic
leaders, to sieze Mexico City. Everyone knew that whoever controlled the
capital controlled the country. This was
a time whert:· chieftans ruled and ideology meant little.
During thi_s mad rush, a serious rift
developed between Villa and the commander of the Constitutionalist forces,
the "First Chief," Venustiano Carranza.
Villa disliked and distrusted the stately
Sonoran and considered him to be little
more than a "pantywaist."
Fortunately for Carranza, a most
skilled and able general, Alvaro Obregon
of Sonora sided with him . "This was to
be a most fateful decision in the history
of the R~volution, for Obregon proved to
be Mexico's greatest military commander," according to Robert Quirk in
his book, Mexico.
Obregon joined Carranza because he
had little confidence in Villa's violent
and unpredictable nature .
Unsatiable Sexual Apetite
Villa was unpredictable and a man of
extremes, but one thing never varied-his love of women . He didn't indulge in
tobacco or alcohol , but tried to make up
for that fact with his womanizing.
"If a woman wanted to be marriedand he preferred such women - he married her, conveniently forgetting his
other marriages,"according to Johnson
in Heroic Mexico.
"He claimed he had lost count of the
women he loved, after counting up to 75,
and no one knows how many marriages
· there were," said Johnson .
"Sometimes they(marraiges) came so close together that a wife would find herself
force'd to serve breakfast in bed to Villa
and a more recent wife ."
Beginning of the End
With the split between Villa and the
Constitutionalists widened in late 1914,
the Revolution entered its most · destructive and violent ~hase .
· ··- ·
: Vill~ briefly helcl the-<!:apital· and• with
Emiliano Zapata, -of ·Morelos, · controlled
more than 60,000 men. But, their uneasy alliance dissolved because both
See Page 8
--------- ·-o··
age8
---r. •••--..,,._.,-_,_.._
la Voz de Aztlaz
April_
El Concilio
issues warning
Chicano Journalist
defends movie
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was
published as part -of a Boulevard Nights
advertisement on April 6, 1979. It was
written by Tony Castro of the -i..os
Ange!es Herald Examiner.
!ii/~/i/;!!i///i(Y no:~~Ta~:!redN~Tt,if,~e Elf
....··
de Fresno Newsletter.
..
FLASHff!
The film Boulevard Nights ha
grossed several miJlions of doll
its release. The film is now in Fr
"Boulevard Nights has been aettina a
bum rap."
·
l by the long fines outside the the
can be sure that our commu
The way it's getting dumped on,
spend several thousands of
you'd _think it was ... well, a Chicano or
perpetuating this rascist and
something. It has been getting the
It ·it wereany of these, the Chicano
typing gang warfare film whic
second-class .treatment. . The movie
Brilliant. Powerful. Honest in its savage
middle class would love it. The Chicanos
types Chicanos as inferior bei
needs a Civil Rights Commission investirealism. It is more than just a film about
wouldn't feel thre.atened about their
knowing how to control or w
gation. Or just help from Affirmative
gangs
or
a
commentary
on
the
hopelessown
identity,·
their
lifestylesand
-what
their
own people.
Action.
ness of their violence. Boulevard Nights
they perceive reality to be. As it ·is,
East Los Arigeies useo to oe
What incensed Chicanos are doing in
is a valuable contribution to our underBoulevard Nights is making a lot of
area of Los Angeles not exploite
blasting Boulevard Nights is no different
standing of our time.
·
Chicanos wince with embarrassment,
film industries, but now with B
than what those very same people claim
Were this a book, it might qualify
the way people do at old photographs
Nights in the money, other fit
has been done to the Chicano in
they'd like . to forget or destroy.
panies w~II probably exploit t
America. The bum rap. In a sense, it is - as the Great American Novel .. It is that
kind of a story. Heavy. It is not bestSo naturally the outcry. The moaning
as well.
the Chicanos with the night stick~ · the
selling pablum. NQ.t an Irving Wallace
that the image is negative and that
El Concilio de Fresno an
way they' re brutalyzing the film . .
novel
or
a
Clint
Eastwood
flick.
It
is
not
·
Chicanos
again
are
being
cast
in
an
unChicano
organizations have
It's a shame. And sad . Because
even Rotary Club boosterism theater like
flattering light-. The embarrassing
stand on this issue. El Conci
Boulevard Nights is one helluva movie.
"Zoot Suit."
send ·a position paper 'to Warn
-~---__;_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____;__~---,---'------------'-----'---'----------See--P-a_g_e_6_-_ · in regards· to Boulevard Nights
effect on the Chicano com
If you or your children decide
the film, we urge you to keep
' mind, and remember that this
fiction and it's stereotyping our
.Pancho Villa-Hero or Heel ?
DR. LUNA
Dr. · Luna believes that the recognition recently given Pancho Villa is
long overdue. He said that Villa's
accomplishments were ignored because
he fought the men who later won the
Revolution in Mexico. A Notorious Lover- Although he ·
could on occasion be very crude, VUla
was avery charismatic man who was able
to whip up armies of tens of thousands,
said Dr. Luna . Villa was also capable
of great rove .
"Villa is renowned for his love of women, said Dr. Luna. When he swept into
town,·"people ttkf to hide their daughters." "He had five wives that we know
of," Dr. Luna said.
Zapata vs. Villa-Dr. Luna believes
that a myth has been built arounq
Emiliano Zapata blowing his accomplishments out of proportion . "I think that too
many people glorify Zapata." "I- still see
Villa as perhaps a greater hero than Zapata.~'
Zapata ruled in his home state and
only employed guerrilla warfare, while
Villa weilded national influence and
launched huge military campaigns,
said Dr.· Luna .
. Dr. Luna said that Zapata has .probably gained greater _adulation among
Chicanos because he fought for the campesi no, and for the easily . identifyable goals of land and liberty.
Why · Villa Foughf- "Villa was not
really an educated man ... some believe
he fought just for the sake of fighting," said Dr. Luna.
·
·
"Perhaps it stems from his childhood .. . " When his sister was raped
by a · hacendado he became a bandit,
said Dr. Luna.
But, after Huerta
was ousted, Dr. Luna said that it became
a matter of "personal isms·."
Villa
had no clear philosophy and fought men
not ideas.
'
Villa's Legacy - "Those who love
Villa, , loved him and continue to love
hi m to this day ... those who hated him
no matter what you tell them about Villa'
continue to hate him," said Dr. Luna. '
Villa to Dr. Luna- "I like the man : In
many respects I like this type of folk
person who comes from a rural background to fight injustices he sees,"
said Dr. Luna. ·" What I don't like was in
many instances he was many times the
jury ,judge ,and executioner."
"In my family's past they regard Villa
very highty,but my wife's family
doesn't, "said Dr. Luna. "They think
'that Villa was-the most horribre creature
·that ever existed.,,
DR ..CANALES
· "I think it is a mistake on the part of
the Mexican government,," to give honors to Pancho Villa, said Dr. Canales.
"lt(government) is overlooking the fact
that Villa killed more Mexicans than any
Mexican that comes to my mind."
Attila the Hun- In the battle of Torreon alone, Dr. Canales said that Villa
executed more than 2,(X)() prisoners. "I ·
don't think that he was a hero to be held
as ~ symbol," for the nation. "He was
"Attita the Hon" in a sombrero."
Dr. Canales said that Villa was the key
man in the triumph of Madero and in the
overthrow of Huerta . . He ·was also "a
military genius of the first order."
Non-smoker,
non-drinker- "Vi Ila
didn't smoke or drink, but h~ made up .
for it in • sex," said Dr. -Canales . . He
also abstained from the two .former vices
as they "would ruin his aim. He was an
incredible shot."
. Villa had other virtues besides not
smoking or drinking, according to Dr.
,Canales. "He's the guy who introduced ·
mechanized agritulture to Mexico," by
importing the · best machinery for his
hacienda .
Villa was a very intelligent man who, in just a few months
in prison, learned how to read and
. write.
·
No · Political Philosophy- "I don 't
think that Pancho Villa had a national
vision," said Dr . .Canales. "He had no
poJ itical philosophy ... he reacted from
personal experience." ; . .
.
Directly contrasting Villa• was Emiliano Zapata from the southern state of
Morelos. Dr. ·Canales said that Zapata,
like Vifla had no. national vision,but
he_was still a great man.
"He was a man who fought the Revolution for principle. He fought for nothing for himself," said Dr. · Canales.
"Pancho Villa fought for loot and women."
Villa vs. Zapata - Even though they were
both great leaders, Dr. Canales said that
Zapata and Villa only agreed on one
thing-their hatred of Venustiano Car-
ranza.
"Villa couldn't und
Zapata's desire for land," becaus
north, land was plentiful and t
more independent.
Canales on Villa-"I think
a revolutionist who was a ba
heart," said Dr. Canales. "I see
a man of -great virtues and
faults."
Dr.
Mexico's Francisco Villa
· Frompage7
men fought for different reasons ... Zapata fought for "land and liberty," while
Villa usually fought for vengeance and
war booty.
The failure of both to act decisively,
when they had the chance, allowed
Carranza to re-group his force and·
attack . By early 1915, Obregon was winning back the core of Mexico and. isolating Zapata and Villa in the south and
north, respectiv~ly.
Villa 's Disaster
16 American ·engineers," accordi r
Lesly Bird Simpson in his book,I
Mexicos.
"In March, 1916, he led a ratd-int~
Mexico and massacred 19 peop
Columbus, "said Simpson . Most ~
that Villa did this to punish Pres.
son for recognizing his rival, and ti
barrass Carranza who claimed he ~
complete control of Mexico.
The U.S. responded tQ the actic
_sending in Gen. John "Black
Pershing to the border. to prevent
from re-entering the U.S. Per
In April, 191~, the bloodiest _battles to succeeded in this as Villa did not
wrack the continent since the American back. ·
However,Pershing's "Punitive
Civi~ War began near Celaya, Mexico.
Obregon-, cool-headed and employing pedition" into Mexico .after the Me
the most modern military tactics goaded bandit failed and the general be£am
Villa into useless conflict. In a series of butt" of many Mexican jokes . "Pc
. battles near Celaya, Villa was pushed · Villa instantly became the popula1
northward with continual harrassment of the country, and racy ballads ric
ing the gringos were joyfully sur
by Obregon;
·
Villa's fine cavalry suffered severe every tavern," according.to SimpS0i
losses to Obregon's new machine guns.
The modern trench warfare tactics emDeath
ployed by Obregon also · bedeviled
In 1920, Viila was pardoned.by in
·Villa. Total casualties for the Battles of president Adolfo de la Huerta, ar,
Cel~ya have been estimated at 10,(X)()- set out to become a legitimate ranch
nearly one-fourth of Villa's forces.
"However, in 1923 after boasti1
Villa's Division· del Norte had been · his ability to muster a large force in
~ecimated.
port of the impending anti-Obrego1
Raid on Columbus
rising, Villa was assassinated
sumably on orders .from Obrei
The final, crippling blow to Villa was according to. Mark Russell in Mexi
the U.S. recognition of Carranza as Mex- Transition.
ico's leader. For years the U.S. had
Thirteen bullets were pumped in1
firmly ·stuck by Villa.
body on that July morning, and
"Villa answered by stopping a train at
great Pancho Villa was dead :
Santa Ysabel,Chihuahua, and shooting
had lived only 45 years.
LA-VOZ -de AZTLAN Monday
April 16, ,1979
· . _C omentarios-Up with .
the Shah!,- Support La· Voz
-Pcige 2
Noticias de La Raz·a ,
A.S. Elections
-Page 3
· Downtown .FresnoA Nice Place to Visit
-Pages ~,5
Pancho Villa, was he a hero or a bloodt~irsty bandit?
(Below) Downtown rresno springs back to life . .
La Mexicana y
-Su Vida Durante
La ReVolucion
-Page 6 P-a ncho Villa-. ·
Separating Fact froin
.. Fiction·.
· -Page 7 ·
Boulevard Nights
Kicks Up _More
· Controversy
· -Page 8
iiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiComentariOs---------iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiii~
ii.iiiiiPageiiiiiiiiii2
La Voz de Aztlan
needs your help
tinuing the newspapers . Naturally it is
important that supporters of La Voz,
Chicano and non-Chicano show up to
lend valuable moral support .
A good turnout could go a long way in
showing the council and the CSUF com-.
munity that there is plenty of support for
the minority publications .
,
We all know that the traditional media
has ignored our needs or exaggera~ed
our presence, in the past. And even now
there is not enough coverage of the
minority community or enough minorities working in the news profession.
Now is the time that we should
demand that the council and the A.S.
Senate give La Voz a positive endorsement so it can continue stronger in the
future .
No longer should we simply
request a continuance of the status quo
or ask that they "leave us alone for another year."
.
Once and for all, it is important that
we put out of business those people who
would destroy or weaken La Voz.
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
Just like the swallows returning to
Capistrano, another springtime ritual
will take place Wednesday(April 18) at
7 p .m . - the yearly challenge to the life of
La Voz de Aztlan.
No one quite knows when this tradition began, but most believe it started
around the time La Voz was born in 1969.
This publication has seen prosperous
and troubled times, all depending on the
prevailing political mood in Fresno .
Fortunately, so far this year we seem to
have had good luck.
But, just as constant as the fight by
many to keep the paper, have been challenges by those who think that LA Voz
has no right to exist.
So, on Wednesday night the CSUF
Media Council will hold a public hearing to discuss Uhuru and La Voz.
The meeting has been called to see if
there is enough interest to justify con-
Up with the Shah ·
"foreigners,·" is not only wrong, but it's
shameful. Even if intended to be a joke,
it's wrong .
Many minority students have forgotten the struggles that their older brothers endured to secure admittance and
financial aid for them.
Some have assimilated to the point of
hypocrisy. They accept the EOP grants
and financial aid, use their minority
status to gain special a_dmission, the~ ·
Although one would tend to believe
that this group is made-up of a few ultraconservative students, it isn't. In fact, a
few black students at CSUF are helping
in the Cf'mical pro-Shah movement.
It is ironic that the members of any
minority group should do this. Blacks,
Chicanos, and other minority groups
have made gains only by tearing down
the status quo and rebuilding it .
To mock a group, even if they are
abandon their ethnicity, their younger
brothers,their people.
It seems sad to me that any minority
group with special status would assimilate to the point of ridiculing another
minority group-"EVEN IF THEY ARE
JUST FOREIGNERS ."
Let's hope they come to their senses
and realize that they are just playing into ·
the hands of bigoted conservative faction
on this campus .
UFW-It's birth,
reason for existence
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an
excerpt from a commentary first published in the San Diego State Univ. news,------------------------------- ·
paper, The Daily Aztec in February. The
opinion piece, written by John W.
Wallace, traces the start of the UFW and
the importance of the survival of Cesar
Chavez' union.
LA VOZ WANTS YOU!
"The United Farm workers was formed
17 years ago, after being one of the most
ignored and exploited labor groups in
the nation. Farmworkers, in most cases
prior to the formation of the union
worked for wages that were ridiculous!;
low ;ind · in conditions that were in-
p;~-~
·
Peliculas-
1-------------------------------~
9r
too rare
~
II
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
MEAT EATER
Don't let the name of this movie fool
you. Meat Eater, which just finished a
run in Fresno is not as gross as it sounds
and isn't even a good horror film. It can
only rank as a poor comedy.
This low-budget film, featuring mostly
unknown performers, is about a derelict
who lives in a theater and seems to like
munching on live rats. He did this durnig
the first few minutes of the film.
Throughout the movie, meat was an excessively recurring theme.
Featured
was pot roast, weiners at all meals, and
they even sang the Oscar Meyer song.
The derelict kilJs four people in the
film. One he hangs, one he throws off
the roo,f, one he electrocutes, and finally
he throws a victim onto concreate while
he munches on popcorn. It all is not very
exciting, neither is Meat Eater.
JUST FRIENDS
Just Friends, a situation co
gives actress Stockard Channing
chance to play a role completely un
the character she played in the
movie, Grease. She gives an impress
performance in her new role.
Playing her new character, Chann
is caught in many difficult situati
In one recent scene she got caught ~
ing her sister's husband,but got
easily by explaining how drunk he
That scene was unrealistic as no w
would believe that flimsy excuse
real life.
Just Friends isn't a good comedv,
it's enjoyable to watch just to see
problems Channing gets into . In
series Channing's sister acts more Ii
casual friend than family and their
versation tends to be formal.
Don't expect too much orginality f
this show. It tends to imitate The
Tyler Moore Show and I Love Lucy .
then again what can you expect fr
television, innovation? ... not a chance
Just Friends can be seen on Ch.
Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
Demagog Reich
elected to city council
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
Something dramatic occurred a few
weeks ago here in Fresno. A demagog
was elected to the City Council. Joe
Reich, a local attorney, won election to
District 3 by.feeding on the emotions of
peopie who did not ltke or understand
Affirmative Action programs.
Despite the sad irony that a man was
elected by all Fresno voters, but is
suposed to represent a district dominated by blacks, maybe we have learned a
lesson.
Those who sought to have
elections citywide, but representing districts regret the change they brought.
Many have talked of instituting a law
suit. The lesson fits the old cliche "look
before you leap."
'
It's a shame that a man like Reich
dosen 't have the sense to see how he is
hurting people who want a chance in the
job market . Reich· ran on a platform of
hate toward minorities and his pitch · ap~~ale~ .~?just e'ntiug~_vot~rs. ~~e 'c,ity.
fn,
J
-
Just Friends
enjoyable
humane,to say the least.
"On Jan . ' 19 of this 'year·, ' Cesar
Chavez, founder of ' the _ut;w; ' led
.3/JOQ. ~E:f!l.b_e_rs , OU ~ ~ st~i~e ·:against
erghrd1ffererrt ·l~ttvce'growef's. i'welveReich has said that he wi II not rehu~dred other UFW ,:nembers s~owed
their support of the action by walking off present Dist. 3 or West Fresno. "I will
: their jobs for one day at six other farms . represent the city of Fresno, including
Continued on Pg. 3 west Fresno," he said.
r./ :a:~{~fud:~ :·
'
u
Review .
"Up with the Shah" - with that bold
delclaration, a small group of CSUF
students has launched a tongue-incheek campaign to annoy Iranian students. The group has apparently photocopied dozens of pro-Shah flyers and
posted them all over the campus.
The group contends that the Iranians
and other Middle East students who
march or set up tables in the Free
Speech area are bothersome and noisy.
We are planning to publish a speciaJ
edition of La Voz de Aztlan for the week
of Semana de La Raza, Cinco de Mayo.
We are asking you to contribute ideas
st~r~es,
features,
poetry,
creativ~
wr1hng, photography, and illustrations.
If you are interested -in h I • • t
would like , to turn . 0 e
OU _or leave a note in' 'the
office or in the Daily Colle .
ff
I
Final copy deadline wilr;:en a~~~~ on :
Friday April 20 1979
•
Meat Eater,
Las
Reich should not do this. · He shoc
realize that most citizens of Fresno a:
now served by their own area cou
men .
Those who now have sound repre
tation don't need another councilm
to serve them .
It's clear t~at Reich's interests
not the district's interest, where
population is 46 percent Mexica
American and 44 percent black .
La Voz de Aztlan is published by the
Associated Students at California State
University, Fresno and the newspaper
staff. Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the La Voz staff, and not necessarily the views of the Associated Students, CSUF or the State of California.
Editor ... Richard Aguirre
Photogi:aphy ... George Aguirre,Ricardo
Pimentel,Lupe Mora
·
• -Ait ... Albfuo Fi-ancO', Arturo Ocampo
.
Reporters ... Dora Lara,Margarita ·Mar- ·J•.',
•tmez;Octavio
Yescas:..· .. '
...
Contributors ... Felix Contreras : Elvia
Ruiz, Dianne Solis, Ricardo Pimentel,
Pedro Ramirez.
.
April 16, 1979
Page3
La Voz de Aztlan
MESSAGE FROM LA VOZ
GRADUATE PICNIC
A graduate picnic for 1979 CSUF
graduates and their families will be held
Sunday April 29 at Kearny Park. For
more information contact Manual Olguin
at 487-1053.
Wednesday night the CSUF Media
Council will hod a public meeting to
discuss UHURU and LA VOZ DE
AZTLAN. Everyone is invited.
The council will be seeking to find out
if there is enough interest in these ~ewspapers to continue their publication. The
meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the
College Union(third floor).
WOMEN AND STRIP SEARCHES
The American Civil Liberties Union
has filed suit for 50 Chicago women
asking that the U.S. District court restrict Chicago police from conducting
body strip searches of women accused of
minor offenses.
The class action suit was filed last
month after women complained that they
were subjected to humiliating body
searches by police after being accused of
only minor misdemeanors and traffic violations.
CHICANO GRADUATION
Wednesday is the application deadline
for the third annual Chicano Commencement at CSUF. The event, being organized by the Chicano Commencement
Committee of the Chicano Alumni
Association, is set for Sunday, May 20
atthe Fresno District Fairgrounds.
Applications can be picked up at
Tutorial Services, the La Raza Studies
office and the EOP office. For more
information call 487-1053.
EOP TALE NT SHOW
The long-awaited EOP Talent Show
will be held Thursday night from 7-10
p.m. in the new Residence Dining Hall.
Emcees for the event will be Darbie
Ford and Manuel Nunez.
Everyone is invited. For more information contact Tony Garduque or Linda
Hernandez in the EOP off ice(J oyalroom 238) or call 487-1021. .
VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON
The Volunteer Bureau of Fresno
will sponsor its 11th annual Volunteer
of the Year Luncheon, Tuesday April 24
at the Holiday Inn. For reservations and
more information, call 237-3101.
I
The April meeting of the Association
of Chicanos in Human Services will be
held tommorrow night at 7 p.m. in the
College Union, room 309.
The focus of the meeting will be on
the International Year of the Child, and
will feature a talk by Alex Saragoza of
the La Raza Studies program.
The Association began last May and
serves two purposes: 1) to establish a
network of Chicanos working in human
services; and 2) to ensure equity in the
provision of social services to the
Chicano community.
Involvement or interest in human
services is the only requirement for
membership.
The suit asks $125,000 in damages for
each woman and that in the future,
warrants would be required for any
search. The suit also asks th?t any
searches required would have to be conducted by a doctor. The ACLU estimates that up to 10,000 women may have
been searched after minor violations in
Chicago alone.
In Houston, Trish Herrera, 25, has
also filed a lawsuit against police,saying
that she was strip searched by Houston
authorities after a minor traffic violation. That charge was later dropped.
Civil
Libertarians
concede
that
searches are justified if a suspect is to be
held in jail, but contend that searches
after minor offenses are inappropriate.
Ditora elected president
Slate sweeps election
UFW Comenta.rio
Continued from Pg. 2
"Chavez and the UFW are striking _for
higher wages, demanding a part of the
vast prof its the lettuce growers are
earning from their labor.
Mexican
farmworkers have shown their support
of the strike by refusing to cross the
picket lines to replace the striking union
members.
"As a result, growers have recruited
high school students and housewives to
help in the harvest by playing up to their
anti-union sentiments. The image of the
UFW, as well as other unions, has never
been a popular one .
"Strikes hurt consumers as well as
growers, causing anger among the
populace . People resent the feeling of
helplessness that accompanies skyrocketing prices resulting from strikes.
Hence, popular opinion most often sides
with the growers.
"Wben violence broke out in the fields
on Feb . 5, the growers immediately
blamed the strikers . With this strategy,
and the help of a newly-hired public
relations firm, th~ ~rowers hope to -gain ·
public sentimet1t.
.
. "However, the strikers had nothing to
gain through violence; only the growers
stood to profit.
"Farmworkers, as well as any other
labor group, have the right to a decent
wage, and the right to strike for it .
CHICANOS IN HUMAN SERVICES
Growers see this dispute as a chance to
destroy the union, break its hold, and
take away its power. But, if the union
dies, the rights of farmworkers dies with
it, and once again, the era of exploitation
returns.
UFWUPDATE
As the UFW strike enters its 13th
week, its scope has broadened and it has
received a boost from the Agricultural
Labor Relations Board.
Last Monday, UFW president Cesar
Chavez left for New York to· gain financial support from East Coast liberals .
On April 7, the ARLB backed up
Chavez' claim that growers were refusing to bargain in good faith and had
hired professional strikebreakers. The
Board issued those charges against Sun
Harvest Growers and said that the firm
"has a duty to bargain at this point in
time."
·
··
. The ARLB also c¼~ged-that: ~~n ·H,a,rvest had "knowingly hired professional
strikebreakers." While a company is
permitted to hire "replacement workers"
it cannot hire paid strikebreakers, who
~re hired again and again over a period
of time at struck farms.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are
highlights and results of the Associated
Students(AS) elections held April 3-5.
Story and results courtesy of the Daily
Collegian.
* Alan Kasparian (PLUS)
998
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #3
*Linda Levy (PLUS)
1,020
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #4
* Sue Stoffels (PLUS)
993
CU BOARD, MEMBER AT LARGE #2
By STEVE SCHMIDT .
* Ronald Ramirez (PLUS)
831
Daily Collegian Staff Reporter
Tom Gaxiola
293
SENATORS:
Positive Leadership for University StuSCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE & HOME
dents (PLUS) · candidate David Ditora
ECONOMICS
handily defeated his indeoendent oppo* William D. Murphy, Jr. (PLUS)
231
-nent, John Osborne, in the
As- Others
21
sociated Students (AS) election.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
The PLUS slate swept all 19 of the of*S .H . Ottemoeller
58
f ices its members ran for--one less than DIVISION OF HEAL TH PROFESSIONS
the total number of offices up for elec- * Naomi Coyle (PLUS)
78
tion in a contest plagued by low voter SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
turnout and few contested seats .
* Kerry Watkins (PLUS)
9
Independent S.H . Ottemoeller was
Emma Bovary
3
the only non-PLUS candidate elected. He
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
was elected Senator, School of EngiKristen M . Eyssell (PLUS)
67
neering .
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
*Linda Ayer (PLUS)
143
PRESIDENT
Reggie Rush
50
* Dave Ditora (PLUS)
914
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
John Osborne (Ind.)
287
56
Jerry Hinkle (PLUS)
LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL.Wf:LFARE ·. ·
*Janet Sale (PLUS)
788
37
* Tjlford Denver (PLUS)
L~is Sepulveqa (~&S)
.
. -. 451
. GRADUATE STUDIE~
C9,LLEGE l.JNION ,Yl~E P,RESll:)~Nl
7
*Mike Emmert (PLUS)
* Jefferey 8. Watson (PLUS)
1,063
1
Kermit
the
Frog
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #1
UNDECLARED MAJORS
* Patricia Oliveira (PLUS)
722
12
*Dave Leathers (PLUS)
Mark Scott (S&S)
457
9
Ken Villa
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #2
*
.*
·la Voz de Aztlan
Page 4 - , · •
April 16, 1
Photos by Lupe Mora
BRIX 8Ull.DiNG
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April 16, 1979
la Voz de Aztlan
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,
Downtown Mall
returning .to life
By LUPE MORA
La Voz P~otographer
Downtown Fresno's Fulton Mall is a
place where anyone can afford to shop.
It's a place where the old meets with the
new in a fine cultural setting.
It's a place where the insides of
buildings are remodeled but, the outsides are left alone to give the mall a
very traditional look. It's a pleasing
pla~e to be for shoppers of any social
status.
It's also a place where one can find a
very artistic environment.
In general, it's a place where one can
not only shop, but socialize as well.
.;
- . ·.r~-; (ur-OEMRMNJ"cjCOJNan
-C;v:~: ," •- - elJ,:·f ummlc~.MniisWioo
.
. .
.
La Voz de Aztlan
Page6
La Mexicana y Su Vida
Hardships endured, status gained
Mexican Revolution
By DORA LARA
La Voz Writer
In Mexico's Revolution of 1910,men
were not the only participants. Women
also played a significant role. In this as
in other phases of Mexican history, women are often overlooked.
However, during these crucial years
{1910-1917), women fulfilled important
roles as social workers, financiers, journalists, troop followers and of course as
members of the army troops.
The violent phase of the Mexican Revolution broke out in 1913 and was
fought to prove that Mexico belonged to
the Mexican people and not to the major
foreign powers. It was also fought to
bring power to the common man, give
the land back to those who farmed it, and
bring societal benefits to those who
worked for them.
When men began to join the armies
and go off to war, women were left alone
and unprotected. With no other choice
many were forced to follow. According
to James W. Wilkie in Revolution in
Mexico: Years o_f Upheaval, 1910-1940,
the sight of a woman among the army
troops was not an uncommon one:
"The Mexican soldier of the Revolution traditionally traveled with his soldadera, the "soldieress" who loaded his
rifle, cooked for him, and often carried
her latest baby slung in the rebozo on
her back. The soldera served as more
than a moderJ> commissary, she provided the comfort, the companionship
that kept the soldier on the move for
many terrible years."
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
The Supreme Court is now mulling
over what could be the most significant challenge to Affirmative Action
programs ever. Last June, the high
'rt struck down numerical racial
4 uotas in education and ruled that Allen
Bakke,who is white, must be admitted to
the U .C. Davis medical school.
However, even as the 'c ourt ruled that
Bakke had been illegally discriminated
against, Justices upheld the Affirmative
Action concept and said that race could
be used as one of the factors when sett ing school admission policy .
The Kaiser Aluminum vs . Brian F .
Weber case involves the more farreaching issue of racial preference in
employment .
Weber's suit charges that an Affirm~tive Action_plan, instituted by Kaiser
and the United Steelworkers Union in
Gramercy, La ., "discriminates" against
~~ite~ because positions in an apprent1cesh1p program were reserved for nonwhites and women .
,
,
The court's decision on,the e1:ase could
decide the future_• of volunt·a ry AfHrmative Action employment programs in thts
country.
The court recently heard arguments in
the "reverse discrimination" case and
should render a decision by June.
Women in Mexico were at last given a
chance to prove their worth and abilities,
and some did so by service in the armies.
The work of women was real and hard
during these years, according to Phillip
Russell in "Mexico in Transition:"
"In that struggle there were women
officers in the Constitutionalist army and
many women took a direct part in combat, especially in the Red Battalions of
workers. Also, there was an entire combat unit of women in the Zapatista army
under the command of an ex-tortilla
maker named La China."
Other women who gained fame as
soldiers and later became officers were:
Petra Ruiz, Echa Bala, Encarcion Mares
de Panuca, Sra Carmen Parra Viuda de
Alaniz, and Dona Juana Torres. Each
gained recognition for bravery and skill.
Besides exhibiting their talents on the
battlefield, many women joined the
press corps to spread the message of the
Revolution. Juana Belen Gutierrez de
Mendoza, a famous liberal journalist
fanned the fire of Revolutionary ideals
through journals and newspapers, and
was later imprisoned because of this.
Many women suffered such personal
tragedy, yet they continued the fight.
Carmen Serdan, sister of Aquiles
(the first martyr of the Revolution) and
his widow, Dona Filomena del Valle de
Serdan were -among those who helped
organize and collect munitions for rebel
forces. Both later spent time in jail.
Jail terms were not the only negative
aspects that women had to suffer
through during the Revolution. It was
very difficult for soldaderas to maintain a
stable family life. And some women
were pressed into service against their
will.
Some women were forced to join the
armies by order of dictator-general
Victoriano Huerta. According to the
book, "Profile of the Mexician-American
Woman," on one occasion Huerta had
300 women from Morelos sent south to
Quintana Roo.
There,in the hostile frontier, Huerta
hoped to establish a colony with exiled
men who were stationed there. But,
when the plan failed to work properly,
the women were brought back northward
and left at Veracruz with the new children they had bore in Quintana Roo.
But, despite the sacrifices and hardships there were a few positive things
that women gained from the war. Many
were able to work as clerks, secretaries,
smugglers, and telegraph workers. Women were able to travel, learn diverse
Weber case may have wider
impact than Bakke
were · only five blacks among . the 273
This case dates back to 1974 when the
skilled workers. To correct this, fifty
United Steelworkers of America(USWA)
percent of opennings in craft-training
voluntarily began a national program to
ease the effects of past racial discrimi- . programs were reserved for blacks.
Selection to the program was based on
nation in industry .
plant seniority. For the 13 positions,
The program ' s goal was to provide the
created at the plant, seven blacks and six
opportunity for minority workers, mostly
whites were hired.
in the steel , aluminum, and can indusBrian Weber,32, applied for and was
t ries, to f ill vacancies in craft-training
denied a slot. He brought a class-action
programs through Affirmative Action.
lawsuit against his union· and the plant in
This would continue until the underhis behalf and for other white workers.
representation of minorities in these
He charged that blacks with less seniorindustries was alleviated.
ity at the plant had been hired over him,
The Weber case came about after a job
and that the program discriminated
dispute in Kaiser's Louisiana plant. A
against non-minority members of the
factory-training program was installed to
workforce.
bring more blacks into skilled jobs and
Weber won in the U.S . District Court
bring parity to the firm equal to that of
and that decision was uw,eld by _the
th~ community that was . 39 p_
ercent
Fifth District Court of Appeals.
black. , .
.
•
. · .
A ruling for Weber could set a preAt Kaiser' S- .Qramerc;:y plant, there- cedent which could seriously threaten
The union •lawyer s~id that Congress
other existing Affirmative Action , E>ro- ,,
intended only to outlaw the previous
grams. A ruling for the company could
discrimination when it wrote and passeq
strengthen the concept that these prothe law. If Weber wins, Kaiser attorgrams are justly designed to compensate
neys say Affirmative Action programs
for past discrimination against minorcould end.
ities.
•
subjects,and gain
about Mexico.
Many of these things would not ha\.
been possible if not for the Revolution
As the authors in "Profiles"say:
"During the 1910 Revolution, Mexicar
men became united in new relationships
Mexican women. For the first time 1n
Mexican history, women developed po,
tentials on a large scale beside the m
and won recognition as companions
mates ,and partners."
The turbulence of the strife-filleo
years led to a changing of the roles tra·
ditionally assigned to women. In the
long run, women gained the courage to
stand up for themselves. Now that the
destructive Revolution was over, they
would begin the fight for their own civil
rights.
Boulevard Nights
bum rap
From Page8
photographs, yes. Boulevard Nights
1s the story ot two brothers, ex-cholo
Raymond's
assimilated
girlfriend
Shady and the violence between two
gangs that ends in the deaths of Chuco
and his mother.
·
It is significant that there is no Chiccano-Anglo hostility in the movie . To
a certain extent, that holstility in real life
has been the excuse the Chicano has
used for not "making it." ·
Raymond Is decision about what he
wants out of life is not directly affected
by the Anglo. It is he who wants the
boulevard scene and the car customizing
1vu . n 1s ne wno preters taco stands to
restaurants.
Like a lot of people, he is scared
about "what's out there." The barrio
becomes like a womb. Safe. He knows it
just like he knows .gang
life.'
His dilemma is the Chicano's present
state of mind.
Ravmond was fl lot like the Chicanos
who know object to Boulevard Nights.
He was a guy too myoptic to share the
greater visions of what ca·n be.
That is what this movie is all about-the smallness of people's minds .
,~age 7
La Voz de Aztlan
Mexico's Francisco Villa-Revolutionary Patriot or Murderer?
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
EDITOR 's NOTE: This is the second in a
series of profiles of great Mexican h!storical figures or events. Accompanymg
this look at the life of Doroteo Ara· ngo
(better known as Pancho Villa) is a discussion . on this man by Dr. Jose Canales
of the history department and Dr. Jesus
Luna of La Raza Studies.
Pancho Villa. The name conjures up visions of huge cavalry units sweeping across vast,hot desert.
·
One thinks of revolutionists,guerrilla
warriors,ammunition belts strapped across bodies. The imagination runs wild
in thoughts of guns,horses,sweat,
swearing ,money, women ,booze ,and cantinas and stirring corridos. Pancho
Villa was all of that,and more.
The man who was born Doroteo
Arango and didn't drink,smoke or swear
has become the stereotype of the common bandido. But, he was no common
man.
He became a legend in his own time ·
and even today his name is capable of
evoking violent emotions. He has been
hailed and cursed as a great patriot
and bloodthirsty. anglo-lover.
Last Year, Villa was elevated to the
status of national hero and postal stamps
were issued in his honor. The action
touched off cheers and protests among
his countryman.
The following is an attempt to trace
the career of Francisco Villa and get a
clearer picture of who he was, and why
such division about his contributions
is possible.
Early Life
Doroteo Arango was born on June 5,
1878 in Durango, Mexico. He was the
first of five children and was the son of
Agustin Arango and Michaela Aranbula.
He was said to have weighed 12 pounds
at birth.
His father died when he was still
young and he had to work at an early age
on a ranch in order to support the family.
Most accounts say that the young
Arango became an outlaw after one of
his sisters was raped by a ranch foreman
or hacendado. Villa shot the attacker,
escaped to join a gang of outlaws and
changed his name to Pancho Villa. ·
"Bandits were his childhoog heroes as
they were for most of the long-suffering
poor of Mexico," according to William
Weber Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
"Bandits were the only ones strong enough and daring enough to fight against
an oppressive system."
While in the gang, Villa learned cattlerustling and became a skilled marksman
and horseman.
Physical Description
"In 1910 at the age of 32 he was a big
(six feet,200 pounds) man, indescribably
graceful on a spirited horse-he came to
be called the Centaur of the North,"
according to Johnson. However, on the
ground Villa looked awkward, "walking
with the pigeon-toed gai~ of a h?rseman,
his arms thrust outward by· the . great
thickness of _the <;:~e~!- "_ , '. ·. . ,., ·~- ,·
Johnson said VilJa~s ~a(r:\Ya~ ,r~pp~h-__.
brown and almost kinky. · His thick
moustache was over a usually open
mouth and his teeth were strong and
stained brown.
liberty unless he was bad," said Reed.
"The Federal officers also he killed;
because, he explained, they were educated men and ought to know better,"
said Reed . "But, the Federal common
soldiers he set at liberty because most of
them were conscripts, and thought they
were
fighting
for
the
Patria ."
The killing of prisoners was a common
practice of the day , and Villa saw no
reason to buck the trend.
In The Eagle and Serpent, Martin
luis Guzman says that Villa once allowed his bloodthirsty aide, Rodolfo Fierro
to shoot down 200 captured Federales
in a corral. Fierro,who killed for the fun
of it,finished the grisly task,although he
complained of a cramp in his trigger
finger and that his pistols got very hot.
But,Villa tolerated Fierro . "He was
Villa's best friend;and Villa loved him
like a son and always protected him,"
according to Reed in Insurgent Mexico.
Race for Mexico
"But, the feature most people remembered was his eyes," said Johnson.
"They were prominent,light brown and
friendly; howeyer in an instant of temper
they could change."
"He was a natural storyteller and loveed to tell tales about himself, his voice
high pitched, his pronuciation slurred
and careless,his language full of sharp
images(and strangely · 1acking in both
profanity and obscenity)," according to
Johnson.
Joins Revolution
Villa stayed around Chihuahua until
the outbreak of Fransico Madero' s revolt against the 30-year rule of Porfirio
Diaz. Villa was a quick convert to the
cause and respected and feared the gentle and innocent Madero .
With his army of the north, Villa helped Madero gain the presidency. When
Madero was overthrown and later assasinated by the men of "the Usuper,"
Victoriano Huerta, Villa became ruthless. He vowed he would avenge Madero' s murder and topple Huerta.
According to Phillip Russell in Mexico
in Transition, Villa quickly built up a
strong following among peasants ,sharecroppers ,muleskinners ,and peddlers .. all
from the newly-developed and mobile
north.
Military Cunning
Late in 1913, Villa's Division del Norte
was the strike force of the revolution.
"Typical of his style was his taking of
Ciudad Juarez by capturing one of Huerta's troop trains," telegraphing ahead
that he was an advan<i:ing loyal g·eneral•,
then eas.ily capt~r:irig 'the· tity;a:c·c ording-·to Russel-t.t'
'• .·.·:. •;~. ·,:"
: ·,·. :.·_
·
By March, 1914 all of Chihuahua was
Vi Ila's and after confiscating property
of the richest familes there, he began the
distribution of land among the peasants.
While state governor, Villa provided
free food and supplies to the , poor,
banned the sale of liquor,ordered construction of 40 schools,keep control of
prices so food would be afordable, and
even organized daily band concerts.
Mexican Napoleon
But, it was on the battlefield that Villa
gained his greatest fame. He was a self
taught military genius with an incredible
memory. He is considered by many the
greatest general Mexico has ever bad.
Villa's method of fighting was like
Napoleon's, according to John Reed in
Insurgent Mexico. "Secrecy,quickness of
movement,adaption of his plans to the
character of the country and his soldiers" were Villa's traits . He gained the
respect and love of the rank and file and
was able to build a myth that he led a
charmed life and that his army was invincible.
"Villa made his reputation as a leader
of furious cavalry charges and critics
s,aid that was all that he could do. But,
while cavalry charges fitted his stormy
character, Villa was capable of more
sophisticated warfare," according to
Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
Villa also pioneed the use of modern
methods of logistics. He carried supply
trains for his troops and had the only
effective field hospital(40 boxcars) to
care for his enemies as well as his men.
Cruel Killer
But, Villa also gained infamy for
how he fought. Killing and looting
were standard practices in his army
(as well as in his oppon~nt' armi~s) and
p'd soner~ We're always' ~hot. . .
· "'Tl-ie Colorados(Pa'stual Orozco' s
men) he executed whenever he captured
them; because he said they were peons
like the revolutionists and that no peon
would volunteer against the cause of
I
'
'.
:
After Villa had toppled Huerta, there
was a great race among the revolutionary factions, led by charasmatic
leaders, to sieze Mexico City. Everyone knew that whoever controlled the
capital controlled the country. This was
a time whert:· chieftans ruled and ideology meant little.
During thi_s mad rush, a serious rift
developed between Villa and the commander of the Constitutionalist forces,
the "First Chief," Venustiano Carranza.
Villa disliked and distrusted the stately
Sonoran and considered him to be little
more than a "pantywaist."
Fortunately for Carranza, a most
skilled and able general, Alvaro Obregon
of Sonora sided with him . "This was to
be a most fateful decision in the history
of the R~volution, for Obregon proved to
be Mexico's greatest military commander," according to Robert Quirk in
his book, Mexico.
Obregon joined Carranza because he
had little confidence in Villa's violent
and unpredictable nature .
Unsatiable Sexual Apetite
Villa was unpredictable and a man of
extremes, but one thing never varied-his love of women . He didn't indulge in
tobacco or alcohol , but tried to make up
for that fact with his womanizing.
"If a woman wanted to be marriedand he preferred such women - he married her, conveniently forgetting his
other marriages,"according to Johnson
in Heroic Mexico.
"He claimed he had lost count of the
women he loved, after counting up to 75,
and no one knows how many marriages
· there were," said Johnson .
"Sometimes they(marraiges) came so close together that a wife would find herself
force'd to serve breakfast in bed to Villa
and a more recent wife ."
Beginning of the End
With the split between Villa and the
Constitutionalists widened in late 1914,
the Revolution entered its most · destructive and violent ~hase .
· ··- ·
: Vill~ briefly helcl the-<!:apital· and• with
Emiliano Zapata, -of ·Morelos, · controlled
more than 60,000 men. But, their uneasy alliance dissolved because both
See Page 8
--------- ·-o··
age8
---r. •••--..,,._.,-_,_.._
la Voz de Aztlaz
April_
El Concilio
issues warning
Chicano Journalist
defends movie
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was
published as part -of a Boulevard Nights
advertisement on April 6, 1979. It was
written by Tony Castro of the -i..os
Ange!es Herald Examiner.
!ii/~/i/;!!i///i(Y no:~~Ta~:!redN~Tt,if,~e Elf
....··
de Fresno Newsletter.
..
FLASHff!
The film Boulevard Nights ha
grossed several miJlions of doll
its release. The film is now in Fr
"Boulevard Nights has been aettina a
bum rap."
·
l by the long fines outside the the
can be sure that our commu
The way it's getting dumped on,
spend several thousands of
you'd _think it was ... well, a Chicano or
perpetuating this rascist and
something. It has been getting the
It ·it wereany of these, the Chicano
typing gang warfare film whic
second-class .treatment. . The movie
Brilliant. Powerful. Honest in its savage
middle class would love it. The Chicanos
types Chicanos as inferior bei
needs a Civil Rights Commission investirealism. It is more than just a film about
wouldn't feel thre.atened about their
knowing how to control or w
gation. Or just help from Affirmative
gangs
or
a
commentary
on
the
hopelessown
identity,·
their
lifestylesand
-what
their
own people.
Action.
ness of their violence. Boulevard Nights
they perceive reality to be. As it ·is,
East Los Arigeies useo to oe
What incensed Chicanos are doing in
is a valuable contribution to our underBoulevard Nights is making a lot of
area of Los Angeles not exploite
blasting Boulevard Nights is no different
standing of our time.
·
Chicanos wince with embarrassment,
film industries, but now with B
than what those very same people claim
Were this a book, it might qualify
the way people do at old photographs
Nights in the money, other fit
has been done to the Chicano in
they'd like . to forget or destroy.
panies w~II probably exploit t
America. The bum rap. In a sense, it is - as the Great American Novel .. It is that
kind of a story. Heavy. It is not bestSo naturally the outcry. The moaning
as well.
the Chicanos with the night stick~ · the
selling pablum. NQ.t an Irving Wallace
that the image is negative and that
El Concilio de Fresno an
way they' re brutalyzing the film . .
novel
or
a
Clint
Eastwood
flick.
It
is
not
·
Chicanos
again
are
being
cast
in
an
unChicano
organizations have
It's a shame. And sad . Because
even Rotary Club boosterism theater like
flattering light-. The embarrassing
stand on this issue. El Conci
Boulevard Nights is one helluva movie.
"Zoot Suit."
send ·a position paper 'to Warn
-~---__;_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____;__~---,---'------------'-----'---'----------See--P-a_g_e_6_-_ · in regards· to Boulevard Nights
effect on the Chicano com
If you or your children decide
the film, we urge you to keep
' mind, and remember that this
fiction and it's stereotyping our
.Pancho Villa-Hero or Heel ?
DR. LUNA
Dr. · Luna believes that the recognition recently given Pancho Villa is
long overdue. He said that Villa's
accomplishments were ignored because
he fought the men who later won the
Revolution in Mexico. A Notorious Lover- Although he ·
could on occasion be very crude, VUla
was avery charismatic man who was able
to whip up armies of tens of thousands,
said Dr. Luna . Villa was also capable
of great rove .
"Villa is renowned for his love of women, said Dr. Luna. When he swept into
town,·"people ttkf to hide their daughters." "He had five wives that we know
of," Dr. Luna said.
Zapata vs. Villa-Dr. Luna believes
that a myth has been built arounq
Emiliano Zapata blowing his accomplishments out of proportion . "I think that too
many people glorify Zapata." "I- still see
Villa as perhaps a greater hero than Zapata.~'
Zapata ruled in his home state and
only employed guerrilla warfare, while
Villa weilded national influence and
launched huge military campaigns,
said Dr.· Luna .
. Dr. Luna said that Zapata has .probably gained greater _adulation among
Chicanos because he fought for the campesi no, and for the easily . identifyable goals of land and liberty.
Why · Villa Foughf- "Villa was not
really an educated man ... some believe
he fought just for the sake of fighting," said Dr. Luna.
·
·
"Perhaps it stems from his childhood .. . " When his sister was raped
by a · hacendado he became a bandit,
said Dr. Luna.
But, after Huerta
was ousted, Dr. Luna said that it became
a matter of "personal isms·."
Villa
had no clear philosophy and fought men
not ideas.
'
Villa's Legacy - "Those who love
Villa, , loved him and continue to love
hi m to this day ... those who hated him
no matter what you tell them about Villa'
continue to hate him," said Dr. Luna. '
Villa to Dr. Luna- "I like the man : In
many respects I like this type of folk
person who comes from a rural background to fight injustices he sees,"
said Dr. Luna. ·" What I don't like was in
many instances he was many times the
jury ,judge ,and executioner."
"In my family's past they regard Villa
very highty,but my wife's family
doesn't, "said Dr. Luna. "They think
'that Villa was-the most horribre creature
·that ever existed.,,
DR ..CANALES
· "I think it is a mistake on the part of
the Mexican government,," to give honors to Pancho Villa, said Dr. Canales.
"lt(government) is overlooking the fact
that Villa killed more Mexicans than any
Mexican that comes to my mind."
Attila the Hun- In the battle of Torreon alone, Dr. Canales said that Villa
executed more than 2,(X)() prisoners. "I ·
don't think that he was a hero to be held
as ~ symbol," for the nation. "He was
"Attita the Hon" in a sombrero."
Dr. Canales said that Villa was the key
man in the triumph of Madero and in the
overthrow of Huerta . . He ·was also "a
military genius of the first order."
Non-smoker,
non-drinker- "Vi Ila
didn't smoke or drink, but h~ made up .
for it in • sex," said Dr. -Canales . . He
also abstained from the two .former vices
as they "would ruin his aim. He was an
incredible shot."
. Villa had other virtues besides not
smoking or drinking, according to Dr.
,Canales. "He's the guy who introduced ·
mechanized agritulture to Mexico," by
importing the · best machinery for his
hacienda .
Villa was a very intelligent man who, in just a few months
in prison, learned how to read and
. write.
·
No · Political Philosophy- "I don 't
think that Pancho Villa had a national
vision," said Dr . .Canales. "He had no
poJ itical philosophy ... he reacted from
personal experience." ; . .
.
Directly contrasting Villa• was Emiliano Zapata from the southern state of
Morelos. Dr. ·Canales said that Zapata,
like Vifla had no. national vision,but
he_was still a great man.
"He was a man who fought the Revolution for principle. He fought for nothing for himself," said Dr. · Canales.
"Pancho Villa fought for loot and women."
Villa vs. Zapata - Even though they were
both great leaders, Dr. Canales said that
Zapata and Villa only agreed on one
thing-their hatred of Venustiano Car-
ranza.
"Villa couldn't und
Zapata's desire for land," becaus
north, land was plentiful and t
more independent.
Canales on Villa-"I think
a revolutionist who was a ba
heart," said Dr. Canales. "I see
a man of -great virtues and
faults."
Dr.
Mexico's Francisco Villa
· Frompage7
men fought for different reasons ... Zapata fought for "land and liberty," while
Villa usually fought for vengeance and
war booty.
The failure of both to act decisively,
when they had the chance, allowed
Carranza to re-group his force and·
attack . By early 1915, Obregon was winning back the core of Mexico and. isolating Zapata and Villa in the south and
north, respectiv~ly.
Villa 's Disaster
16 American ·engineers," accordi r
Lesly Bird Simpson in his book,I
Mexicos.
"In March, 1916, he led a ratd-int~
Mexico and massacred 19 peop
Columbus, "said Simpson . Most ~
that Villa did this to punish Pres.
son for recognizing his rival, and ti
barrass Carranza who claimed he ~
complete control of Mexico.
The U.S. responded tQ the actic
_sending in Gen. John "Black
Pershing to the border. to prevent
from re-entering the U.S. Per
In April, 191~, the bloodiest _battles to succeeded in this as Villa did not
wrack the continent since the American back. ·
However,Pershing's "Punitive
Civi~ War began near Celaya, Mexico.
Obregon-, cool-headed and employing pedition" into Mexico .after the Me
the most modern military tactics goaded bandit failed and the general be£am
Villa into useless conflict. In a series of butt" of many Mexican jokes . "Pc
. battles near Celaya, Villa was pushed · Villa instantly became the popula1
northward with continual harrassment of the country, and racy ballads ric
ing the gringos were joyfully sur
by Obregon;
·
Villa's fine cavalry suffered severe every tavern," according.to SimpS0i
losses to Obregon's new machine guns.
The modern trench warfare tactics emDeath
ployed by Obregon also · bedeviled
In 1920, Viila was pardoned.by in
·Villa. Total casualties for the Battles of president Adolfo de la Huerta, ar,
Cel~ya have been estimated at 10,(X)()- set out to become a legitimate ranch
nearly one-fourth of Villa's forces.
"However, in 1923 after boasti1
Villa's Division· del Norte had been · his ability to muster a large force in
~ecimated.
port of the impending anti-Obrego1
Raid on Columbus
rising, Villa was assassinated
sumably on orders .from Obrei
The final, crippling blow to Villa was according to. Mark Russell in Mexi
the U.S. recognition of Carranza as Mex- Transition.
ico's leader. For years the U.S. had
Thirteen bullets were pumped in1
firmly ·stuck by Villa.
body on that July morning, and
"Villa answered by stopping a train at
great Pancho Villa was dead :
Santa Ysabel,Chihuahua, and shooting
had lived only 45 years.
A Special Publication of the Daily Collegian
LA-VOZ -de AZTLAN Monday
April 16, ,1979
· . _C omentarios-Up with .
the Shah!,- Support La· Voz
-Pcige 2
Noticias de La Raz·a ,
A.S. Elections
-Page 3
· Downtown .FresnoA Nice Place to Visit
-Pages ~,5
Pancho Villa, was he a hero or a bloodt~irsty bandit?
(Below) Downtown rresno springs back to life . .
La Mexicana y
-Su Vida Durante
La ReVolucion
-Page 6 P-a ncho Villa-. ·
Separating Fact froin
.. Fiction·.
· -Page 7 ·
Boulevard Nights
Kicks Up _More
· Controversy
· -Page 8
iiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiComentariOs---------iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiii~
ii.iiiiiPageiiiiiiiiii2
La Voz de Aztlan
needs your help
tinuing the newspapers . Naturally it is
important that supporters of La Voz,
Chicano and non-Chicano show up to
lend valuable moral support .
A good turnout could go a long way in
showing the council and the CSUF com-.
munity that there is plenty of support for
the minority publications .
,
We all know that the traditional media
has ignored our needs or exaggera~ed
our presence, in the past. And even now
there is not enough coverage of the
minority community or enough minorities working in the news profession.
Now is the time that we should
demand that the council and the A.S.
Senate give La Voz a positive endorsement so it can continue stronger in the
future .
No longer should we simply
request a continuance of the status quo
or ask that they "leave us alone for another year."
.
Once and for all, it is important that
we put out of business those people who
would destroy or weaken La Voz.
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
Just like the swallows returning to
Capistrano, another springtime ritual
will take place Wednesday(April 18) at
7 p .m . - the yearly challenge to the life of
La Voz de Aztlan.
No one quite knows when this tradition began, but most believe it started
around the time La Voz was born in 1969.
This publication has seen prosperous
and troubled times, all depending on the
prevailing political mood in Fresno .
Fortunately, so far this year we seem to
have had good luck.
But, just as constant as the fight by
many to keep the paper, have been challenges by those who think that LA Voz
has no right to exist.
So, on Wednesday night the CSUF
Media Council will hold a public hearing to discuss Uhuru and La Voz.
The meeting has been called to see if
there is enough interest to justify con-
Up with the Shah ·
"foreigners,·" is not only wrong, but it's
shameful. Even if intended to be a joke,
it's wrong .
Many minority students have forgotten the struggles that their older brothers endured to secure admittance and
financial aid for them.
Some have assimilated to the point of
hypocrisy. They accept the EOP grants
and financial aid, use their minority
status to gain special a_dmission, the~ ·
Although one would tend to believe
that this group is made-up of a few ultraconservative students, it isn't. In fact, a
few black students at CSUF are helping
in the Cf'mical pro-Shah movement.
It is ironic that the members of any
minority group should do this. Blacks,
Chicanos, and other minority groups
have made gains only by tearing down
the status quo and rebuilding it .
To mock a group, even if they are
abandon their ethnicity, their younger
brothers,their people.
It seems sad to me that any minority
group with special status would assimilate to the point of ridiculing another
minority group-"EVEN IF THEY ARE
JUST FOREIGNERS ."
Let's hope they come to their senses
and realize that they are just playing into ·
the hands of bigoted conservative faction
on this campus .
UFW-It's birth,
reason for existence
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an
excerpt from a commentary first published in the San Diego State Univ. news,------------------------------- ·
paper, The Daily Aztec in February. The
opinion piece, written by John W.
Wallace, traces the start of the UFW and
the importance of the survival of Cesar
Chavez' union.
LA VOZ WANTS YOU!
"The United Farm workers was formed
17 years ago, after being one of the most
ignored and exploited labor groups in
the nation. Farmworkers, in most cases
prior to the formation of the union
worked for wages that were ridiculous!;
low ;ind · in conditions that were in-
p;~-~
·
Peliculas-
1-------------------------------~
9r
too rare
~
II
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
MEAT EATER
Don't let the name of this movie fool
you. Meat Eater, which just finished a
run in Fresno is not as gross as it sounds
and isn't even a good horror film. It can
only rank as a poor comedy.
This low-budget film, featuring mostly
unknown performers, is about a derelict
who lives in a theater and seems to like
munching on live rats. He did this durnig
the first few minutes of the film.
Throughout the movie, meat was an excessively recurring theme.
Featured
was pot roast, weiners at all meals, and
they even sang the Oscar Meyer song.
The derelict kilJs four people in the
film. One he hangs, one he throws off
the roo,f, one he electrocutes, and finally
he throws a victim onto concreate while
he munches on popcorn. It all is not very
exciting, neither is Meat Eater.
JUST FRIENDS
Just Friends, a situation co
gives actress Stockard Channing
chance to play a role completely un
the character she played in the
movie, Grease. She gives an impress
performance in her new role.
Playing her new character, Chann
is caught in many difficult situati
In one recent scene she got caught ~
ing her sister's husband,but got
easily by explaining how drunk he
That scene was unrealistic as no w
would believe that flimsy excuse
real life.
Just Friends isn't a good comedv,
it's enjoyable to watch just to see
problems Channing gets into . In
series Channing's sister acts more Ii
casual friend than family and their
versation tends to be formal.
Don't expect too much orginality f
this show. It tends to imitate The
Tyler Moore Show and I Love Lucy .
then again what can you expect fr
television, innovation? ... not a chance
Just Friends can be seen on Ch.
Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
Demagog Reich
elected to city council
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
Something dramatic occurred a few
weeks ago here in Fresno. A demagog
was elected to the City Council. Joe
Reich, a local attorney, won election to
District 3 by.feeding on the emotions of
peopie who did not ltke or understand
Affirmative Action programs.
Despite the sad irony that a man was
elected by all Fresno voters, but is
suposed to represent a district dominated by blacks, maybe we have learned a
lesson.
Those who sought to have
elections citywide, but representing districts regret the change they brought.
Many have talked of instituting a law
suit. The lesson fits the old cliche "look
before you leap."
'
It's a shame that a man like Reich
dosen 't have the sense to see how he is
hurting people who want a chance in the
job market . Reich· ran on a platform of
hate toward minorities and his pitch · ap~~ale~ .~?just e'ntiug~_vot~rs. ~~e 'c,ity.
fn,
J
-
Just Friends
enjoyable
humane,to say the least.
"On Jan . ' 19 of this 'year·, ' Cesar
Chavez, founder of ' the _ut;w; ' led
.3/JOQ. ~E:f!l.b_e_rs , OU ~ ~ st~i~e ·:against
erghrd1ffererrt ·l~ttvce'growef's. i'welveReich has said that he wi II not rehu~dred other UFW ,:nembers s~owed
their support of the action by walking off present Dist. 3 or West Fresno. "I will
: their jobs for one day at six other farms . represent the city of Fresno, including
Continued on Pg. 3 west Fresno," he said.
r./ :a:~{~fud:~ :·
'
u
Review .
"Up with the Shah" - with that bold
delclaration, a small group of CSUF
students has launched a tongue-incheek campaign to annoy Iranian students. The group has apparently photocopied dozens of pro-Shah flyers and
posted them all over the campus.
The group contends that the Iranians
and other Middle East students who
march or set up tables in the Free
Speech area are bothersome and noisy.
We are planning to publish a speciaJ
edition of La Voz de Aztlan for the week
of Semana de La Raza, Cinco de Mayo.
We are asking you to contribute ideas
st~r~es,
features,
poetry,
creativ~
wr1hng, photography, and illustrations.
If you are interested -in h I • • t
would like , to turn . 0 e
OU _or leave a note in' 'the
office or in the Daily Colle .
ff
I
Final copy deadline wilr;:en a~~~~ on :
Friday April 20 1979
•
Meat Eater,
Las
Reich should not do this. · He shoc
realize that most citizens of Fresno a:
now served by their own area cou
men .
Those who now have sound repre
tation don't need another councilm
to serve them .
It's clear t~at Reich's interests
not the district's interest, where
population is 46 percent Mexica
American and 44 percent black .
La Voz de Aztlan is published by the
Associated Students at California State
University, Fresno and the newspaper
staff. Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the La Voz staff, and not necessarily the views of the Associated Students, CSUF or the State of California.
Editor ... Richard Aguirre
Photogi:aphy ... George Aguirre,Ricardo
Pimentel,Lupe Mora
·
• -Ait ... Albfuo Fi-ancO', Arturo Ocampo
.
Reporters ... Dora Lara,Margarita ·Mar- ·J•.',
•tmez;Octavio
Yescas:..· .. '
...
Contributors ... Felix Contreras : Elvia
Ruiz, Dianne Solis, Ricardo Pimentel,
Pedro Ramirez.
.
April 16, 1979
Page3
La Voz de Aztlan
MESSAGE FROM LA VOZ
GRADUATE PICNIC
A graduate picnic for 1979 CSUF
graduates and their families will be held
Sunday April 29 at Kearny Park. For
more information contact Manual Olguin
at 487-1053.
Wednesday night the CSUF Media
Council will hod a public meeting to
discuss UHURU and LA VOZ DE
AZTLAN. Everyone is invited.
The council will be seeking to find out
if there is enough interest in these ~ewspapers to continue their publication. The
meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the
College Union(third floor).
WOMEN AND STRIP SEARCHES
The American Civil Liberties Union
has filed suit for 50 Chicago women
asking that the U.S. District court restrict Chicago police from conducting
body strip searches of women accused of
minor offenses.
The class action suit was filed last
month after women complained that they
were subjected to humiliating body
searches by police after being accused of
only minor misdemeanors and traffic violations.
CHICANO GRADUATION
Wednesday is the application deadline
for the third annual Chicano Commencement at CSUF. The event, being organized by the Chicano Commencement
Committee of the Chicano Alumni
Association, is set for Sunday, May 20
atthe Fresno District Fairgrounds.
Applications can be picked up at
Tutorial Services, the La Raza Studies
office and the EOP office. For more
information call 487-1053.
EOP TALE NT SHOW
The long-awaited EOP Talent Show
will be held Thursday night from 7-10
p.m. in the new Residence Dining Hall.
Emcees for the event will be Darbie
Ford and Manuel Nunez.
Everyone is invited. For more information contact Tony Garduque or Linda
Hernandez in the EOP off ice(J oyalroom 238) or call 487-1021. .
VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON
The Volunteer Bureau of Fresno
will sponsor its 11th annual Volunteer
of the Year Luncheon, Tuesday April 24
at the Holiday Inn. For reservations and
more information, call 237-3101.
I
The April meeting of the Association
of Chicanos in Human Services will be
held tommorrow night at 7 p.m. in the
College Union, room 309.
The focus of the meeting will be on
the International Year of the Child, and
will feature a talk by Alex Saragoza of
the La Raza Studies program.
The Association began last May and
serves two purposes: 1) to establish a
network of Chicanos working in human
services; and 2) to ensure equity in the
provision of social services to the
Chicano community.
Involvement or interest in human
services is the only requirement for
membership.
The suit asks $125,000 in damages for
each woman and that in the future,
warrants would be required for any
search. The suit also asks th?t any
searches required would have to be conducted by a doctor. The ACLU estimates that up to 10,000 women may have
been searched after minor violations in
Chicago alone.
In Houston, Trish Herrera, 25, has
also filed a lawsuit against police,saying
that she was strip searched by Houston
authorities after a minor traffic violation. That charge was later dropped.
Civil
Libertarians
concede
that
searches are justified if a suspect is to be
held in jail, but contend that searches
after minor offenses are inappropriate.
Ditora elected president
Slate sweeps election
UFW Comenta.rio
Continued from Pg. 2
"Chavez and the UFW are striking _for
higher wages, demanding a part of the
vast prof its the lettuce growers are
earning from their labor.
Mexican
farmworkers have shown their support
of the strike by refusing to cross the
picket lines to replace the striking union
members.
"As a result, growers have recruited
high school students and housewives to
help in the harvest by playing up to their
anti-union sentiments. The image of the
UFW, as well as other unions, has never
been a popular one .
"Strikes hurt consumers as well as
growers, causing anger among the
populace . People resent the feeling of
helplessness that accompanies skyrocketing prices resulting from strikes.
Hence, popular opinion most often sides
with the growers.
"Wben violence broke out in the fields
on Feb . 5, the growers immediately
blamed the strikers . With this strategy,
and the help of a newly-hired public
relations firm, th~ ~rowers hope to -gain ·
public sentimet1t.
.
. "However, the strikers had nothing to
gain through violence; only the growers
stood to profit.
"Farmworkers, as well as any other
labor group, have the right to a decent
wage, and the right to strike for it .
CHICANOS IN HUMAN SERVICES
Growers see this dispute as a chance to
destroy the union, break its hold, and
take away its power. But, if the union
dies, the rights of farmworkers dies with
it, and once again, the era of exploitation
returns.
UFWUPDATE
As the UFW strike enters its 13th
week, its scope has broadened and it has
received a boost from the Agricultural
Labor Relations Board.
Last Monday, UFW president Cesar
Chavez left for New York to· gain financial support from East Coast liberals .
On April 7, the ARLB backed up
Chavez' claim that growers were refusing to bargain in good faith and had
hired professional strikebreakers. The
Board issued those charges against Sun
Harvest Growers and said that the firm
"has a duty to bargain at this point in
time."
·
··
. The ARLB also c¼~ged-that: ~~n ·H,a,rvest had "knowingly hired professional
strikebreakers." While a company is
permitted to hire "replacement workers"
it cannot hire paid strikebreakers, who
~re hired again and again over a period
of time at struck farms.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are
highlights and results of the Associated
Students(AS) elections held April 3-5.
Story and results courtesy of the Daily
Collegian.
* Alan Kasparian (PLUS)
998
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #3
*Linda Levy (PLUS)
1,020
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #4
* Sue Stoffels (PLUS)
993
CU BOARD, MEMBER AT LARGE #2
By STEVE SCHMIDT .
* Ronald Ramirez (PLUS)
831
Daily Collegian Staff Reporter
Tom Gaxiola
293
SENATORS:
Positive Leadership for University StuSCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE & HOME
dents (PLUS) · candidate David Ditora
ECONOMICS
handily defeated his indeoendent oppo* William D. Murphy, Jr. (PLUS)
231
-nent, John Osborne, in the
As- Others
21
sociated Students (AS) election.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
The PLUS slate swept all 19 of the of*S .H . Ottemoeller
58
f ices its members ran for--one less than DIVISION OF HEAL TH PROFESSIONS
the total number of offices up for elec- * Naomi Coyle (PLUS)
78
tion in a contest plagued by low voter SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
turnout and few contested seats .
* Kerry Watkins (PLUS)
9
Independent S.H . Ottemoeller was
Emma Bovary
3
the only non-PLUS candidate elected. He
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
was elected Senator, School of EngiKristen M . Eyssell (PLUS)
67
neering .
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
*Linda Ayer (PLUS)
143
PRESIDENT
Reggie Rush
50
* Dave Ditora (PLUS)
914
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
John Osborne (Ind.)
287
56
Jerry Hinkle (PLUS)
LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL.Wf:LFARE ·. ·
*Janet Sale (PLUS)
788
37
* Tjlford Denver (PLUS)
L~is Sepulveqa (~&S)
.
. -. 451
. GRADUATE STUDIE~
C9,LLEGE l.JNION ,Yl~E P,RESll:)~Nl
7
*Mike Emmert (PLUS)
* Jefferey 8. Watson (PLUS)
1,063
1
Kermit
the
Frog
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #1
UNDECLARED MAJORS
* Patricia Oliveira (PLUS)
722
12
*Dave Leathers (PLUS)
Mark Scott (S&S)
457
9
Ken Villa
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #2
*
.*
·la Voz de Aztlan
Page 4 - , · •
April 16, 1
Photos by Lupe Mora
BRIX 8Ull.DiNG
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April 16, 1979
la Voz de Aztlan
Page ·s
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,
Downtown Mall
returning .to life
By LUPE MORA
La Voz P~otographer
Downtown Fresno's Fulton Mall is a
place where anyone can afford to shop.
It's a place where the old meets with the
new in a fine cultural setting.
It's a place where the insides of
buildings are remodeled but, the outsides are left alone to give the mall a
very traditional look. It's a pleasing
pla~e to be for shoppers of any social
status.
It's also a place where one can find a
very artistic environment.
In general, it's a place where one can
not only shop, but socialize as well.
.;
- . ·.r~-; (ur-OEMRMNJ"cjCOJNan
-C;v:~: ," •- - elJ,:·f ummlc~.MniisWioo
.
. .
.
La Voz de Aztlan
Page6
La Mexicana y Su Vida
Hardships endured, status gained
Mexican Revolution
By DORA LARA
La Voz Writer
In Mexico's Revolution of 1910,men
were not the only participants. Women
also played a significant role. In this as
in other phases of Mexican history, women are often overlooked.
However, during these crucial years
{1910-1917), women fulfilled important
roles as social workers, financiers, journalists, troop followers and of course as
members of the army troops.
The violent phase of the Mexican Revolution broke out in 1913 and was
fought to prove that Mexico belonged to
the Mexican people and not to the major
foreign powers. It was also fought to
bring power to the common man, give
the land back to those who farmed it, and
bring societal benefits to those who
worked for them.
When men began to join the armies
and go off to war, women were left alone
and unprotected. With no other choice
many were forced to follow. According
to James W. Wilkie in Revolution in
Mexico: Years o_f Upheaval, 1910-1940,
the sight of a woman among the army
troops was not an uncommon one:
"The Mexican soldier of the Revolution traditionally traveled with his soldadera, the "soldieress" who loaded his
rifle, cooked for him, and often carried
her latest baby slung in the rebozo on
her back. The soldera served as more
than a moderJ> commissary, she provided the comfort, the companionship
that kept the soldier on the move for
many terrible years."
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
The Supreme Court is now mulling
over what could be the most significant challenge to Affirmative Action
programs ever. Last June, the high
'rt struck down numerical racial
4 uotas in education and ruled that Allen
Bakke,who is white, must be admitted to
the U .C. Davis medical school.
However, even as the 'c ourt ruled that
Bakke had been illegally discriminated
against, Justices upheld the Affirmative
Action concept and said that race could
be used as one of the factors when sett ing school admission policy .
The Kaiser Aluminum vs . Brian F .
Weber case involves the more farreaching issue of racial preference in
employment .
Weber's suit charges that an Affirm~tive Action_plan, instituted by Kaiser
and the United Steelworkers Union in
Gramercy, La ., "discriminates" against
~~ite~ because positions in an apprent1cesh1p program were reserved for nonwhites and women .
,
,
The court's decision on,the e1:ase could
decide the future_• of volunt·a ry AfHrmative Action employment programs in thts
country.
The court recently heard arguments in
the "reverse discrimination" case and
should render a decision by June.
Women in Mexico were at last given a
chance to prove their worth and abilities,
and some did so by service in the armies.
The work of women was real and hard
during these years, according to Phillip
Russell in "Mexico in Transition:"
"In that struggle there were women
officers in the Constitutionalist army and
many women took a direct part in combat, especially in the Red Battalions of
workers. Also, there was an entire combat unit of women in the Zapatista army
under the command of an ex-tortilla
maker named La China."
Other women who gained fame as
soldiers and later became officers were:
Petra Ruiz, Echa Bala, Encarcion Mares
de Panuca, Sra Carmen Parra Viuda de
Alaniz, and Dona Juana Torres. Each
gained recognition for bravery and skill.
Besides exhibiting their talents on the
battlefield, many women joined the
press corps to spread the message of the
Revolution. Juana Belen Gutierrez de
Mendoza, a famous liberal journalist
fanned the fire of Revolutionary ideals
through journals and newspapers, and
was later imprisoned because of this.
Many women suffered such personal
tragedy, yet they continued the fight.
Carmen Serdan, sister of Aquiles
(the first martyr of the Revolution) and
his widow, Dona Filomena del Valle de
Serdan were -among those who helped
organize and collect munitions for rebel
forces. Both later spent time in jail.
Jail terms were not the only negative
aspects that women had to suffer
through during the Revolution. It was
very difficult for soldaderas to maintain a
stable family life. And some women
were pressed into service against their
will.
Some women were forced to join the
armies by order of dictator-general
Victoriano Huerta. According to the
book, "Profile of the Mexician-American
Woman," on one occasion Huerta had
300 women from Morelos sent south to
Quintana Roo.
There,in the hostile frontier, Huerta
hoped to establish a colony with exiled
men who were stationed there. But,
when the plan failed to work properly,
the women were brought back northward
and left at Veracruz with the new children they had bore in Quintana Roo.
But, despite the sacrifices and hardships there were a few positive things
that women gained from the war. Many
were able to work as clerks, secretaries,
smugglers, and telegraph workers. Women were able to travel, learn diverse
Weber case may have wider
impact than Bakke
were · only five blacks among . the 273
This case dates back to 1974 when the
skilled workers. To correct this, fifty
United Steelworkers of America(USWA)
percent of opennings in craft-training
voluntarily began a national program to
ease the effects of past racial discrimi- . programs were reserved for blacks.
Selection to the program was based on
nation in industry .
plant seniority. For the 13 positions,
The program ' s goal was to provide the
created at the plant, seven blacks and six
opportunity for minority workers, mostly
whites were hired.
in the steel , aluminum, and can indusBrian Weber,32, applied for and was
t ries, to f ill vacancies in craft-training
denied a slot. He brought a class-action
programs through Affirmative Action.
lawsuit against his union· and the plant in
This would continue until the underhis behalf and for other white workers.
representation of minorities in these
He charged that blacks with less seniorindustries was alleviated.
ity at the plant had been hired over him,
The Weber case came about after a job
and that the program discriminated
dispute in Kaiser's Louisiana plant. A
against non-minority members of the
factory-training program was installed to
workforce.
bring more blacks into skilled jobs and
Weber won in the U.S . District Court
bring parity to the firm equal to that of
and that decision was uw,eld by _the
th~ community that was . 39 p_
ercent
Fifth District Court of Appeals.
black. , .
.
•
. · .
A ruling for Weber could set a preAt Kaiser' S- .Qramerc;:y plant, there- cedent which could seriously threaten
The union •lawyer s~id that Congress
other existing Affirmative Action , E>ro- ,,
intended only to outlaw the previous
grams. A ruling for the company could
discrimination when it wrote and passeq
strengthen the concept that these prothe law. If Weber wins, Kaiser attorgrams are justly designed to compensate
neys say Affirmative Action programs
for past discrimination against minorcould end.
ities.
•
subjects,and gain
about Mexico.
Many of these things would not ha\.
been possible if not for the Revolution
As the authors in "Profiles"say:
"During the 1910 Revolution, Mexicar
men became united in new relationships
Mexican women. For the first time 1n
Mexican history, women developed po,
tentials on a large scale beside the m
and won recognition as companions
mates ,and partners."
The turbulence of the strife-filleo
years led to a changing of the roles tra·
ditionally assigned to women. In the
long run, women gained the courage to
stand up for themselves. Now that the
destructive Revolution was over, they
would begin the fight for their own civil
rights.
Boulevard Nights
bum rap
From Page8
photographs, yes. Boulevard Nights
1s the story ot two brothers, ex-cholo
Raymond's
assimilated
girlfriend
Shady and the violence between two
gangs that ends in the deaths of Chuco
and his mother.
·
It is significant that there is no Chiccano-Anglo hostility in the movie . To
a certain extent, that holstility in real life
has been the excuse the Chicano has
used for not "making it." ·
Raymond Is decision about what he
wants out of life is not directly affected
by the Anglo. It is he who wants the
boulevard scene and the car customizing
1vu . n 1s ne wno preters taco stands to
restaurants.
Like a lot of people, he is scared
about "what's out there." The barrio
becomes like a womb. Safe. He knows it
just like he knows .gang
life.'
His dilemma is the Chicano's present
state of mind.
Ravmond was fl lot like the Chicanos
who know object to Boulevard Nights.
He was a guy too myoptic to share the
greater visions of what ca·n be.
That is what this movie is all about-the smallness of people's minds .
,~age 7
La Voz de Aztlan
Mexico's Francisco Villa-Revolutionary Patriot or Murderer?
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
EDITOR 's NOTE: This is the second in a
series of profiles of great Mexican h!storical figures or events. Accompanymg
this look at the life of Doroteo Ara· ngo
(better known as Pancho Villa) is a discussion . on this man by Dr. Jose Canales
of the history department and Dr. Jesus
Luna of La Raza Studies.
Pancho Villa. The name conjures up visions of huge cavalry units sweeping across vast,hot desert.
·
One thinks of revolutionists,guerrilla
warriors,ammunition belts strapped across bodies. The imagination runs wild
in thoughts of guns,horses,sweat,
swearing ,money, women ,booze ,and cantinas and stirring corridos. Pancho
Villa was all of that,and more.
The man who was born Doroteo
Arango and didn't drink,smoke or swear
has become the stereotype of the common bandido. But, he was no common
man.
He became a legend in his own time ·
and even today his name is capable of
evoking violent emotions. He has been
hailed and cursed as a great patriot
and bloodthirsty. anglo-lover.
Last Year, Villa was elevated to the
status of national hero and postal stamps
were issued in his honor. The action
touched off cheers and protests among
his countryman.
The following is an attempt to trace
the career of Francisco Villa and get a
clearer picture of who he was, and why
such division about his contributions
is possible.
Early Life
Doroteo Arango was born on June 5,
1878 in Durango, Mexico. He was the
first of five children and was the son of
Agustin Arango and Michaela Aranbula.
He was said to have weighed 12 pounds
at birth.
His father died when he was still
young and he had to work at an early age
on a ranch in order to support the family.
Most accounts say that the young
Arango became an outlaw after one of
his sisters was raped by a ranch foreman
or hacendado. Villa shot the attacker,
escaped to join a gang of outlaws and
changed his name to Pancho Villa. ·
"Bandits were his childhoog heroes as
they were for most of the long-suffering
poor of Mexico," according to William
Weber Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
"Bandits were the only ones strong enough and daring enough to fight against
an oppressive system."
While in the gang, Villa learned cattlerustling and became a skilled marksman
and horseman.
Physical Description
"In 1910 at the age of 32 he was a big
(six feet,200 pounds) man, indescribably
graceful on a spirited horse-he came to
be called the Centaur of the North,"
according to Johnson. However, on the
ground Villa looked awkward, "walking
with the pigeon-toed gai~ of a h?rseman,
his arms thrust outward by· the . great
thickness of _the <;:~e~!- "_ , '. ·. . ,., ·~- ,·
Johnson said VilJa~s ~a(r:\Ya~ ,r~pp~h-__.
brown and almost kinky. · His thick
moustache was over a usually open
mouth and his teeth were strong and
stained brown.
liberty unless he was bad," said Reed.
"The Federal officers also he killed;
because, he explained, they were educated men and ought to know better,"
said Reed . "But, the Federal common
soldiers he set at liberty because most of
them were conscripts, and thought they
were
fighting
for
the
Patria ."
The killing of prisoners was a common
practice of the day , and Villa saw no
reason to buck the trend.
In The Eagle and Serpent, Martin
luis Guzman says that Villa once allowed his bloodthirsty aide, Rodolfo Fierro
to shoot down 200 captured Federales
in a corral. Fierro,who killed for the fun
of it,finished the grisly task,although he
complained of a cramp in his trigger
finger and that his pistols got very hot.
But,Villa tolerated Fierro . "He was
Villa's best friend;and Villa loved him
like a son and always protected him,"
according to Reed in Insurgent Mexico.
Race for Mexico
"But, the feature most people remembered was his eyes," said Johnson.
"They were prominent,light brown and
friendly; howeyer in an instant of temper
they could change."
"He was a natural storyteller and loveed to tell tales about himself, his voice
high pitched, his pronuciation slurred
and careless,his language full of sharp
images(and strangely · 1acking in both
profanity and obscenity)," according to
Johnson.
Joins Revolution
Villa stayed around Chihuahua until
the outbreak of Fransico Madero' s revolt against the 30-year rule of Porfirio
Diaz. Villa was a quick convert to the
cause and respected and feared the gentle and innocent Madero .
With his army of the north, Villa helped Madero gain the presidency. When
Madero was overthrown and later assasinated by the men of "the Usuper,"
Victoriano Huerta, Villa became ruthless. He vowed he would avenge Madero' s murder and topple Huerta.
According to Phillip Russell in Mexico
in Transition, Villa quickly built up a
strong following among peasants ,sharecroppers ,muleskinners ,and peddlers .. all
from the newly-developed and mobile
north.
Military Cunning
Late in 1913, Villa's Division del Norte
was the strike force of the revolution.
"Typical of his style was his taking of
Ciudad Juarez by capturing one of Huerta's troop trains," telegraphing ahead
that he was an advan<i:ing loyal g·eneral•,
then eas.ily capt~r:irig 'the· tity;a:c·c ording-·to Russel-t.t'
'• .·.·:. •;~. ·,:"
: ·,·. :.·_
·
By March, 1914 all of Chihuahua was
Vi Ila's and after confiscating property
of the richest familes there, he began the
distribution of land among the peasants.
While state governor, Villa provided
free food and supplies to the , poor,
banned the sale of liquor,ordered construction of 40 schools,keep control of
prices so food would be afordable, and
even organized daily band concerts.
Mexican Napoleon
But, it was on the battlefield that Villa
gained his greatest fame. He was a self
taught military genius with an incredible
memory. He is considered by many the
greatest general Mexico has ever bad.
Villa's method of fighting was like
Napoleon's, according to John Reed in
Insurgent Mexico. "Secrecy,quickness of
movement,adaption of his plans to the
character of the country and his soldiers" were Villa's traits . He gained the
respect and love of the rank and file and
was able to build a myth that he led a
charmed life and that his army was invincible.
"Villa made his reputation as a leader
of furious cavalry charges and critics
s,aid that was all that he could do. But,
while cavalry charges fitted his stormy
character, Villa was capable of more
sophisticated warfare," according to
Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
Villa also pioneed the use of modern
methods of logistics. He carried supply
trains for his troops and had the only
effective field hospital(40 boxcars) to
care for his enemies as well as his men.
Cruel Killer
But, Villa also gained infamy for
how he fought. Killing and looting
were standard practices in his army
(as well as in his oppon~nt' armi~s) and
p'd soner~ We're always' ~hot. . .
· "'Tl-ie Colorados(Pa'stual Orozco' s
men) he executed whenever he captured
them; because he said they were peons
like the revolutionists and that no peon
would volunteer against the cause of
I
'
'.
:
After Villa had toppled Huerta, there
was a great race among the revolutionary factions, led by charasmatic
leaders, to sieze Mexico City. Everyone knew that whoever controlled the
capital controlled the country. This was
a time whert:· chieftans ruled and ideology meant little.
During thi_s mad rush, a serious rift
developed between Villa and the commander of the Constitutionalist forces,
the "First Chief," Venustiano Carranza.
Villa disliked and distrusted the stately
Sonoran and considered him to be little
more than a "pantywaist."
Fortunately for Carranza, a most
skilled and able general, Alvaro Obregon
of Sonora sided with him . "This was to
be a most fateful decision in the history
of the R~volution, for Obregon proved to
be Mexico's greatest military commander," according to Robert Quirk in
his book, Mexico.
Obregon joined Carranza because he
had little confidence in Villa's violent
and unpredictable nature .
Unsatiable Sexual Apetite
Villa was unpredictable and a man of
extremes, but one thing never varied-his love of women . He didn't indulge in
tobacco or alcohol , but tried to make up
for that fact with his womanizing.
"If a woman wanted to be marriedand he preferred such women - he married her, conveniently forgetting his
other marriages,"according to Johnson
in Heroic Mexico.
"He claimed he had lost count of the
women he loved, after counting up to 75,
and no one knows how many marriages
· there were," said Johnson .
"Sometimes they(marraiges) came so close together that a wife would find herself
force'd to serve breakfast in bed to Villa
and a more recent wife ."
Beginning of the End
With the split between Villa and the
Constitutionalists widened in late 1914,
the Revolution entered its most · destructive and violent ~hase .
· ··- ·
: Vill~ briefly helcl the-<!:apital· and• with
Emiliano Zapata, -of ·Morelos, · controlled
more than 60,000 men. But, their uneasy alliance dissolved because both
See Page 8
--------- ·-o··
age8
---r. •••--..,,._.,-_,_.._
la Voz de Aztlaz
April_
El Concilio
issues warning
Chicano Journalist
defends movie
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was
published as part -of a Boulevard Nights
advertisement on April 6, 1979. It was
written by Tony Castro of the -i..os
Ange!es Herald Examiner.
!ii/~/i/;!!i///i(Y no:~~Ta~:!redN~Tt,if,~e Elf
....··
de Fresno Newsletter.
..
FLASHff!
The film Boulevard Nights ha
grossed several miJlions of doll
its release. The film is now in Fr
"Boulevard Nights has been aettina a
bum rap."
·
l by the long fines outside the the
can be sure that our commu
The way it's getting dumped on,
spend several thousands of
you'd _think it was ... well, a Chicano or
perpetuating this rascist and
something. It has been getting the
It ·it wereany of these, the Chicano
typing gang warfare film whic
second-class .treatment. . The movie
Brilliant. Powerful. Honest in its savage
middle class would love it. The Chicanos
types Chicanos as inferior bei
needs a Civil Rights Commission investirealism. It is more than just a film about
wouldn't feel thre.atened about their
knowing how to control or w
gation. Or just help from Affirmative
gangs
or
a
commentary
on
the
hopelessown
identity,·
their
lifestylesand
-what
their
own people.
Action.
ness of their violence. Boulevard Nights
they perceive reality to be. As it ·is,
East Los Arigeies useo to oe
What incensed Chicanos are doing in
is a valuable contribution to our underBoulevard Nights is making a lot of
area of Los Angeles not exploite
blasting Boulevard Nights is no different
standing of our time.
·
Chicanos wince with embarrassment,
film industries, but now with B
than what those very same people claim
Were this a book, it might qualify
the way people do at old photographs
Nights in the money, other fit
has been done to the Chicano in
they'd like . to forget or destroy.
panies w~II probably exploit t
America. The bum rap. In a sense, it is - as the Great American Novel .. It is that
kind of a story. Heavy. It is not bestSo naturally the outcry. The moaning
as well.
the Chicanos with the night stick~ · the
selling pablum. NQ.t an Irving Wallace
that the image is negative and that
El Concilio de Fresno an
way they' re brutalyzing the film . .
novel
or
a
Clint
Eastwood
flick.
It
is
not
·
Chicanos
again
are
being
cast
in
an
unChicano
organizations have
It's a shame. And sad . Because
even Rotary Club boosterism theater like
flattering light-. The embarrassing
stand on this issue. El Conci
Boulevard Nights is one helluva movie.
"Zoot Suit."
send ·a position paper 'to Warn
-~---__;_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____;__~---,---'------------'-----'---'----------See--P-a_g_e_6_-_ · in regards· to Boulevard Nights
effect on the Chicano com
If you or your children decide
the film, we urge you to keep
' mind, and remember that this
fiction and it's stereotyping our
.Pancho Villa-Hero or Heel ?
DR. LUNA
Dr. · Luna believes that the recognition recently given Pancho Villa is
long overdue. He said that Villa's
accomplishments were ignored because
he fought the men who later won the
Revolution in Mexico. A Notorious Lover- Although he ·
could on occasion be very crude, VUla
was avery charismatic man who was able
to whip up armies of tens of thousands,
said Dr. Luna . Villa was also capable
of great rove .
"Villa is renowned for his love of women, said Dr. Luna. When he swept into
town,·"people ttkf to hide their daughters." "He had five wives that we know
of," Dr. Luna said.
Zapata vs. Villa-Dr. Luna believes
that a myth has been built arounq
Emiliano Zapata blowing his accomplishments out of proportion . "I think that too
many people glorify Zapata." "I- still see
Villa as perhaps a greater hero than Zapata.~'
Zapata ruled in his home state and
only employed guerrilla warfare, while
Villa weilded national influence and
launched huge military campaigns,
said Dr.· Luna .
. Dr. Luna said that Zapata has .probably gained greater _adulation among
Chicanos because he fought for the campesi no, and for the easily . identifyable goals of land and liberty.
Why · Villa Foughf- "Villa was not
really an educated man ... some believe
he fought just for the sake of fighting," said Dr. Luna.
·
·
"Perhaps it stems from his childhood .. . " When his sister was raped
by a · hacendado he became a bandit,
said Dr. Luna.
But, after Huerta
was ousted, Dr. Luna said that it became
a matter of "personal isms·."
Villa
had no clear philosophy and fought men
not ideas.
'
Villa's Legacy - "Those who love
Villa, , loved him and continue to love
hi m to this day ... those who hated him
no matter what you tell them about Villa'
continue to hate him," said Dr. Luna. '
Villa to Dr. Luna- "I like the man : In
many respects I like this type of folk
person who comes from a rural background to fight injustices he sees,"
said Dr. Luna. ·" What I don't like was in
many instances he was many times the
jury ,judge ,and executioner."
"In my family's past they regard Villa
very highty,but my wife's family
doesn't, "said Dr. Luna. "They think
'that Villa was-the most horribre creature
·that ever existed.,,
DR ..CANALES
· "I think it is a mistake on the part of
the Mexican government,," to give honors to Pancho Villa, said Dr. Canales.
"lt(government) is overlooking the fact
that Villa killed more Mexicans than any
Mexican that comes to my mind."
Attila the Hun- In the battle of Torreon alone, Dr. Canales said that Villa
executed more than 2,(X)() prisoners. "I ·
don't think that he was a hero to be held
as ~ symbol," for the nation. "He was
"Attita the Hon" in a sombrero."
Dr. Canales said that Villa was the key
man in the triumph of Madero and in the
overthrow of Huerta . . He ·was also "a
military genius of the first order."
Non-smoker,
non-drinker- "Vi Ila
didn't smoke or drink, but h~ made up .
for it in • sex," said Dr. -Canales . . He
also abstained from the two .former vices
as they "would ruin his aim. He was an
incredible shot."
. Villa had other virtues besides not
smoking or drinking, according to Dr.
,Canales. "He's the guy who introduced ·
mechanized agritulture to Mexico," by
importing the · best machinery for his
hacienda .
Villa was a very intelligent man who, in just a few months
in prison, learned how to read and
. write.
·
No · Political Philosophy- "I don 't
think that Pancho Villa had a national
vision," said Dr . .Canales. "He had no
poJ itical philosophy ... he reacted from
personal experience." ; . .
.
Directly contrasting Villa• was Emiliano Zapata from the southern state of
Morelos. Dr. ·Canales said that Zapata,
like Vifla had no. national vision,but
he_was still a great man.
"He was a man who fought the Revolution for principle. He fought for nothing for himself," said Dr. · Canales.
"Pancho Villa fought for loot and women."
Villa vs. Zapata - Even though they were
both great leaders, Dr. Canales said that
Zapata and Villa only agreed on one
thing-their hatred of Venustiano Car-
ranza.
"Villa couldn't und
Zapata's desire for land," becaus
north, land was plentiful and t
more independent.
Canales on Villa-"I think
a revolutionist who was a ba
heart," said Dr. Canales. "I see
a man of -great virtues and
faults."
Dr.
Mexico's Francisco Villa
· Frompage7
men fought for different reasons ... Zapata fought for "land and liberty," while
Villa usually fought for vengeance and
war booty.
The failure of both to act decisively,
when they had the chance, allowed
Carranza to re-group his force and·
attack . By early 1915, Obregon was winning back the core of Mexico and. isolating Zapata and Villa in the south and
north, respectiv~ly.
Villa 's Disaster
16 American ·engineers," accordi r
Lesly Bird Simpson in his book,I
Mexicos.
"In March, 1916, he led a ratd-int~
Mexico and massacred 19 peop
Columbus, "said Simpson . Most ~
that Villa did this to punish Pres.
son for recognizing his rival, and ti
barrass Carranza who claimed he ~
complete control of Mexico.
The U.S. responded tQ the actic
_sending in Gen. John "Black
Pershing to the border. to prevent
from re-entering the U.S. Per
In April, 191~, the bloodiest _battles to succeeded in this as Villa did not
wrack the continent since the American back. ·
However,Pershing's "Punitive
Civi~ War began near Celaya, Mexico.
Obregon-, cool-headed and employing pedition" into Mexico .after the Me
the most modern military tactics goaded bandit failed and the general be£am
Villa into useless conflict. In a series of butt" of many Mexican jokes . "Pc
. battles near Celaya, Villa was pushed · Villa instantly became the popula1
northward with continual harrassment of the country, and racy ballads ric
ing the gringos were joyfully sur
by Obregon;
·
Villa's fine cavalry suffered severe every tavern," according.to SimpS0i
losses to Obregon's new machine guns.
The modern trench warfare tactics emDeath
ployed by Obregon also · bedeviled
In 1920, Viila was pardoned.by in
·Villa. Total casualties for the Battles of president Adolfo de la Huerta, ar,
Cel~ya have been estimated at 10,(X)()- set out to become a legitimate ranch
nearly one-fourth of Villa's forces.
"However, in 1923 after boasti1
Villa's Division· del Norte had been · his ability to muster a large force in
~ecimated.
port of the impending anti-Obrego1
Raid on Columbus
rising, Villa was assassinated
sumably on orders .from Obrei
The final, crippling blow to Villa was according to. Mark Russell in Mexi
the U.S. recognition of Carranza as Mex- Transition.
ico's leader. For years the U.S. had
Thirteen bullets were pumped in1
firmly ·stuck by Villa.
body on that July morning, and
"Villa answered by stopping a train at
great Pancho Villa was dead :
Santa Ysabel,Chihuahua, and shooting
had lived only 45 years.
LA-VOZ -de AZTLAN Monday
April 16, ,1979
· . _C omentarios-Up with .
the Shah!,- Support La· Voz
-Pcige 2
Noticias de La Raz·a ,
A.S. Elections
-Page 3
· Downtown .FresnoA Nice Place to Visit
-Pages ~,5
Pancho Villa, was he a hero or a bloodt~irsty bandit?
(Below) Downtown rresno springs back to life . .
La Mexicana y
-Su Vida Durante
La ReVolucion
-Page 6 P-a ncho Villa-. ·
Separating Fact froin
.. Fiction·.
· -Page 7 ·
Boulevard Nights
Kicks Up _More
· Controversy
· -Page 8
iiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiComentariOs---------iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiii~
ii.iiiiiPageiiiiiiiiii2
La Voz de Aztlan
needs your help
tinuing the newspapers . Naturally it is
important that supporters of La Voz,
Chicano and non-Chicano show up to
lend valuable moral support .
A good turnout could go a long way in
showing the council and the CSUF com-.
munity that there is plenty of support for
the minority publications .
,
We all know that the traditional media
has ignored our needs or exaggera~ed
our presence, in the past. And even now
there is not enough coverage of the
minority community or enough minorities working in the news profession.
Now is the time that we should
demand that the council and the A.S.
Senate give La Voz a positive endorsement so it can continue stronger in the
future .
No longer should we simply
request a continuance of the status quo
or ask that they "leave us alone for another year."
.
Once and for all, it is important that
we put out of business those people who
would destroy or weaken La Voz.
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
Just like the swallows returning to
Capistrano, another springtime ritual
will take place Wednesday(April 18) at
7 p .m . - the yearly challenge to the life of
La Voz de Aztlan.
No one quite knows when this tradition began, but most believe it started
around the time La Voz was born in 1969.
This publication has seen prosperous
and troubled times, all depending on the
prevailing political mood in Fresno .
Fortunately, so far this year we seem to
have had good luck.
But, just as constant as the fight by
many to keep the paper, have been challenges by those who think that LA Voz
has no right to exist.
So, on Wednesday night the CSUF
Media Council will hold a public hearing to discuss Uhuru and La Voz.
The meeting has been called to see if
there is enough interest to justify con-
Up with the Shah ·
"foreigners,·" is not only wrong, but it's
shameful. Even if intended to be a joke,
it's wrong .
Many minority students have forgotten the struggles that their older brothers endured to secure admittance and
financial aid for them.
Some have assimilated to the point of
hypocrisy. They accept the EOP grants
and financial aid, use their minority
status to gain special a_dmission, the~ ·
Although one would tend to believe
that this group is made-up of a few ultraconservative students, it isn't. In fact, a
few black students at CSUF are helping
in the Cf'mical pro-Shah movement.
It is ironic that the members of any
minority group should do this. Blacks,
Chicanos, and other minority groups
have made gains only by tearing down
the status quo and rebuilding it .
To mock a group, even if they are
abandon their ethnicity, their younger
brothers,their people.
It seems sad to me that any minority
group with special status would assimilate to the point of ridiculing another
minority group-"EVEN IF THEY ARE
JUST FOREIGNERS ."
Let's hope they come to their senses
and realize that they are just playing into ·
the hands of bigoted conservative faction
on this campus .
UFW-It's birth,
reason for existence
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an
excerpt from a commentary first published in the San Diego State Univ. news,------------------------------- ·
paper, The Daily Aztec in February. The
opinion piece, written by John W.
Wallace, traces the start of the UFW and
the importance of the survival of Cesar
Chavez' union.
LA VOZ WANTS YOU!
"The United Farm workers was formed
17 years ago, after being one of the most
ignored and exploited labor groups in
the nation. Farmworkers, in most cases
prior to the formation of the union
worked for wages that were ridiculous!;
low ;ind · in conditions that were in-
p;~-~
·
Peliculas-
1-------------------------------~
9r
too rare
~
II
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
MEAT EATER
Don't let the name of this movie fool
you. Meat Eater, which just finished a
run in Fresno is not as gross as it sounds
and isn't even a good horror film. It can
only rank as a poor comedy.
This low-budget film, featuring mostly
unknown performers, is about a derelict
who lives in a theater and seems to like
munching on live rats. He did this durnig
the first few minutes of the film.
Throughout the movie, meat was an excessively recurring theme.
Featured
was pot roast, weiners at all meals, and
they even sang the Oscar Meyer song.
The derelict kilJs four people in the
film. One he hangs, one he throws off
the roo,f, one he electrocutes, and finally
he throws a victim onto concreate while
he munches on popcorn. It all is not very
exciting, neither is Meat Eater.
JUST FRIENDS
Just Friends, a situation co
gives actress Stockard Channing
chance to play a role completely un
the character she played in the
movie, Grease. She gives an impress
performance in her new role.
Playing her new character, Chann
is caught in many difficult situati
In one recent scene she got caught ~
ing her sister's husband,but got
easily by explaining how drunk he
That scene was unrealistic as no w
would believe that flimsy excuse
real life.
Just Friends isn't a good comedv,
it's enjoyable to watch just to see
problems Channing gets into . In
series Channing's sister acts more Ii
casual friend than family and their
versation tends to be formal.
Don't expect too much orginality f
this show. It tends to imitate The
Tyler Moore Show and I Love Lucy .
then again what can you expect fr
television, innovation? ... not a chance
Just Friends can be seen on Ch.
Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
Demagog Reich
elected to city council
By 0. YESCAS
La Voz Contributor
Something dramatic occurred a few
weeks ago here in Fresno. A demagog
was elected to the City Council. Joe
Reich, a local attorney, won election to
District 3 by.feeding on the emotions of
peopie who did not ltke or understand
Affirmative Action programs.
Despite the sad irony that a man was
elected by all Fresno voters, but is
suposed to represent a district dominated by blacks, maybe we have learned a
lesson.
Those who sought to have
elections citywide, but representing districts regret the change they brought.
Many have talked of instituting a law
suit. The lesson fits the old cliche "look
before you leap."
'
It's a shame that a man like Reich
dosen 't have the sense to see how he is
hurting people who want a chance in the
job market . Reich· ran on a platform of
hate toward minorities and his pitch · ap~~ale~ .~?just e'ntiug~_vot~rs. ~~e 'c,ity.
fn,
J
-
Just Friends
enjoyable
humane,to say the least.
"On Jan . ' 19 of this 'year·, ' Cesar
Chavez, founder of ' the _ut;w; ' led
.3/JOQ. ~E:f!l.b_e_rs , OU ~ ~ st~i~e ·:against
erghrd1ffererrt ·l~ttvce'growef's. i'welveReich has said that he wi II not rehu~dred other UFW ,:nembers s~owed
their support of the action by walking off present Dist. 3 or West Fresno. "I will
: their jobs for one day at six other farms . represent the city of Fresno, including
Continued on Pg. 3 west Fresno," he said.
r./ :a:~{~fud:~ :·
'
u
Review .
"Up with the Shah" - with that bold
delclaration, a small group of CSUF
students has launched a tongue-incheek campaign to annoy Iranian students. The group has apparently photocopied dozens of pro-Shah flyers and
posted them all over the campus.
The group contends that the Iranians
and other Middle East students who
march or set up tables in the Free
Speech area are bothersome and noisy.
We are planning to publish a speciaJ
edition of La Voz de Aztlan for the week
of Semana de La Raza, Cinco de Mayo.
We are asking you to contribute ideas
st~r~es,
features,
poetry,
creativ~
wr1hng, photography, and illustrations.
If you are interested -in h I • • t
would like , to turn . 0 e
OU _or leave a note in' 'the
office or in the Daily Colle .
ff
I
Final copy deadline wilr;:en a~~~~ on :
Friday April 20 1979
•
Meat Eater,
Las
Reich should not do this. · He shoc
realize that most citizens of Fresno a:
now served by their own area cou
men .
Those who now have sound repre
tation don't need another councilm
to serve them .
It's clear t~at Reich's interests
not the district's interest, where
population is 46 percent Mexica
American and 44 percent black .
La Voz de Aztlan is published by the
Associated Students at California State
University, Fresno and the newspaper
staff. Unsigned editorials are the opinions of the La Voz staff, and not necessarily the views of the Associated Students, CSUF or the State of California.
Editor ... Richard Aguirre
Photogi:aphy ... George Aguirre,Ricardo
Pimentel,Lupe Mora
·
• -Ait ... Albfuo Fi-ancO', Arturo Ocampo
.
Reporters ... Dora Lara,Margarita ·Mar- ·J•.',
•tmez;Octavio
Yescas:..· .. '
...
Contributors ... Felix Contreras : Elvia
Ruiz, Dianne Solis, Ricardo Pimentel,
Pedro Ramirez.
.
April 16, 1979
Page3
La Voz de Aztlan
MESSAGE FROM LA VOZ
GRADUATE PICNIC
A graduate picnic for 1979 CSUF
graduates and their families will be held
Sunday April 29 at Kearny Park. For
more information contact Manual Olguin
at 487-1053.
Wednesday night the CSUF Media
Council will hod a public meeting to
discuss UHURU and LA VOZ DE
AZTLAN. Everyone is invited.
The council will be seeking to find out
if there is enough interest in these ~ewspapers to continue their publication. The
meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the
College Union(third floor).
WOMEN AND STRIP SEARCHES
The American Civil Liberties Union
has filed suit for 50 Chicago women
asking that the U.S. District court restrict Chicago police from conducting
body strip searches of women accused of
minor offenses.
The class action suit was filed last
month after women complained that they
were subjected to humiliating body
searches by police after being accused of
only minor misdemeanors and traffic violations.
CHICANO GRADUATION
Wednesday is the application deadline
for the third annual Chicano Commencement at CSUF. The event, being organized by the Chicano Commencement
Committee of the Chicano Alumni
Association, is set for Sunday, May 20
atthe Fresno District Fairgrounds.
Applications can be picked up at
Tutorial Services, the La Raza Studies
office and the EOP office. For more
information call 487-1053.
EOP TALE NT SHOW
The long-awaited EOP Talent Show
will be held Thursday night from 7-10
p.m. in the new Residence Dining Hall.
Emcees for the event will be Darbie
Ford and Manuel Nunez.
Everyone is invited. For more information contact Tony Garduque or Linda
Hernandez in the EOP off ice(J oyalroom 238) or call 487-1021. .
VOLUNTEER LUNCHEON
The Volunteer Bureau of Fresno
will sponsor its 11th annual Volunteer
of the Year Luncheon, Tuesday April 24
at the Holiday Inn. For reservations and
more information, call 237-3101.
I
The April meeting of the Association
of Chicanos in Human Services will be
held tommorrow night at 7 p.m. in the
College Union, room 309.
The focus of the meeting will be on
the International Year of the Child, and
will feature a talk by Alex Saragoza of
the La Raza Studies program.
The Association began last May and
serves two purposes: 1) to establish a
network of Chicanos working in human
services; and 2) to ensure equity in the
provision of social services to the
Chicano community.
Involvement or interest in human
services is the only requirement for
membership.
The suit asks $125,000 in damages for
each woman and that in the future,
warrants would be required for any
search. The suit also asks th?t any
searches required would have to be conducted by a doctor. The ACLU estimates that up to 10,000 women may have
been searched after minor violations in
Chicago alone.
In Houston, Trish Herrera, 25, has
also filed a lawsuit against police,saying
that she was strip searched by Houston
authorities after a minor traffic violation. That charge was later dropped.
Civil
Libertarians
concede
that
searches are justified if a suspect is to be
held in jail, but contend that searches
after minor offenses are inappropriate.
Ditora elected president
Slate sweeps election
UFW Comenta.rio
Continued from Pg. 2
"Chavez and the UFW are striking _for
higher wages, demanding a part of the
vast prof its the lettuce growers are
earning from their labor.
Mexican
farmworkers have shown their support
of the strike by refusing to cross the
picket lines to replace the striking union
members.
"As a result, growers have recruited
high school students and housewives to
help in the harvest by playing up to their
anti-union sentiments. The image of the
UFW, as well as other unions, has never
been a popular one .
"Strikes hurt consumers as well as
growers, causing anger among the
populace . People resent the feeling of
helplessness that accompanies skyrocketing prices resulting from strikes.
Hence, popular opinion most often sides
with the growers.
"Wben violence broke out in the fields
on Feb . 5, the growers immediately
blamed the strikers . With this strategy,
and the help of a newly-hired public
relations firm, th~ ~rowers hope to -gain ·
public sentimet1t.
.
. "However, the strikers had nothing to
gain through violence; only the growers
stood to profit.
"Farmworkers, as well as any other
labor group, have the right to a decent
wage, and the right to strike for it .
CHICANOS IN HUMAN SERVICES
Growers see this dispute as a chance to
destroy the union, break its hold, and
take away its power. But, if the union
dies, the rights of farmworkers dies with
it, and once again, the era of exploitation
returns.
UFWUPDATE
As the UFW strike enters its 13th
week, its scope has broadened and it has
received a boost from the Agricultural
Labor Relations Board.
Last Monday, UFW president Cesar
Chavez left for New York to· gain financial support from East Coast liberals .
On April 7, the ARLB backed up
Chavez' claim that growers were refusing to bargain in good faith and had
hired professional strikebreakers. The
Board issued those charges against Sun
Harvest Growers and said that the firm
"has a duty to bargain at this point in
time."
·
··
. The ARLB also c¼~ged-that: ~~n ·H,a,rvest had "knowingly hired professional
strikebreakers." While a company is
permitted to hire "replacement workers"
it cannot hire paid strikebreakers, who
~re hired again and again over a period
of time at struck farms.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following are
highlights and results of the Associated
Students(AS) elections held April 3-5.
Story and results courtesy of the Daily
Collegian.
* Alan Kasparian (PLUS)
998
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #3
*Linda Levy (PLUS)
1,020
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #4
* Sue Stoffels (PLUS)
993
CU BOARD, MEMBER AT LARGE #2
By STEVE SCHMIDT .
* Ronald Ramirez (PLUS)
831
Daily Collegian Staff Reporter
Tom Gaxiola
293
SENATORS:
Positive Leadership for University StuSCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE & HOME
dents (PLUS) · candidate David Ditora
ECONOMICS
handily defeated his indeoendent oppo* William D. Murphy, Jr. (PLUS)
231
-nent, John Osborne, in the
As- Others
21
sociated Students (AS) election.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
The PLUS slate swept all 19 of the of*S .H . Ottemoeller
58
f ices its members ran for--one less than DIVISION OF HEAL TH PROFESSIONS
the total number of offices up for elec- * Naomi Coyle (PLUS)
78
tion in a contest plagued by low voter SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
turnout and few contested seats .
* Kerry Watkins (PLUS)
9
Independent S.H . Ottemoeller was
Emma Bovary
3
the only non-PLUS candidate elected. He
SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
was elected Senator, School of EngiKristen M . Eyssell (PLUS)
67
neering .
SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
*Linda Ayer (PLUS)
143
PRESIDENT
Reggie Rush
50
* Dave Ditora (PLUS)
914
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
John Osborne (Ind.)
287
56
Jerry Hinkle (PLUS)
LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL.Wf:LFARE ·. ·
*Janet Sale (PLUS)
788
37
* Tjlford Denver (PLUS)
L~is Sepulveqa (~&S)
.
. -. 451
. GRADUATE STUDIE~
C9,LLEGE l.JNION ,Yl~E P,RESll:)~Nl
7
*Mike Emmert (PLUS)
* Jefferey 8. Watson (PLUS)
1,063
1
Kermit
the
Frog
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #1
UNDECLARED MAJORS
* Patricia Oliveira (PLUS)
722
12
*Dave Leathers (PLUS)
Mark Scott (S&S)
457
9
Ken Villa
SENATOR AT LARGE, POST #2
*
.*
·la Voz de Aztlan
Page 4 - , · •
April 16, 1
Photos by Lupe Mora
BRIX 8Ull.DiNG
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April 16, 1979
la Voz de Aztlan
Page ·s
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~-
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,
Downtown Mall
returning .to life
By LUPE MORA
La Voz P~otographer
Downtown Fresno's Fulton Mall is a
place where anyone can afford to shop.
It's a place where the old meets with the
new in a fine cultural setting.
It's a place where the insides of
buildings are remodeled but, the outsides are left alone to give the mall a
very traditional look. It's a pleasing
pla~e to be for shoppers of any social
status.
It's also a place where one can find a
very artistic environment.
In general, it's a place where one can
not only shop, but socialize as well.
.;
- . ·.r~-; (ur-OEMRMNJ"cjCOJNan
-C;v:~: ," •- - elJ,:·f ummlc~.MniisWioo
.
. .
.
La Voz de Aztlan
Page6
La Mexicana y Su Vida
Hardships endured, status gained
Mexican Revolution
By DORA LARA
La Voz Writer
In Mexico's Revolution of 1910,men
were not the only participants. Women
also played a significant role. In this as
in other phases of Mexican history, women are often overlooked.
However, during these crucial years
{1910-1917), women fulfilled important
roles as social workers, financiers, journalists, troop followers and of course as
members of the army troops.
The violent phase of the Mexican Revolution broke out in 1913 and was
fought to prove that Mexico belonged to
the Mexican people and not to the major
foreign powers. It was also fought to
bring power to the common man, give
the land back to those who farmed it, and
bring societal benefits to those who
worked for them.
When men began to join the armies
and go off to war, women were left alone
and unprotected. With no other choice
many were forced to follow. According
to James W. Wilkie in Revolution in
Mexico: Years o_f Upheaval, 1910-1940,
the sight of a woman among the army
troops was not an uncommon one:
"The Mexican soldier of the Revolution traditionally traveled with his soldadera, the "soldieress" who loaded his
rifle, cooked for him, and often carried
her latest baby slung in the rebozo on
her back. The soldera served as more
than a moderJ> commissary, she provided the comfort, the companionship
that kept the soldier on the move for
many terrible years."
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
The Supreme Court is now mulling
over what could be the most significant challenge to Affirmative Action
programs ever. Last June, the high
'rt struck down numerical racial
4 uotas in education and ruled that Allen
Bakke,who is white, must be admitted to
the U .C. Davis medical school.
However, even as the 'c ourt ruled that
Bakke had been illegally discriminated
against, Justices upheld the Affirmative
Action concept and said that race could
be used as one of the factors when sett ing school admission policy .
The Kaiser Aluminum vs . Brian F .
Weber case involves the more farreaching issue of racial preference in
employment .
Weber's suit charges that an Affirm~tive Action_plan, instituted by Kaiser
and the United Steelworkers Union in
Gramercy, La ., "discriminates" against
~~ite~ because positions in an apprent1cesh1p program were reserved for nonwhites and women .
,
,
The court's decision on,the e1:ase could
decide the future_• of volunt·a ry AfHrmative Action employment programs in thts
country.
The court recently heard arguments in
the "reverse discrimination" case and
should render a decision by June.
Women in Mexico were at last given a
chance to prove their worth and abilities,
and some did so by service in the armies.
The work of women was real and hard
during these years, according to Phillip
Russell in "Mexico in Transition:"
"In that struggle there were women
officers in the Constitutionalist army and
many women took a direct part in combat, especially in the Red Battalions of
workers. Also, there was an entire combat unit of women in the Zapatista army
under the command of an ex-tortilla
maker named La China."
Other women who gained fame as
soldiers and later became officers were:
Petra Ruiz, Echa Bala, Encarcion Mares
de Panuca, Sra Carmen Parra Viuda de
Alaniz, and Dona Juana Torres. Each
gained recognition for bravery and skill.
Besides exhibiting their talents on the
battlefield, many women joined the
press corps to spread the message of the
Revolution. Juana Belen Gutierrez de
Mendoza, a famous liberal journalist
fanned the fire of Revolutionary ideals
through journals and newspapers, and
was later imprisoned because of this.
Many women suffered such personal
tragedy, yet they continued the fight.
Carmen Serdan, sister of Aquiles
(the first martyr of the Revolution) and
his widow, Dona Filomena del Valle de
Serdan were -among those who helped
organize and collect munitions for rebel
forces. Both later spent time in jail.
Jail terms were not the only negative
aspects that women had to suffer
through during the Revolution. It was
very difficult for soldaderas to maintain a
stable family life. And some women
were pressed into service against their
will.
Some women were forced to join the
armies by order of dictator-general
Victoriano Huerta. According to the
book, "Profile of the Mexician-American
Woman," on one occasion Huerta had
300 women from Morelos sent south to
Quintana Roo.
There,in the hostile frontier, Huerta
hoped to establish a colony with exiled
men who were stationed there. But,
when the plan failed to work properly,
the women were brought back northward
and left at Veracruz with the new children they had bore in Quintana Roo.
But, despite the sacrifices and hardships there were a few positive things
that women gained from the war. Many
were able to work as clerks, secretaries,
smugglers, and telegraph workers. Women were able to travel, learn diverse
Weber case may have wider
impact than Bakke
were · only five blacks among . the 273
This case dates back to 1974 when the
skilled workers. To correct this, fifty
United Steelworkers of America(USWA)
percent of opennings in craft-training
voluntarily began a national program to
ease the effects of past racial discrimi- . programs were reserved for blacks.
Selection to the program was based on
nation in industry .
plant seniority. For the 13 positions,
The program ' s goal was to provide the
created at the plant, seven blacks and six
opportunity for minority workers, mostly
whites were hired.
in the steel , aluminum, and can indusBrian Weber,32, applied for and was
t ries, to f ill vacancies in craft-training
denied a slot. He brought a class-action
programs through Affirmative Action.
lawsuit against his union· and the plant in
This would continue until the underhis behalf and for other white workers.
representation of minorities in these
He charged that blacks with less seniorindustries was alleviated.
ity at the plant had been hired over him,
The Weber case came about after a job
and that the program discriminated
dispute in Kaiser's Louisiana plant. A
against non-minority members of the
factory-training program was installed to
workforce.
bring more blacks into skilled jobs and
Weber won in the U.S . District Court
bring parity to the firm equal to that of
and that decision was uw,eld by _the
th~ community that was . 39 p_
ercent
Fifth District Court of Appeals.
black. , .
.
•
. · .
A ruling for Weber could set a preAt Kaiser' S- .Qramerc;:y plant, there- cedent which could seriously threaten
The union •lawyer s~id that Congress
other existing Affirmative Action , E>ro- ,,
intended only to outlaw the previous
grams. A ruling for the company could
discrimination when it wrote and passeq
strengthen the concept that these prothe law. If Weber wins, Kaiser attorgrams are justly designed to compensate
neys say Affirmative Action programs
for past discrimination against minorcould end.
ities.
•
subjects,and gain
about Mexico.
Many of these things would not ha\.
been possible if not for the Revolution
As the authors in "Profiles"say:
"During the 1910 Revolution, Mexicar
men became united in new relationships
Mexican women. For the first time 1n
Mexican history, women developed po,
tentials on a large scale beside the m
and won recognition as companions
mates ,and partners."
The turbulence of the strife-filleo
years led to a changing of the roles tra·
ditionally assigned to women. In the
long run, women gained the courage to
stand up for themselves. Now that the
destructive Revolution was over, they
would begin the fight for their own civil
rights.
Boulevard Nights
bum rap
From Page8
photographs, yes. Boulevard Nights
1s the story ot two brothers, ex-cholo
Raymond's
assimilated
girlfriend
Shady and the violence between two
gangs that ends in the deaths of Chuco
and his mother.
·
It is significant that there is no Chiccano-Anglo hostility in the movie . To
a certain extent, that holstility in real life
has been the excuse the Chicano has
used for not "making it." ·
Raymond Is decision about what he
wants out of life is not directly affected
by the Anglo. It is he who wants the
boulevard scene and the car customizing
1vu . n 1s ne wno preters taco stands to
restaurants.
Like a lot of people, he is scared
about "what's out there." The barrio
becomes like a womb. Safe. He knows it
just like he knows .gang
life.'
His dilemma is the Chicano's present
state of mind.
Ravmond was fl lot like the Chicanos
who know object to Boulevard Nights.
He was a guy too myoptic to share the
greater visions of what ca·n be.
That is what this movie is all about-the smallness of people's minds .
,~age 7
La Voz de Aztlan
Mexico's Francisco Villa-Revolutionary Patriot or Murderer?
By RICHARD AGUIRRE
Editor of La Voz
EDITOR 's NOTE: This is the second in a
series of profiles of great Mexican h!storical figures or events. Accompanymg
this look at the life of Doroteo Ara· ngo
(better known as Pancho Villa) is a discussion . on this man by Dr. Jose Canales
of the history department and Dr. Jesus
Luna of La Raza Studies.
Pancho Villa. The name conjures up visions of huge cavalry units sweeping across vast,hot desert.
·
One thinks of revolutionists,guerrilla
warriors,ammunition belts strapped across bodies. The imagination runs wild
in thoughts of guns,horses,sweat,
swearing ,money, women ,booze ,and cantinas and stirring corridos. Pancho
Villa was all of that,and more.
The man who was born Doroteo
Arango and didn't drink,smoke or swear
has become the stereotype of the common bandido. But, he was no common
man.
He became a legend in his own time ·
and even today his name is capable of
evoking violent emotions. He has been
hailed and cursed as a great patriot
and bloodthirsty. anglo-lover.
Last Year, Villa was elevated to the
status of national hero and postal stamps
were issued in his honor. The action
touched off cheers and protests among
his countryman.
The following is an attempt to trace
the career of Francisco Villa and get a
clearer picture of who he was, and why
such division about his contributions
is possible.
Early Life
Doroteo Arango was born on June 5,
1878 in Durango, Mexico. He was the
first of five children and was the son of
Agustin Arango and Michaela Aranbula.
He was said to have weighed 12 pounds
at birth.
His father died when he was still
young and he had to work at an early age
on a ranch in order to support the family.
Most accounts say that the young
Arango became an outlaw after one of
his sisters was raped by a ranch foreman
or hacendado. Villa shot the attacker,
escaped to join a gang of outlaws and
changed his name to Pancho Villa. ·
"Bandits were his childhoog heroes as
they were for most of the long-suffering
poor of Mexico," according to William
Weber Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
"Bandits were the only ones strong enough and daring enough to fight against
an oppressive system."
While in the gang, Villa learned cattlerustling and became a skilled marksman
and horseman.
Physical Description
"In 1910 at the age of 32 he was a big
(six feet,200 pounds) man, indescribably
graceful on a spirited horse-he came to
be called the Centaur of the North,"
according to Johnson. However, on the
ground Villa looked awkward, "walking
with the pigeon-toed gai~ of a h?rseman,
his arms thrust outward by· the . great
thickness of _the <;:~e~!- "_ , '. ·. . ,., ·~- ,·
Johnson said VilJa~s ~a(r:\Ya~ ,r~pp~h-__.
brown and almost kinky. · His thick
moustache was over a usually open
mouth and his teeth were strong and
stained brown.
liberty unless he was bad," said Reed.
"The Federal officers also he killed;
because, he explained, they were educated men and ought to know better,"
said Reed . "But, the Federal common
soldiers he set at liberty because most of
them were conscripts, and thought they
were
fighting
for
the
Patria ."
The killing of prisoners was a common
practice of the day , and Villa saw no
reason to buck the trend.
In The Eagle and Serpent, Martin
luis Guzman says that Villa once allowed his bloodthirsty aide, Rodolfo Fierro
to shoot down 200 captured Federales
in a corral. Fierro,who killed for the fun
of it,finished the grisly task,although he
complained of a cramp in his trigger
finger and that his pistols got very hot.
But,Villa tolerated Fierro . "He was
Villa's best friend;and Villa loved him
like a son and always protected him,"
according to Reed in Insurgent Mexico.
Race for Mexico
"But, the feature most people remembered was his eyes," said Johnson.
"They were prominent,light brown and
friendly; howeyer in an instant of temper
they could change."
"He was a natural storyteller and loveed to tell tales about himself, his voice
high pitched, his pronuciation slurred
and careless,his language full of sharp
images(and strangely · 1acking in both
profanity and obscenity)," according to
Johnson.
Joins Revolution
Villa stayed around Chihuahua until
the outbreak of Fransico Madero' s revolt against the 30-year rule of Porfirio
Diaz. Villa was a quick convert to the
cause and respected and feared the gentle and innocent Madero .
With his army of the north, Villa helped Madero gain the presidency. When
Madero was overthrown and later assasinated by the men of "the Usuper,"
Victoriano Huerta, Villa became ruthless. He vowed he would avenge Madero' s murder and topple Huerta.
According to Phillip Russell in Mexico
in Transition, Villa quickly built up a
strong following among peasants ,sharecroppers ,muleskinners ,and peddlers .. all
from the newly-developed and mobile
north.
Military Cunning
Late in 1913, Villa's Division del Norte
was the strike force of the revolution.
"Typical of his style was his taking of
Ciudad Juarez by capturing one of Huerta's troop trains," telegraphing ahead
that he was an advan<i:ing loyal g·eneral•,
then eas.ily capt~r:irig 'the· tity;a:c·c ording-·to Russel-t.t'
'• .·.·:. •;~. ·,:"
: ·,·. :.·_
·
By March, 1914 all of Chihuahua was
Vi Ila's and after confiscating property
of the richest familes there, he began the
distribution of land among the peasants.
While state governor, Villa provided
free food and supplies to the , poor,
banned the sale of liquor,ordered construction of 40 schools,keep control of
prices so food would be afordable, and
even organized daily band concerts.
Mexican Napoleon
But, it was on the battlefield that Villa
gained his greatest fame. He was a self
taught military genius with an incredible
memory. He is considered by many the
greatest general Mexico has ever bad.
Villa's method of fighting was like
Napoleon's, according to John Reed in
Insurgent Mexico. "Secrecy,quickness of
movement,adaption of his plans to the
character of the country and his soldiers" were Villa's traits . He gained the
respect and love of the rank and file and
was able to build a myth that he led a
charmed life and that his army was invincible.
"Villa made his reputation as a leader
of furious cavalry charges and critics
s,aid that was all that he could do. But,
while cavalry charges fitted his stormy
character, Villa was capable of more
sophisticated warfare," according to
Johnson in Heroic Mexico.
Villa also pioneed the use of modern
methods of logistics. He carried supply
trains for his troops and had the only
effective field hospital(40 boxcars) to
care for his enemies as well as his men.
Cruel Killer
But, Villa also gained infamy for
how he fought. Killing and looting
were standard practices in his army
(as well as in his oppon~nt' armi~s) and
p'd soner~ We're always' ~hot. . .
· "'Tl-ie Colorados(Pa'stual Orozco' s
men) he executed whenever he captured
them; because he said they were peons
like the revolutionists and that no peon
would volunteer against the cause of
I
'
'.
:
After Villa had toppled Huerta, there
was a great race among the revolutionary factions, led by charasmatic
leaders, to sieze Mexico City. Everyone knew that whoever controlled the
capital controlled the country. This was
a time whert:· chieftans ruled and ideology meant little.
During thi_s mad rush, a serious rift
developed between Villa and the commander of the Constitutionalist forces,
the "First Chief," Venustiano Carranza.
Villa disliked and distrusted the stately
Sonoran and considered him to be little
more than a "pantywaist."
Fortunately for Carranza, a most
skilled and able general, Alvaro Obregon
of Sonora sided with him . "This was to
be a most fateful decision in the history
of the R~volution, for Obregon proved to
be Mexico's greatest military commander," according to Robert Quirk in
his book, Mexico.
Obregon joined Carranza because he
had little confidence in Villa's violent
and unpredictable nature .
Unsatiable Sexual Apetite
Villa was unpredictable and a man of
extremes, but one thing never varied-his love of women . He didn't indulge in
tobacco or alcohol , but tried to make up
for that fact with his womanizing.
"If a woman wanted to be marriedand he preferred such women - he married her, conveniently forgetting his
other marriages,"according to Johnson
in Heroic Mexico.
"He claimed he had lost count of the
women he loved, after counting up to 75,
and no one knows how many marriages
· there were," said Johnson .
"Sometimes they(marraiges) came so close together that a wife would find herself
force'd to serve breakfast in bed to Villa
and a more recent wife ."
Beginning of the End
With the split between Villa and the
Constitutionalists widened in late 1914,
the Revolution entered its most · destructive and violent ~hase .
· ··- ·
: Vill~ briefly helcl the-<!:apital· and• with
Emiliano Zapata, -of ·Morelos, · controlled
more than 60,000 men. But, their uneasy alliance dissolved because both
See Page 8
--------- ·-o··
age8
---r. •••--..,,._.,-_,_.._
la Voz de Aztlaz
April_
El Concilio
issues warning
Chicano Journalist
defends movie
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was
published as part -of a Boulevard Nights
advertisement on April 6, 1979. It was
written by Tony Castro of the -i..os
Ange!es Herald Examiner.
!ii/~/i/;!!i///i(Y no:~~Ta~:!redN~Tt,if,~e Elf
....··
de Fresno Newsletter.
..
FLASHff!
The film Boulevard Nights ha
grossed several miJlions of doll
its release. The film is now in Fr
"Boulevard Nights has been aettina a
bum rap."
·
l by the long fines outside the the
can be sure that our commu
The way it's getting dumped on,
spend several thousands of
you'd _think it was ... well, a Chicano or
perpetuating this rascist and
something. It has been getting the
It ·it wereany of these, the Chicano
typing gang warfare film whic
second-class .treatment. . The movie
Brilliant. Powerful. Honest in its savage
middle class would love it. The Chicanos
types Chicanos as inferior bei
needs a Civil Rights Commission investirealism. It is more than just a film about
wouldn't feel thre.atened about their
knowing how to control or w
gation. Or just help from Affirmative
gangs
or
a
commentary
on
the
hopelessown
identity,·
their
lifestylesand
-what
their
own people.
Action.
ness of their violence. Boulevard Nights
they perceive reality to be. As it ·is,
East Los Arigeies useo to oe
What incensed Chicanos are doing in
is a valuable contribution to our underBoulevard Nights is making a lot of
area of Los Angeles not exploite
blasting Boulevard Nights is no different
standing of our time.
·
Chicanos wince with embarrassment,
film industries, but now with B
than what those very same people claim
Were this a book, it might qualify
the way people do at old photographs
Nights in the money, other fit
has been done to the Chicano in
they'd like . to forget or destroy.
panies w~II probably exploit t
America. The bum rap. In a sense, it is - as the Great American Novel .. It is that
kind of a story. Heavy. It is not bestSo naturally the outcry. The moaning
as well.
the Chicanos with the night stick~ · the
selling pablum. NQ.t an Irving Wallace
that the image is negative and that
El Concilio de Fresno an
way they' re brutalyzing the film . .
novel
or
a
Clint
Eastwood
flick.
It
is
not
·
Chicanos
again
are
being
cast
in
an
unChicano
organizations have
It's a shame. And sad . Because
even Rotary Club boosterism theater like
flattering light-. The embarrassing
stand on this issue. El Conci
Boulevard Nights is one helluva movie.
"Zoot Suit."
send ·a position paper 'to Warn
-~---__;_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____;__~---,---'------------'-----'---'----------See--P-a_g_e_6_-_ · in regards· to Boulevard Nights
effect on the Chicano com
If you or your children decide
the film, we urge you to keep
' mind, and remember that this
fiction and it's stereotyping our
.Pancho Villa-Hero or Heel ?
DR. LUNA
Dr. · Luna believes that the recognition recently given Pancho Villa is
long overdue. He said that Villa's
accomplishments were ignored because
he fought the men who later won the
Revolution in Mexico. A Notorious Lover- Although he ·
could on occasion be very crude, VUla
was avery charismatic man who was able
to whip up armies of tens of thousands,
said Dr. Luna . Villa was also capable
of great rove .
"Villa is renowned for his love of women, said Dr. Luna. When he swept into
town,·"people ttkf to hide their daughters." "He had five wives that we know
of," Dr. Luna said.
Zapata vs. Villa-Dr. Luna believes
that a myth has been built arounq
Emiliano Zapata blowing his accomplishments out of proportion . "I think that too
many people glorify Zapata." "I- still see
Villa as perhaps a greater hero than Zapata.~'
Zapata ruled in his home state and
only employed guerrilla warfare, while
Villa weilded national influence and
launched huge military campaigns,
said Dr.· Luna .
. Dr. Luna said that Zapata has .probably gained greater _adulation among
Chicanos because he fought for the campesi no, and for the easily . identifyable goals of land and liberty.
Why · Villa Foughf- "Villa was not
really an educated man ... some believe
he fought just for the sake of fighting," said Dr. Luna.
·
·
"Perhaps it stems from his childhood .. . " When his sister was raped
by a · hacendado he became a bandit,
said Dr. Luna.
But, after Huerta
was ousted, Dr. Luna said that it became
a matter of "personal isms·."
Villa
had no clear philosophy and fought men
not ideas.
'
Villa's Legacy - "Those who love
Villa, , loved him and continue to love
hi m to this day ... those who hated him
no matter what you tell them about Villa'
continue to hate him," said Dr. Luna. '
Villa to Dr. Luna- "I like the man : In
many respects I like this type of folk
person who comes from a rural background to fight injustices he sees,"
said Dr. Luna. ·" What I don't like was in
many instances he was many times the
jury ,judge ,and executioner."
"In my family's past they regard Villa
very highty,but my wife's family
doesn't, "said Dr. Luna. "They think
'that Villa was-the most horribre creature
·that ever existed.,,
DR ..CANALES
· "I think it is a mistake on the part of
the Mexican government,," to give honors to Pancho Villa, said Dr. Canales.
"lt(government) is overlooking the fact
that Villa killed more Mexicans than any
Mexican that comes to my mind."
Attila the Hun- In the battle of Torreon alone, Dr. Canales said that Villa
executed more than 2,(X)() prisoners. "I ·
don't think that he was a hero to be held
as ~ symbol," for the nation. "He was
"Attita the Hon" in a sombrero."
Dr. Canales said that Villa was the key
man in the triumph of Madero and in the
overthrow of Huerta . . He ·was also "a
military genius of the first order."
Non-smoker,
non-drinker- "Vi Ila
didn't smoke or drink, but h~ made up .
for it in • sex," said Dr. -Canales . . He
also abstained from the two .former vices
as they "would ruin his aim. He was an
incredible shot."
. Villa had other virtues besides not
smoking or drinking, according to Dr.
,Canales. "He's the guy who introduced ·
mechanized agritulture to Mexico," by
importing the · best machinery for his
hacienda .
Villa was a very intelligent man who, in just a few months
in prison, learned how to read and
. write.
·
No · Political Philosophy- "I don 't
think that Pancho Villa had a national
vision," said Dr . .Canales. "He had no
poJ itical philosophy ... he reacted from
personal experience." ; . .
.
Directly contrasting Villa• was Emiliano Zapata from the southern state of
Morelos. Dr. ·Canales said that Zapata,
like Vifla had no. national vision,but
he_was still a great man.
"He was a man who fought the Revolution for principle. He fought for nothing for himself," said Dr. · Canales.
"Pancho Villa fought for loot and women."
Villa vs. Zapata - Even though they were
both great leaders, Dr. Canales said that
Zapata and Villa only agreed on one
thing-their hatred of Venustiano Car-
ranza.
"Villa couldn't und
Zapata's desire for land," becaus
north, land was plentiful and t
more independent.
Canales on Villa-"I think
a revolutionist who was a ba
heart," said Dr. Canales. "I see
a man of -great virtues and
faults."
Dr.
Mexico's Francisco Villa
· Frompage7
men fought for different reasons ... Zapata fought for "land and liberty," while
Villa usually fought for vengeance and
war booty.
The failure of both to act decisively,
when they had the chance, allowed
Carranza to re-group his force and·
attack . By early 1915, Obregon was winning back the core of Mexico and. isolating Zapata and Villa in the south and
north, respectiv~ly.
Villa 's Disaster
16 American ·engineers," accordi r
Lesly Bird Simpson in his book,I
Mexicos.
"In March, 1916, he led a ratd-int~
Mexico and massacred 19 peop
Columbus, "said Simpson . Most ~
that Villa did this to punish Pres.
son for recognizing his rival, and ti
barrass Carranza who claimed he ~
complete control of Mexico.
The U.S. responded tQ the actic
_sending in Gen. John "Black
Pershing to the border. to prevent
from re-entering the U.S. Per
In April, 191~, the bloodiest _battles to succeeded in this as Villa did not
wrack the continent since the American back. ·
However,Pershing's "Punitive
Civi~ War began near Celaya, Mexico.
Obregon-, cool-headed and employing pedition" into Mexico .after the Me
the most modern military tactics goaded bandit failed and the general be£am
Villa into useless conflict. In a series of butt" of many Mexican jokes . "Pc
. battles near Celaya, Villa was pushed · Villa instantly became the popula1
northward with continual harrassment of the country, and racy ballads ric
ing the gringos were joyfully sur
by Obregon;
·
Villa's fine cavalry suffered severe every tavern," according.to SimpS0i
losses to Obregon's new machine guns.
The modern trench warfare tactics emDeath
ployed by Obregon also · bedeviled
In 1920, Viila was pardoned.by in
·Villa. Total casualties for the Battles of president Adolfo de la Huerta, ar,
Cel~ya have been estimated at 10,(X)()- set out to become a legitimate ranch
nearly one-fourth of Villa's forces.
"However, in 1923 after boasti1
Villa's Division· del Norte had been · his ability to muster a large force in
~ecimated.
port of the impending anti-Obrego1
Raid on Columbus
rising, Villa was assassinated
sumably on orders .from Obrei
The final, crippling blow to Villa was according to. Mark Russell in Mexi
the U.S. recognition of Carranza as Mex- Transition.
ico's leader. For years the U.S. had
Thirteen bullets were pumped in1
firmly ·stuck by Villa.
body on that July morning, and
"Villa answered by stopping a train at
great Pancho Villa was dead :
Santa Ysabel,Chihuahua, and shooting
had lived only 45 years.