La Voz de Aztlan, May 5 1986
Item
Title
La Voz de Aztlan, May 5 1986
Creator
Associated Students of Fresno State
Relation
La Voz de Aztlan (Daily Collegian, California State University, Fresno)
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
5/5/1986
Format
PDF
Identifier
SCUA_lvda_00164
extracted text
aVoz
de.Aztlan
rms at
page4
5,1981
Pesticides threaten lives
Deukmejian
accused as
pro- grower
By Carlos Castillo
Labeling it "A plague born of selfish
men," United Farm Workers President
Cesar Chavez said the wjdespread use
of toxic pesticides threatens the lives ot
farm workers and consumers and called
tor a consumer boycott of table grapes
during a speech at CSUF, highlighting
Semana de La Raza.
Chavez is currently in the midst ot a
cross-country tour to drum up support
for his "Wrath ot Grapes Boycott,"
which he hopes will pressure growers
to return to the bargaining table.
ChavezailicizedGov. GeorgeDeukme;ian
and the Agricultural Labor Relations
Board as being ineffecUve in dealing
with grievances tiled by farm workers
against growers.
Chavez said agencies that enforced
the laws dictated by the Agricultural
Labor Relations Act ot 1975 were targets
of Deukmejian budget cuts and investigations into violations ot the law rarely
occur.
"Through Governor George
Deukmejian, growers have made a
mockery of the law," said Chavez. "The
ALRB has become just one more weapon growers are using to oppress farm
workers.''
See Chavez page 3
/f
·Photo by Lawrence Tovar
UFW leader, Cesar Chavez started off Senana de la Raza Tuesday night at the $atelllte Union.
-
Chicanas on the move
Lourdes Espinosa
Staff Writer
Las Adelitas, a CSUF campus organization primarily composed of Chicanas,
is rapidly reviving after being away from
the campus scene.
When membership. in Las Adelitas
decreased last semester due to lack of
:enthusiasm, f oriner members pushed recruitment increasing membership to fifteen this semester.
"We are developing into a more interesting organization that pertains to problems affecting women, said Connie
Moreno, president of Las Adelitas.
According to Moreno, the purpose of
Las Adelitas is to "enhance the perception
of wo_men."
the history of Las Adelitas stems from
the Mexican Revolution, when a need for
increased manpower was apparent and
women began taking on a new active role.
Some fought alongside the men, while
others served as moral support. The idea
of the aggressive, assertive, and strong
woman was born.
Moreno said that society· has long
implemented the role of men as aggressive
and the role of women as passive.
Moreno believes adrogeny is the key
to a richer personality. Adrogeny, the
combination of male and female characteristics is the " ... only way in which we can
possibly grow. We need to share and
divide roles."
According to More no the political aspect
of Las Adelitas ha·s long been a disputed
question. Within the dub there are various_
politicai issues which they support but the
main emphasis for the members are the
roles of women in society. "We are a po lit:.
ical organization, but we also emphasize
education and other issues pertinent to
our members."
Las Adelitas sponsored a conference on
April 8 which ,addressed the issueWoman: The Other Half of the Revolution,
featuring Juanita Gomez as the guest
speaker.
Blanca Jauregui, vice-president of Las
Adelitas, feels that her involvement in the
club has helped her own personal growth.
During her first semester with Las Adelitas
she described herself as a quiet and shy
person. After. participating in Las Adelitas
for several semesters, she has learned to
voice her own opinion.
"Las Adelitas has taught me to gro\\
itnd become more self confident about
myself," said Jauregui.
·
Las Adelitas is preparing for next fall
by continuing the push for recruitment.
They have also begun a survey on subjects
that members would like to see discussed
at future meetings, a possible revision of
their constitution.
Erasing myths
and stereotypes
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
"Changes in the world of work and
in society have and are continuing to
occur as more women enter the working world," said Lea Ybarra, a Chicano
Latino Professor at CSU F at a lecture
on Male and Female Relationships on
April 30.
Ybarra said tbat most college women
assume that after they graduate from
college, are employed and marry, that
their husbands will share some of the
household responsibilities. Unfortunately, statistics show that most marriages don't work out this way.
Studies also show that the one area
in which men help their wives with the
household is in washing windows
which is done about once a year."
According to Ybarra, a conflict
occurs when the working women wants
to become a mother and she's faced
with the decision to chose between her
career, and motherhood.
"Men have always been allowed the
opportunity to be fathers and workers.
Women should be allowed the same
opportunity.'-'
Cuba, unlike the United States, has a
, national law which requires men to be
responible for half of the household
chores, stated Ybarra.
"Societal expectations differ from
our expectations or ones we would like,
said Ybarra.
Women are programmed to act a
certain way since they are young; for
example, by giving girls dolls they are
taught to be passive.
Ybarra critisized commercials and
movies as being regressive. "In the wisk
commercial a woman feels guilty because of the ring around the collar,
when it is her husband with the dirty
neck. The movie An Officer and a Gentlemen portrays a woman working in a
factory who can only be saved by getting married.
Ybarra believes that if changes are to
be made among men and women in our
society, we must start erasing myths
and stereotypes which we have developed through the years about men and
women.
French influence
Mexican culture
During Mexiccts colonial period, Spain jealously guarded its colony from cultural
influences from other European nations. Especially those powers which the
Spaniards considered a threat to its colony, primarily England and France.
As a consequence, the mestizo culture that developed in Mexico and in the
Southwest (USA) was a blending of the Indian and Spanish culture with the latter
asserting a predominant influence.
It wasn't until Mexico gained its independence from Spain (1821) that Mexico
opened its doors to other countries of the world.
Mexico, howevever, still maintained strong cultural ties with its mother country,
Spain, and remained "Spanish" culturally until the beginning of the twentieth
century.
It was during the second half of the nineteenth century that the music and dances
from Eastern Europe started to gain popularity throughout Mexico, particularly, in
the north.
The waltz and its related forms (polka, shottise, redovas) received considerable
resistance from the conservative Catholic Church which still maintained strong ties
with Spain.
This resistance centered supposedly on moral rather than cultural grounds.
Despite the opposition from the Catholic Church, the music and dance from Eastern
Europe started to take roots in Mexico especially among the aristocratic class.
The estab1isn.ment of the Maximilian Empire in 1864 reinforced the predilection
for this type of music and dance.
Maximilian and his wife, Carlota, came from Europe's finest aristrocratic society
and entertained their Mexican guest in the finest European tradition. The courtly
dances that were performed during this period in time, besides the waltz and its
related forms, were the French Quadrilles, or most commonly known in Spanish as
cuadrillas.
The cuadrillas were a French variation of the English country dance. They were
reminiscent of the square dances that we see today except that they were danced in a
much more stately fashion.
Penetration of French soldiers to the northern part of Mexico brought this "latest"
style of dance to this region where it quickly underwent certain changes and quickly
acquired a unique norteno temperament.
Even though this style of dance is no longer popular, the word cuadrilla is still in
popular use today, but in a different sense. Today, the term is used to refer to a group
of people who work in the fields.
Another cultural tradition left by the French are the musical groups which
accompany the dancers of Jalisco called mariachi.
During this short lived reign of Maximilian, there existed in Jalisco, Mexico,
musical groups which played at various official ceremonies and social events. These
un-named ensembles were especially popular with the French and with the Mexican
aristocracy at wedding receptions.
The French attempted to Hispanize the French word rnariage (marriage) by
appending a "chi" to the word.and as a consequence, these group.s that played at the
weddings were christened mariachi.
These are but a few examples of the cultural legacy left by the French during their
short stay in Mexico.
The cultural influence that took place during this period of time is still felt by many
Mexicans and Chicanos alike but have been obscured by time and space.
Mexican/ Chicano culture is rich in history and tradition and knowledge of it can
only lead to ~ better understanding of our heritage and real pride in ourselves.
By Ernesto Martinez
El Significado de
Cinco de Mayo_en E.U.
~os_libros de historia de Mexico nos dicen: "El memorable 5 de mayo de 1862
atacp de Conde Lorencez con arreglo al arte de la guerra, al ejercito mexicano
cornpuesto de c~atro mil hombres ~ las ordenes del valiente General Ignacio Zaragoza, que defend1a los cerros-de Loreto y Guadalupe, rompiendo el fuego de canion a
las doce del dia .. Cuatro columnas de mil hombres cada una lanzo el jefe frances y
todas fueron rechazadas tres veces, teniendQ que abandonar el cam po a las cuatro de
la tarde, con una perdida de 513 entre muertos y heridos, impidiendo un fuerte
aguac~.ro que se continuara la persecucion, que era tarnbien dificil, porque derrotados _los ~nvas9res. corn~ estaban, te_nian todavia mas fuerza numerica que Zaragoza.
~l e1erc1to frances, dec1a este caud1ll0, se ha batido con rnucha bizara; su general en
Jefe se ha portado con torpeza en el ataque, las armas naciona- les se han cubierto
de gloria ... puedo afirmar con orgullo que ni un solo rnomento volvio la espalda al
enemigo el ejercito mexicano durante la larga lucha que sostuvo."
Este discurso historico jusfica y explica parcialmente la celebraci~n del 5 de mayo
en la Republica Mexicana, pero no en los Estados Unidos. El hecho de que la
poblacion de origen mexicano sea un conglomerado compartidor de las tradiciones
civico cultu~ales mexicanas, 1ampoco aclara la pregunta implicada en el titulo, ya
que no festeJamos exceptuando "El Grito de Dolores,". otras fiestas patrias importantes corno el 20 de noviembre: Celebracion de la Revolucion Mexicana de 1910' el
5 de t'"ebrero: Constituciones de 1857 y 1917, etc. Entonces, por que celebramos el 5 de
mayo en los territorios de Aztlan? Quien inicio esta fiesta? Al parecer, indirectamente, Don Portfirio Diaz. Como todos sabemos, este controvertido dictador
participo tambien en la "Batalla de Puebla" de memorable 5 de mayo. Por lo tanto,
cuando don Porfirio estuvo en el poder ordeno que el 5 de mayo se celebrara con
igual esplendor que el 16 de Septiembre: Independencia de Mexico, puesto que el
habia sido uno de los protagonistas en la "Batalla de Puebla."
Poste_ri_orment~! al iniciarse el movimiento de la Revolucion Mexicana, muchos de
los porfmst~s e~1hados ~n lo Esta~os Unidos siquieron festejando el 5 de mayo en la
zona front~nza de la Umon Americana, creando asi esta tradicion que perdura hasta
nuestros d1as, pero sin Diaz.
Dr. Cosme Zaragoza
La Voz de Aztlan:
A historical view
La Voz, or La Pluma Morena (The
Brown Pen) as it was first called, was
spawned from the turbulent times of the
late 60s and early 70s, when racial tensions
were high and protest demonstrations
were a common occurence.
. The first issue was done on May 5, 1969,
its content was largely political. Stories
ranged from the opposition to the draft;
the on-going war in Vietnam; the "Liberation of Chicanos'~; to Ceasaer Chavez'
farm labor struggle.
The newspaper's political stance was no
secret; its stories and art work depicted
that. The name changed from La Pluma
Morena to Chicano Liberation, with the
name encircled in bandoliers. Stories calling for an end to oppression and the need
for justice were standard copy. The atmosphere in the early 70s was one of
urgency for Chicanos, and La Voz captured it. Every square inch of every page
was used, with either a story, artwork, ora
poem relating the need for Chicanos to
educate, motivat~ and participate.
The use of La Voz as a medium for the
Chicano viewpoint was an important objective, but also just as important was the
desperately needed experience that
Chicano journalists received.
With that experience, La Voz became
the starting point for such local media
people as Tom Uribes, editor of
Sentimientos and El Tiempo; Al Reyes,
former Channel 30 reporter and now with
El Tiempo; Marty Uribes, reporter with
Channel 47; and Larry Romero, formerly
with the Fresno Bee and currently with the
San Jose Mercury News.
La Voz spoke with Larry Romero, who
was editor during the years 74-75, about
his experiences and feelings with La Voz.
"lt was_ an alternative newspaper, it
gave a voice that was needed and is still
needed today," Romero said. Larry also
agreed that La Voz was a good training
ground for a reporter.
Having been with the San Jose Mercury
News for three years, now Larry looks
back, and remembers that one of the
problems La Voz encountered was the
lack of recognition.
"La Voz wasn't taken seriously by the
Journalism Department; they didn't consider it a legitimate endeavor," Romero
continued. "We were as concerned or
more so than other journalism students,
because we had a special feeling for the
community we wrote about." Even though,
according to Romero, La Voz broke
stories even before the Collegian, "we
didn't get recognition from the established
media."
Romero's staff, like many other La Voz
staffs, was sprinkled with very few
journalism majors. "I was the only
journalism major on the staff, others were
·concerned students and most of it I wrote
myself," he added.
Newspaper policy generally changed
trom editor to editor; some thought La
Voz should be used primarily as a learning
tool, while others thought La Voz should
be used as a political tool. Romero disagreed with the latter, "l didn't think it
should be used as a political tool. You
See La Voz page 3
Reality leadership ·
plays political games
~
The Reality leadership in Associated students do not have a clear understanding of what it is to be political and to
"play political games with student's interests and concerns". They lable themselves
nonpolitical because they refuse to approach so-called "off campus" issues such
as apartheid and the grape boycott; these
issues do not involve students, they assert.
When they profess that the senate should
not be political, they mean these and other
social issues should not be directly dealt
with by A.S. government, but rather by
student clubs and organizations, if at all.
They simply cause to much political
division.
However, these self-proclaimed nonpolitical actors in the senate are in fact
playing power politics with students at an
unprecendent~d level and as a result are
arousing much more salient controversy
and polarization in the senate than a resolution condemming South Africa-type
racism ever could. The voting membership of the Finance and Budget Committee (John Love, School of Business; Kent
Foster, School of Engineering; Greg Barfield, School of Health and Social Work;
and Ellen Tyler) have, as a body, decided
to n;iake draconian cuts in cultural, ethnic,
progressive and academic student interests while augmenting to student government enough money and power to support a Third World nation.
The cuts in such areas as MEChA (cut
from $2,900 to $700), Chicanos In Law
( cut from $1,130 to $650) and the Chicano
Youth Conference (cut from $3,950 to
$3,350) are alarming vis-a-vis the increase
in student government, about $30,000
(The requested amount for student government is over$100,000 a significant increase
over last year's $78,956.) Most clubs are
not being budgeted at all for the purpose
of bringing relevent speakers on campus.
Instead, clubs must now go through a
separate hearing to sponsor those activities. For example, MEChA, if they want
to bring speakers, would not be able to use
thier allocated funds but rather wp11ld
have to make a sepaiate reouest to ihe A~
programming comr.:iittee. Thus, ii. is proposed by the Finance and Budget committee, that in lieu of MEChA choosing their
speakers, the student politicans on that
particular committee would make the
choices. _Even worse, any speaker recommended by the committee would have to
be approved by two executives ( of which
there are three). That means that neither
the committee, the Senate, or MEChA
will choose MEChA speakers, but rather
Bob Whelan, Rebeka Burger, and John
Love·wou}d make the decisions for all.
How can two people decide what is
right for every club and organization on
campus? When the Geography Club
chooses a speak.er, their decision is based
on their academic interests and what the
club wishes to promote (in this case the
study of Geography), not for political
purposes or the interests of the three executive students (all business majors). The
..Chican·o-Latino Student Association
might want to bring a speaker that promotes the Chicano, but because of the
proposed Fianance and Budget policy,
would have to get the approval of two
people that have no idea what it is like to
be an ethnic minority and could not possibly see the same importance in a specific
activity. They do not care if a ·Caesar
Chavez comes to campus and if faced with
See Chacon page 3
Letters to the Editor
Pappa speaks
There's been a lot written and broadcast
about me because of recent controversies
and I've allowed many of them to go with:
out response. I'll make an exception in
this case though,. because Danny Chacon 's column in the last edition of La Voz
put me in the writing mood, and it got a
hearty laugh out of me, one which still
echos in the Collegian office where I happened to be when I first read it.
Danny, I've watched you during AS
senate meetings and have silently rooted
for some of the causes you espoused and
have silently opposed others. And I've
sometimes admired yo·ur chutzpah, even
when I fervently disagreed with you and
even when your diatribes could be characterized as ramblings.
l recognize, Danny, that your recent
column was hastily written with little forethought. Your ramblings ·were indeed entertaining, for it was easy for me to picture
you working yourself up into a frenzy as
one thought piled atop another and you
stuggled to remember them all and transfer
them to paper. But please try next time to
think out what you plan to write.
If I didn't know any better, I would
have taken offense at your labels. First,
you make me out to be a supporters of
apartheid in South Africa, which I am
not. · Then you say l may be in favor of
sending student money to aid the Nicaraguan contras. I am not. Next you place me
on the political spectrum to the far right.
Actually, I might say that I'm more moderate and am a little right of center. Certainly, like much of this university's and,
indeed, this nation's population, ! am
more conservative than-liberal, though I
do come out on .the side of liberab c•~-:.
some issues. Then you compare me to a ·
notorious tyranical killer. No, Danny,
you need not refer to me as "Pappa-doc."
Erik is just fine, thank you.
If I were to take this matter as far as you
and your cohorts have, I might classify
your statement as a racial slur, to take it a
step further, for I am a member of both
ethnic groups. I also will have you know
that if I were to require international students to carry special campus passportrs,
which you have stated, my mother who is
still a citizen of Norway, would probably
never let me have the privilege of visiting
any of my Norwegian relatives ever again.
Many of these relatives, incidentally, know
what it's like to have their country occupied by a foreign army, one filled with
Nazis.
Furthermore, on another point, how
would I conduct myself in a government,
if I ever decide to make a "legir.imat~" bid
for office? Well, I'm riot running for anything yet, so why should I create a platform hei:e? Certainly, like many of your
cohorts (which does not mean all the
minorities on this campus), you have
twisted the issues to fit your requisites.
(Incidentally, it was very fortunate your
ploys _didn't work in the recent student
body elections.) My concerns for professionalism and fairness were directed at
those publications which should strive for
such high journalistic standards. I never
proposed that they should cease puplication, only that if they couldn't shape up,
they should be distributed independently
and let the students, then, decide if they
wanted to pick up those publications.
Eviden~ly. your cohorts feared the results
of such a test. Such journalistic standards
easily could not be applied to cultural
events.
Another thing: I have not favored the
abolition of special publications. But, if
we are to spend student money to support
products of the Ethnic Studies Department, the Chicano-Latino Studies Department and the ~rmenian Studies Department, why shouldn't we also spend student
money to create voices for the Art
Department, the Music Department, and
the Theater Arts Department, the School
of Business, the School of Agriculture and
all the others. Many of these have as much
to offer students, if not more. The point
may simply be that funding of items that
legitimately belong to the respective departments on campus has been picked up by
students too long. I see no reason why
students should be made to pay for products which, legitimately, should be paid
for by their respective departments.
One more item: Federation '87? Come
on Danny, really. You've been watching
too many Star Trek episodes.
'
Erik Pappa
Learn facts
If La Voz readers would like to see a
good example of how not to write a letter
to the editor they should check out the
Collegian (May l, 1986) in which·Robert
Edwards and Andy Adams respo11ded to
my column of April 30 which delt with the
myth that the U.S. is really undergoing· a
.. war against terrorism."
Edwards and Adams think we are. They
sound to me like two white South ,Africans,
blissfully ignorant of the horrors of
Apartheid, lounging .by a pool sipping
Pina Coladas in a lush Johannesburg
suberb, wondering what all the "terrorism"
is all about. Pitiful.
In many ways we Americans are in a
similar position. We don't hear about
U.S.- sponsored terrorism because it
doesn't reinforce our biases to hear about
Contra atrocities, the bombing of El
Salvador, the death squads in Latin
America, etc. To Edwards and Adams,
anyone who talks about these things that
disturb their personal mythology must be
a "terrorist" or a "commie" or what~ver.
My column...addressed the problem of
terrorism against the U.s·. and Israel from
its root · causes. If Edwards and Adams
think that I was supporting Qaddafi's
tactics they should read it again. In fact,
after I read their responses to my column I
wondered if they even read past the
headline.
They don't respond with facts or counter
arguments, just rhetoric. Take away the
name- calling, the anti- semitism bullshit,
and o.ther assorted non- facts and what is
left? Nothing.
Edwards and Adams seem deeply concerned about terrorism, but ''they are
unwilling or too ignorant"' to stop and
think what it is all about. Jhey both have
fallen info the same trap. The notion that
crticism of policies (that help foster
terrorism) is someho~ criticism of a people
(Americans), and criticism of; bad policy
decis'ions is "blaming America." This is a
mistake. If Ed wards and Adams are so
convinced that Reagan has done the right
thing,1 invite them to travel to the Middle
East and proclaim to crowds of people
how proud 'they are to be an American
and that they support U.S. policy 100
nercent. They might get a surprise.
While they are at it, they could stop
Managua, Nicaragua on July 19 and be
guest speakers at the anniversary celebration where one- sixth of the Nicaraguan
people assemble (500,000 people) to reaffirm their commitment to the revolution.
We can hardly get that percentage of
people to vote!
Chavez
wrong people to make policy virtually
without question. It's about time we started
asking questions.
Steve Bruhn
A.S. budget
From page 1
Chavez accused Deukmejlan and the
agricultural Industry of "the systematic
and ·reckleBB poisoning of not only
California farm workers, but of grape
consumers throughout our nation and
Canada."
Illness, permanent disability and
death
were cited by Chavez as the
Associated student Body fees total
approximately $500,000; allocations will retulls of the "lndls$rimlnate and even
be voted on Tuesday, May 6th. Various llfegal use of dangerous pesticides.''
Chavez said the progre88 nade by
legitimate _groups feel that the membership of the Finance and Budget committee the UFW In past years Is being destroyhas shown favoritism to some clubs at the ed by corporate growers and .. hemlcal
expense of others. We are asking for a companies who "so thoroughly domcloser look at Asfociated Students Adminis- inate the state government In Califtration costs. With two new computers ornia."
and a new copy machine in theA.S. office,
"We must not allow the go• ernor of,
the work- load should be significantly less Calilornla and the selfish Interests of
than last year. Therefore fewef office staff CalHornla grape growers to threaten
will be needed, however the F & B com- llves throughout North America," •aid
mittees's recommendation is to increase Chavel.
·
their budget by $35,000, a 25% increase
Chavez Hated five peatlcktes that he
over 1985-1986.
wants banned from the fields and gave
We feel that the proposed A.S. Admin- examples -o f potential harmful effecta
istration budget ofS 180,000, which is 36% associated wHh their u■e.
of the total Associated Students budget is
excessive and unfair to the student body
as a whole when one sees that the social
issue groups are only budgeted for a mere
$3,980 .. 79% of the budget, and various
other minority and cultural organizations
funds have been cut drastically or eliminated all together. We feel student fees
should go to clubs, and not create an
expensive bureauocracv.
intramural sports and recreation has
been allocated $56,000 which is 11 % 0£.the
budget. In light of the fact that some"clubs
were gutted, we feel this amount must be
investigated.
The Environmental Protection Agency
recently placed commerclally-u1ed
pesticides at the top of their 11st of moat
urgent problems.
"The grape growers can
hide from their duty under
the law, but they can't hide
from a boycott.
-Chavez
Chavez issued a challenge to the
If cuts must be made, they should be CalifornJa Table .Grap_e_C.01111:niBBlon, ,
based on objecti-ve criteria, not on the P & headquartered in Fresno, to Join with
B members' personal opinions or biases the UFW in sponsoring thorough testing
about the clubs.
of pesticides on grapes by an independSenators, club representatives, and ent laboratory, with the results made
concerned students, will confront the F & available to the consuming public.
B committee at Tuesday's senate meeting
Chavez said the only way the dewith these questions. We want all clubs to mands of farm · workers will be acknowlhave acc~s to fair and equitable funding. edged is through a boycott.
Craig Brooks
Concerned Student
La Voz
From page 2
have to keep it as objective as possible and
strive for that."
Romero also remembered the attempts
by the Associated Students to do away the
Black and Chicano editions during considerations. "It happened almost every semester," Romero said.
Fortunately for Romero and his staff,
the Daily Collegian supported them. The
Chacon
From page 2
a choice between funding a visit from him
or say Howard Jarvis, who would they
pick?
The answer is that they should not have
the choice in the first place; Chicanos In
Law should choose their speakers, CLSA
theirs, etc.,
Besides their reluctance to give money
Edwards and Adams obviously see
to clubs for speakers, these "non politithings through such an ideologically biased cans" have also decided that the AS has ·
perspective that they are not able to sort
been much too generous in allocatiQ.g
out the facts. They are J'.ke two little pigs,
money, period. AS President- elect Bob
stuck in the ideological mud, oblivious of
Whalen says that he is tired of people
the world around them.
thinking of the AS as "a place to come and
It is not inherent that our c:-,untry's get money that they don't have to pay
foreign policy will support or provoke back."
This means that even though it is stuterrorism, but it is in part made possible
· because so many ignorant people like dent money to begin with, students who
Edwards and Adams have allowed the wish to utilize it must pay it back. His
"The grape growers can hide from
their duty l.rnder the law, but they can't
hide from a boycott," said Chavez.
publications developed good rapport with
each other. Romero cited no real problem
with the Collegian and added that they
were always helpful in one way or another.
One of Romero's priorities while being
editpr was to get the Native American
students involved. One such student was
Rick Herdia, who broke a story that the
Fresno Bee later picked up, but neither
Rick nor La Voz received anv other credit.
This article was writen by a former editor
of La Voz de Aztlan, Bobby Rodriguez
proposal to establish the Associated Students as a credit union would accomplish
this. Bu,1eacracy would increase and business students would have a place to train
for the professional world, but everyone
else would be left out.
This is a potentially dangerous shift in
the purpose and proper role of student
government. When we have as our leaders
individuals like John Love, who has stated
that cultural activities (e.g. Semana de la
Raza, Indian Week, etc.) have been getting the "lion's share" of money and
should be cut, while voting to give over
$50,000 to intramural sports, we must
stop and question their motivation. If cuts
need to be made, should they not be equitable? The Inter-Business Council, of which
Love is a member did not suffer a single
cut while MEChA was reduced by over
85%. To some Reality die hards, this is
suppose to be non political. To the rest of
the world it is political pork barreling to
the worse kind.
•
Photo by Lawrence Tova,r
Carmen Moreno, a native of Heron, came from Palm Springs to sing at the SCU Wednesday as part of Semana de /a Raza
Moreno·sings at·Satellite
Spotlight
By Belen Rodriguez,
Staff Writer
Carmen Moreno a widely recognized
singer and musi~ian was on the CSU F
campus on Wednesday, April 30, to per•
form for Semana de La Raza.
Moreno is orginally from East Los
Aq~les and (?Omes from a second genera.~ family of musicians.
Moreno moved to the San Joaquin Valley when her father moved his family after
accepting a job offer. She lived here most
of her life as a child and later attended 4
C's vocational college and became a
Moreno said she didn't want to do
secretary.
favors and things that others did to become
"I didn't like being a secretary. I wanted famous. Nor did·she want to be very sucto be a physicist or a hospital technican, cessful because this only meant that she
said .Moreno.
would lose her privacy and above all
"I ~s always creative and felt very else,- time with her family.
limited as a secretary, so I went into per"It's a crazy business, personality helps 1
forming since I had grown up in it. I but you don't have to be smart since you
immediately got a job as a singer in a are constantly told what to do," said
restaurant called Sinaloa in San Fran- Moreno.
sisco."
Moreno, unlike other Chicano singers
Moreno r~called the first time she oer- such as Vicky Carr or Freddie Fender did
formed at..S.inaloa. She said her boss has not change her name to accommodate the
pressur~d her into going over to a table general ·public. Moreno feels strongly
full of businessmen that requested her about her ethnic identity .
co~pany. Stit refused.
Today Moreno performs in restaurants
"Men in -the business see women in. throughout Palm Springs and many other
three ways: loose, lesbian or crazy if you states singing songs from a variety of
don't do them any special favors.
styles, including rock, bl ties or folk music.
Her ability as a bilingual singer has earned
her much recognition for her easy flowing
style and diversity.
''-My music is a product of the environment. Sometimes you want to flee but you
can't."
Through her-music she tries to educate
her audience in order to dispell stereotypes and myths about Chicano culture
and language.
"We have to help our lesser brothers
and sisters, so they can lead a fulfilling life
in whatever pursuit they choose. We are
the ones laying the bricks for the road, and
it's not easy.
"We are part of the same planet. We
have no room for destructive pri4e aJ!ld
nartbw minded views.
"Love, care and concern is where it is all
at." Moreno said.
CSUF Teatro helps community
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
An ecclectic and attentive audience
attended the performance of Teatro de
µs Cucarachas at the Satellite College
Union on Sunday night.
"Teatro was developed to help the community," said Guillermo Lopez, a counselor for adolescents of chemical dependency for Renaissance and a consultant
for the Teatro.
Lopez said that the purpose ofTeatro is
to put on performances that deal effectively with social issues which aren't thoroughly_ dealt with by the media and
teachers; such as, drug addiction,~alcoholis_m, gang warfare and teenage pregnancies among Chicanos.
"I have never walked away from one of
our plays feeling like we failed to serve our
purpose," said Lopez.
The community heJ;;;:; T eatro by providing them with the means for transportation as well as other basic needs.
"The only thing that we ask for from
people who have requested a performance
from us is that they pay for the gas, and
maybe make-up or other minor necessities.
Teatro has performed as far south as
Houston, Texas and major cities in
California.
-".We've done commercials, made video
tapes, perform_ed -for embassa<1ors, pri- writes a script. The plays are improvised."
sons, juvenile haHs, schools; o1d folh
Since there are no scripts, no two plays
homes and many other places, said Lopez. are alike:"We usuaHy don't have all of the
"The number of volunteers in the play same actors in following plays, and if we
fluctuates. There are over a total of l 00 repeat a play- which we seldom do- actors
individuals who are willing and prepared never play the same _roles, said Lopez.
to perform, but we usually have about ten
According to Lopez, the age of the perperformers por play."
formers range from four years old and
older. "We perform to a variety ofaudienLopez said that the pertormers aren't ces: young, oltl, black, white, brown, and
required to memorize any lines; "Nobody anybody else who's interested in watchin~.
"I couldn't sing or dance, and I wasn't a
strong speaker, but after seeing a Teatro
one time, l wanted to become part of the
very special group of people who were
doing special ~hings for the community.
"Teatro is very dynamic, extremely
entertaining and highly motivating. Teatro will always exist in one form or
another, as long as there are pe'ople willing
to motivate others in the community,"
said Lopez.
•r-···················-·································································:•
M.A.P .A. del Valle invites you to attend I
•!i
•
+.~,.M PouT,cA{
their meetings the first Wednesday of the- i
•
I
t:::====~
~MAPA~
••
0•
i
i
I
•
:
:
t
~-s:
z
«
~STATfOfCAUi°O
month at the Ted C. Wills community center!
at 6:00 p.m.
M. A.P .A. believes that students can
!
I
make a difference in their community.
For more information contact
••
:•
:
:
••
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i
Ben Benavidez, at 442-0380.
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..........................................................................................
I
de.Aztlan
rms at
page4
5,1981
Pesticides threaten lives
Deukmejian
accused as
pro- grower
By Carlos Castillo
Labeling it "A plague born of selfish
men," United Farm Workers President
Cesar Chavez said the wjdespread use
of toxic pesticides threatens the lives ot
farm workers and consumers and called
tor a consumer boycott of table grapes
during a speech at CSUF, highlighting
Semana de La Raza.
Chavez is currently in the midst ot a
cross-country tour to drum up support
for his "Wrath ot Grapes Boycott,"
which he hopes will pressure growers
to return to the bargaining table.
ChavezailicizedGov. GeorgeDeukme;ian
and the Agricultural Labor Relations
Board as being ineffecUve in dealing
with grievances tiled by farm workers
against growers.
Chavez said agencies that enforced
the laws dictated by the Agricultural
Labor Relations Act ot 1975 were targets
of Deukmejian budget cuts and investigations into violations ot the law rarely
occur.
"Through Governor George
Deukmejian, growers have made a
mockery of the law," said Chavez. "The
ALRB has become just one more weapon growers are using to oppress farm
workers.''
See Chavez page 3
/f
·Photo by Lawrence Tovar
UFW leader, Cesar Chavez started off Senana de la Raza Tuesday night at the $atelllte Union.
-
Chicanas on the move
Lourdes Espinosa
Staff Writer
Las Adelitas, a CSUF campus organization primarily composed of Chicanas,
is rapidly reviving after being away from
the campus scene.
When membership. in Las Adelitas
decreased last semester due to lack of
:enthusiasm, f oriner members pushed recruitment increasing membership to fifteen this semester.
"We are developing into a more interesting organization that pertains to problems affecting women, said Connie
Moreno, president of Las Adelitas.
According to Moreno, the purpose of
Las Adelitas is to "enhance the perception
of wo_men."
the history of Las Adelitas stems from
the Mexican Revolution, when a need for
increased manpower was apparent and
women began taking on a new active role.
Some fought alongside the men, while
others served as moral support. The idea
of the aggressive, assertive, and strong
woman was born.
Moreno said that society· has long
implemented the role of men as aggressive
and the role of women as passive.
Moreno believes adrogeny is the key
to a richer personality. Adrogeny, the
combination of male and female characteristics is the " ... only way in which we can
possibly grow. We need to share and
divide roles."
According to More no the political aspect
of Las Adelitas ha·s long been a disputed
question. Within the dub there are various_
politicai issues which they support but the
main emphasis for the members are the
roles of women in society. "We are a po lit:.
ical organization, but we also emphasize
education and other issues pertinent to
our members."
Las Adelitas sponsored a conference on
April 8 which ,addressed the issueWoman: The Other Half of the Revolution,
featuring Juanita Gomez as the guest
speaker.
Blanca Jauregui, vice-president of Las
Adelitas, feels that her involvement in the
club has helped her own personal growth.
During her first semester with Las Adelitas
she described herself as a quiet and shy
person. After. participating in Las Adelitas
for several semesters, she has learned to
voice her own opinion.
"Las Adelitas has taught me to gro\\
itnd become more self confident about
myself," said Jauregui.
·
Las Adelitas is preparing for next fall
by continuing the push for recruitment.
They have also begun a survey on subjects
that members would like to see discussed
at future meetings, a possible revision of
their constitution.
Erasing myths
and stereotypes
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
"Changes in the world of work and
in society have and are continuing to
occur as more women enter the working world," said Lea Ybarra, a Chicano
Latino Professor at CSU F at a lecture
on Male and Female Relationships on
April 30.
Ybarra said tbat most college women
assume that after they graduate from
college, are employed and marry, that
their husbands will share some of the
household responsibilities. Unfortunately, statistics show that most marriages don't work out this way.
Studies also show that the one area
in which men help their wives with the
household is in washing windows
which is done about once a year."
According to Ybarra, a conflict
occurs when the working women wants
to become a mother and she's faced
with the decision to chose between her
career, and motherhood.
"Men have always been allowed the
opportunity to be fathers and workers.
Women should be allowed the same
opportunity.'-'
Cuba, unlike the United States, has a
, national law which requires men to be
responible for half of the household
chores, stated Ybarra.
"Societal expectations differ from
our expectations or ones we would like,
said Ybarra.
Women are programmed to act a
certain way since they are young; for
example, by giving girls dolls they are
taught to be passive.
Ybarra critisized commercials and
movies as being regressive. "In the wisk
commercial a woman feels guilty because of the ring around the collar,
when it is her husband with the dirty
neck. The movie An Officer and a Gentlemen portrays a woman working in a
factory who can only be saved by getting married.
Ybarra believes that if changes are to
be made among men and women in our
society, we must start erasing myths
and stereotypes which we have developed through the years about men and
women.
French influence
Mexican culture
During Mexiccts colonial period, Spain jealously guarded its colony from cultural
influences from other European nations. Especially those powers which the
Spaniards considered a threat to its colony, primarily England and France.
As a consequence, the mestizo culture that developed in Mexico and in the
Southwest (USA) was a blending of the Indian and Spanish culture with the latter
asserting a predominant influence.
It wasn't until Mexico gained its independence from Spain (1821) that Mexico
opened its doors to other countries of the world.
Mexico, howevever, still maintained strong cultural ties with its mother country,
Spain, and remained "Spanish" culturally until the beginning of the twentieth
century.
It was during the second half of the nineteenth century that the music and dances
from Eastern Europe started to gain popularity throughout Mexico, particularly, in
the north.
The waltz and its related forms (polka, shottise, redovas) received considerable
resistance from the conservative Catholic Church which still maintained strong ties
with Spain.
This resistance centered supposedly on moral rather than cultural grounds.
Despite the opposition from the Catholic Church, the music and dance from Eastern
Europe started to take roots in Mexico especially among the aristocratic class.
The estab1isn.ment of the Maximilian Empire in 1864 reinforced the predilection
for this type of music and dance.
Maximilian and his wife, Carlota, came from Europe's finest aristrocratic society
and entertained their Mexican guest in the finest European tradition. The courtly
dances that were performed during this period in time, besides the waltz and its
related forms, were the French Quadrilles, or most commonly known in Spanish as
cuadrillas.
The cuadrillas were a French variation of the English country dance. They were
reminiscent of the square dances that we see today except that they were danced in a
much more stately fashion.
Penetration of French soldiers to the northern part of Mexico brought this "latest"
style of dance to this region where it quickly underwent certain changes and quickly
acquired a unique norteno temperament.
Even though this style of dance is no longer popular, the word cuadrilla is still in
popular use today, but in a different sense. Today, the term is used to refer to a group
of people who work in the fields.
Another cultural tradition left by the French are the musical groups which
accompany the dancers of Jalisco called mariachi.
During this short lived reign of Maximilian, there existed in Jalisco, Mexico,
musical groups which played at various official ceremonies and social events. These
un-named ensembles were especially popular with the French and with the Mexican
aristocracy at wedding receptions.
The French attempted to Hispanize the French word rnariage (marriage) by
appending a "chi" to the word.and as a consequence, these group.s that played at the
weddings were christened mariachi.
These are but a few examples of the cultural legacy left by the French during their
short stay in Mexico.
The cultural influence that took place during this period of time is still felt by many
Mexicans and Chicanos alike but have been obscured by time and space.
Mexican/ Chicano culture is rich in history and tradition and knowledge of it can
only lead to ~ better understanding of our heritage and real pride in ourselves.
By Ernesto Martinez
El Significado de
Cinco de Mayo_en E.U.
~os_libros de historia de Mexico nos dicen: "El memorable 5 de mayo de 1862
atacp de Conde Lorencez con arreglo al arte de la guerra, al ejercito mexicano
cornpuesto de c~atro mil hombres ~ las ordenes del valiente General Ignacio Zaragoza, que defend1a los cerros-de Loreto y Guadalupe, rompiendo el fuego de canion a
las doce del dia .. Cuatro columnas de mil hombres cada una lanzo el jefe frances y
todas fueron rechazadas tres veces, teniendQ que abandonar el cam po a las cuatro de
la tarde, con una perdida de 513 entre muertos y heridos, impidiendo un fuerte
aguac~.ro que se continuara la persecucion, que era tarnbien dificil, porque derrotados _los ~nvas9res. corn~ estaban, te_nian todavia mas fuerza numerica que Zaragoza.
~l e1erc1to frances, dec1a este caud1ll0, se ha batido con rnucha bizara; su general en
Jefe se ha portado con torpeza en el ataque, las armas naciona- les se han cubierto
de gloria ... puedo afirmar con orgullo que ni un solo rnomento volvio la espalda al
enemigo el ejercito mexicano durante la larga lucha que sostuvo."
Este discurso historico jusfica y explica parcialmente la celebraci~n del 5 de mayo
en la Republica Mexicana, pero no en los Estados Unidos. El hecho de que la
poblacion de origen mexicano sea un conglomerado compartidor de las tradiciones
civico cultu~ales mexicanas, 1ampoco aclara la pregunta implicada en el titulo, ya
que no festeJamos exceptuando "El Grito de Dolores,". otras fiestas patrias importantes corno el 20 de noviembre: Celebracion de la Revolucion Mexicana de 1910' el
5 de t'"ebrero: Constituciones de 1857 y 1917, etc. Entonces, por que celebramos el 5 de
mayo en los territorios de Aztlan? Quien inicio esta fiesta? Al parecer, indirectamente, Don Portfirio Diaz. Como todos sabemos, este controvertido dictador
participo tambien en la "Batalla de Puebla" de memorable 5 de mayo. Por lo tanto,
cuando don Porfirio estuvo en el poder ordeno que el 5 de mayo se celebrara con
igual esplendor que el 16 de Septiembre: Independencia de Mexico, puesto que el
habia sido uno de los protagonistas en la "Batalla de Puebla."
Poste_ri_orment~! al iniciarse el movimiento de la Revolucion Mexicana, muchos de
los porfmst~s e~1hados ~n lo Esta~os Unidos siquieron festejando el 5 de mayo en la
zona front~nza de la Umon Americana, creando asi esta tradicion que perdura hasta
nuestros d1as, pero sin Diaz.
Dr. Cosme Zaragoza
La Voz de Aztlan:
A historical view
La Voz, or La Pluma Morena (The
Brown Pen) as it was first called, was
spawned from the turbulent times of the
late 60s and early 70s, when racial tensions
were high and protest demonstrations
were a common occurence.
. The first issue was done on May 5, 1969,
its content was largely political. Stories
ranged from the opposition to the draft;
the on-going war in Vietnam; the "Liberation of Chicanos'~; to Ceasaer Chavez'
farm labor struggle.
The newspaper's political stance was no
secret; its stories and art work depicted
that. The name changed from La Pluma
Morena to Chicano Liberation, with the
name encircled in bandoliers. Stories calling for an end to oppression and the need
for justice were standard copy. The atmosphere in the early 70s was one of
urgency for Chicanos, and La Voz captured it. Every square inch of every page
was used, with either a story, artwork, ora
poem relating the need for Chicanos to
educate, motivat~ and participate.
The use of La Voz as a medium for the
Chicano viewpoint was an important objective, but also just as important was the
desperately needed experience that
Chicano journalists received.
With that experience, La Voz became
the starting point for such local media
people as Tom Uribes, editor of
Sentimientos and El Tiempo; Al Reyes,
former Channel 30 reporter and now with
El Tiempo; Marty Uribes, reporter with
Channel 47; and Larry Romero, formerly
with the Fresno Bee and currently with the
San Jose Mercury News.
La Voz spoke with Larry Romero, who
was editor during the years 74-75, about
his experiences and feelings with La Voz.
"lt was_ an alternative newspaper, it
gave a voice that was needed and is still
needed today," Romero said. Larry also
agreed that La Voz was a good training
ground for a reporter.
Having been with the San Jose Mercury
News for three years, now Larry looks
back, and remembers that one of the
problems La Voz encountered was the
lack of recognition.
"La Voz wasn't taken seriously by the
Journalism Department; they didn't consider it a legitimate endeavor," Romero
continued. "We were as concerned or
more so than other journalism students,
because we had a special feeling for the
community we wrote about." Even though,
according to Romero, La Voz broke
stories even before the Collegian, "we
didn't get recognition from the established
media."
Romero's staff, like many other La Voz
staffs, was sprinkled with very few
journalism majors. "I was the only
journalism major on the staff, others were
·concerned students and most of it I wrote
myself," he added.
Newspaper policy generally changed
trom editor to editor; some thought La
Voz should be used primarily as a learning
tool, while others thought La Voz should
be used as a political tool. Romero disagreed with the latter, "l didn't think it
should be used as a political tool. You
See La Voz page 3
Reality leadership ·
plays political games
~
The Reality leadership in Associated students do not have a clear understanding of what it is to be political and to
"play political games with student's interests and concerns". They lable themselves
nonpolitical because they refuse to approach so-called "off campus" issues such
as apartheid and the grape boycott; these
issues do not involve students, they assert.
When they profess that the senate should
not be political, they mean these and other
social issues should not be directly dealt
with by A.S. government, but rather by
student clubs and organizations, if at all.
They simply cause to much political
division.
However, these self-proclaimed nonpolitical actors in the senate are in fact
playing power politics with students at an
unprecendent~d level and as a result are
arousing much more salient controversy
and polarization in the senate than a resolution condemming South Africa-type
racism ever could. The voting membership of the Finance and Budget Committee (John Love, School of Business; Kent
Foster, School of Engineering; Greg Barfield, School of Health and Social Work;
and Ellen Tyler) have, as a body, decided
to n;iake draconian cuts in cultural, ethnic,
progressive and academic student interests while augmenting to student government enough money and power to support a Third World nation.
The cuts in such areas as MEChA (cut
from $2,900 to $700), Chicanos In Law
( cut from $1,130 to $650) and the Chicano
Youth Conference (cut from $3,950 to
$3,350) are alarming vis-a-vis the increase
in student government, about $30,000
(The requested amount for student government is over$100,000 a significant increase
over last year's $78,956.) Most clubs are
not being budgeted at all for the purpose
of bringing relevent speakers on campus.
Instead, clubs must now go through a
separate hearing to sponsor those activities. For example, MEChA, if they want
to bring speakers, would not be able to use
thier allocated funds but rather wp11ld
have to make a sepaiate reouest to ihe A~
programming comr.:iittee. Thus, ii. is proposed by the Finance and Budget committee, that in lieu of MEChA choosing their
speakers, the student politicans on that
particular committee would make the
choices. _Even worse, any speaker recommended by the committee would have to
be approved by two executives ( of which
there are three). That means that neither
the committee, the Senate, or MEChA
will choose MEChA speakers, but rather
Bob Whelan, Rebeka Burger, and John
Love·wou}d make the decisions for all.
How can two people decide what is
right for every club and organization on
campus? When the Geography Club
chooses a speak.er, their decision is based
on their academic interests and what the
club wishes to promote (in this case the
study of Geography), not for political
purposes or the interests of the three executive students (all business majors). The
..Chican·o-Latino Student Association
might want to bring a speaker that promotes the Chicano, but because of the
proposed Fianance and Budget policy,
would have to get the approval of two
people that have no idea what it is like to
be an ethnic minority and could not possibly see the same importance in a specific
activity. They do not care if a ·Caesar
Chavez comes to campus and if faced with
See Chacon page 3
Letters to the Editor
Pappa speaks
There's been a lot written and broadcast
about me because of recent controversies
and I've allowed many of them to go with:
out response. I'll make an exception in
this case though,. because Danny Chacon 's column in the last edition of La Voz
put me in the writing mood, and it got a
hearty laugh out of me, one which still
echos in the Collegian office where I happened to be when I first read it.
Danny, I've watched you during AS
senate meetings and have silently rooted
for some of the causes you espoused and
have silently opposed others. And I've
sometimes admired yo·ur chutzpah, even
when I fervently disagreed with you and
even when your diatribes could be characterized as ramblings.
l recognize, Danny, that your recent
column was hastily written with little forethought. Your ramblings ·were indeed entertaining, for it was easy for me to picture
you working yourself up into a frenzy as
one thought piled atop another and you
stuggled to remember them all and transfer
them to paper. But please try next time to
think out what you plan to write.
If I didn't know any better, I would
have taken offense at your labels. First,
you make me out to be a supporters of
apartheid in South Africa, which I am
not. · Then you say l may be in favor of
sending student money to aid the Nicaraguan contras. I am not. Next you place me
on the political spectrum to the far right.
Actually, I might say that I'm more moderate and am a little right of center. Certainly, like much of this university's and,
indeed, this nation's population, ! am
more conservative than-liberal, though I
do come out on .the side of liberab c•~-:.
some issues. Then you compare me to a ·
notorious tyranical killer. No, Danny,
you need not refer to me as "Pappa-doc."
Erik is just fine, thank you.
If I were to take this matter as far as you
and your cohorts have, I might classify
your statement as a racial slur, to take it a
step further, for I am a member of both
ethnic groups. I also will have you know
that if I were to require international students to carry special campus passportrs,
which you have stated, my mother who is
still a citizen of Norway, would probably
never let me have the privilege of visiting
any of my Norwegian relatives ever again.
Many of these relatives, incidentally, know
what it's like to have their country occupied by a foreign army, one filled with
Nazis.
Furthermore, on another point, how
would I conduct myself in a government,
if I ever decide to make a "legir.imat~" bid
for office? Well, I'm riot running for anything yet, so why should I create a platform hei:e? Certainly, like many of your
cohorts (which does not mean all the
minorities on this campus), you have
twisted the issues to fit your requisites.
(Incidentally, it was very fortunate your
ploys _didn't work in the recent student
body elections.) My concerns for professionalism and fairness were directed at
those publications which should strive for
such high journalistic standards. I never
proposed that they should cease puplication, only that if they couldn't shape up,
they should be distributed independently
and let the students, then, decide if they
wanted to pick up those publications.
Eviden~ly. your cohorts feared the results
of such a test. Such journalistic standards
easily could not be applied to cultural
events.
Another thing: I have not favored the
abolition of special publications. But, if
we are to spend student money to support
products of the Ethnic Studies Department, the Chicano-Latino Studies Department and the ~rmenian Studies Department, why shouldn't we also spend student
money to create voices for the Art
Department, the Music Department, and
the Theater Arts Department, the School
of Business, the School of Agriculture and
all the others. Many of these have as much
to offer students, if not more. The point
may simply be that funding of items that
legitimately belong to the respective departments on campus has been picked up by
students too long. I see no reason why
students should be made to pay for products which, legitimately, should be paid
for by their respective departments.
One more item: Federation '87? Come
on Danny, really. You've been watching
too many Star Trek episodes.
'
Erik Pappa
Learn facts
If La Voz readers would like to see a
good example of how not to write a letter
to the editor they should check out the
Collegian (May l, 1986) in which·Robert
Edwards and Andy Adams respo11ded to
my column of April 30 which delt with the
myth that the U.S. is really undergoing· a
.. war against terrorism."
Edwards and Adams think we are. They
sound to me like two white South ,Africans,
blissfully ignorant of the horrors of
Apartheid, lounging .by a pool sipping
Pina Coladas in a lush Johannesburg
suberb, wondering what all the "terrorism"
is all about. Pitiful.
In many ways we Americans are in a
similar position. We don't hear about
U.S.- sponsored terrorism because it
doesn't reinforce our biases to hear about
Contra atrocities, the bombing of El
Salvador, the death squads in Latin
America, etc. To Edwards and Adams,
anyone who talks about these things that
disturb their personal mythology must be
a "terrorist" or a "commie" or what~ver.
My column...addressed the problem of
terrorism against the U.s·. and Israel from
its root · causes. If Edwards and Adams
think that I was supporting Qaddafi's
tactics they should read it again. In fact,
after I read their responses to my column I
wondered if they even read past the
headline.
They don't respond with facts or counter
arguments, just rhetoric. Take away the
name- calling, the anti- semitism bullshit,
and o.ther assorted non- facts and what is
left? Nothing.
Edwards and Adams seem deeply concerned about terrorism, but ''they are
unwilling or too ignorant"' to stop and
think what it is all about. Jhey both have
fallen info the same trap. The notion that
crticism of policies (that help foster
terrorism) is someho~ criticism of a people
(Americans), and criticism of; bad policy
decis'ions is "blaming America." This is a
mistake. If Ed wards and Adams are so
convinced that Reagan has done the right
thing,1 invite them to travel to the Middle
East and proclaim to crowds of people
how proud 'they are to be an American
and that they support U.S. policy 100
nercent. They might get a surprise.
While they are at it, they could stop
Managua, Nicaragua on July 19 and be
guest speakers at the anniversary celebration where one- sixth of the Nicaraguan
people assemble (500,000 people) to reaffirm their commitment to the revolution.
We can hardly get that percentage of
people to vote!
Chavez
wrong people to make policy virtually
without question. It's about time we started
asking questions.
Steve Bruhn
A.S. budget
From page 1
Chavez accused Deukmejlan and the
agricultural Industry of "the systematic
and ·reckleBB poisoning of not only
California farm workers, but of grape
consumers throughout our nation and
Canada."
Illness, permanent disability and
death
were cited by Chavez as the
Associated student Body fees total
approximately $500,000; allocations will retulls of the "lndls$rimlnate and even
be voted on Tuesday, May 6th. Various llfegal use of dangerous pesticides.''
Chavez said the progre88 nade by
legitimate _groups feel that the membership of the Finance and Budget committee the UFW In past years Is being destroyhas shown favoritism to some clubs at the ed by corporate growers and .. hemlcal
expense of others. We are asking for a companies who "so thoroughly domcloser look at Asfociated Students Adminis- inate the state government In Califtration costs. With two new computers ornia."
and a new copy machine in theA.S. office,
"We must not allow the go• ernor of,
the work- load should be significantly less Calilornla and the selfish Interests of
than last year. Therefore fewef office staff CalHornla grape growers to threaten
will be needed, however the F & B com- llves throughout North America," •aid
mittees's recommendation is to increase Chavel.
·
their budget by $35,000, a 25% increase
Chavez Hated five peatlcktes that he
over 1985-1986.
wants banned from the fields and gave
We feel that the proposed A.S. Admin- examples -o f potential harmful effecta
istration budget ofS 180,000, which is 36% associated wHh their u■e.
of the total Associated Students budget is
excessive and unfair to the student body
as a whole when one sees that the social
issue groups are only budgeted for a mere
$3,980 .. 79% of the budget, and various
other minority and cultural organizations
funds have been cut drastically or eliminated all together. We feel student fees
should go to clubs, and not create an
expensive bureauocracv.
intramural sports and recreation has
been allocated $56,000 which is 11 % 0£.the
budget. In light of the fact that some"clubs
were gutted, we feel this amount must be
investigated.
The Environmental Protection Agency
recently placed commerclally-u1ed
pesticides at the top of their 11st of moat
urgent problems.
"The grape growers can
hide from their duty under
the law, but they can't hide
from a boycott.
-Chavez
Chavez issued a challenge to the
If cuts must be made, they should be CalifornJa Table .Grap_e_C.01111:niBBlon, ,
based on objecti-ve criteria, not on the P & headquartered in Fresno, to Join with
B members' personal opinions or biases the UFW in sponsoring thorough testing
about the clubs.
of pesticides on grapes by an independSenators, club representatives, and ent laboratory, with the results made
concerned students, will confront the F & available to the consuming public.
B committee at Tuesday's senate meeting
Chavez said the only way the dewith these questions. We want all clubs to mands of farm · workers will be acknowlhave acc~s to fair and equitable funding. edged is through a boycott.
Craig Brooks
Concerned Student
La Voz
From page 2
have to keep it as objective as possible and
strive for that."
Romero also remembered the attempts
by the Associated Students to do away the
Black and Chicano editions during considerations. "It happened almost every semester," Romero said.
Fortunately for Romero and his staff,
the Daily Collegian supported them. The
Chacon
From page 2
a choice between funding a visit from him
or say Howard Jarvis, who would they
pick?
The answer is that they should not have
the choice in the first place; Chicanos In
Law should choose their speakers, CLSA
theirs, etc.,
Besides their reluctance to give money
Edwards and Adams obviously see
to clubs for speakers, these "non politithings through such an ideologically biased cans" have also decided that the AS has ·
perspective that they are not able to sort
been much too generous in allocatiQ.g
out the facts. They are J'.ke two little pigs,
money, period. AS President- elect Bob
stuck in the ideological mud, oblivious of
Whalen says that he is tired of people
the world around them.
thinking of the AS as "a place to come and
It is not inherent that our c:-,untry's get money that they don't have to pay
foreign policy will support or provoke back."
This means that even though it is stuterrorism, but it is in part made possible
· because so many ignorant people like dent money to begin with, students who
Edwards and Adams have allowed the wish to utilize it must pay it back. His
"The grape growers can hide from
their duty l.rnder the law, but they can't
hide from a boycott," said Chavez.
publications developed good rapport with
each other. Romero cited no real problem
with the Collegian and added that they
were always helpful in one way or another.
One of Romero's priorities while being
editpr was to get the Native American
students involved. One such student was
Rick Herdia, who broke a story that the
Fresno Bee later picked up, but neither
Rick nor La Voz received anv other credit.
This article was writen by a former editor
of La Voz de Aztlan, Bobby Rodriguez
proposal to establish the Associated Students as a credit union would accomplish
this. Bu,1eacracy would increase and business students would have a place to train
for the professional world, but everyone
else would be left out.
This is a potentially dangerous shift in
the purpose and proper role of student
government. When we have as our leaders
individuals like John Love, who has stated
that cultural activities (e.g. Semana de la
Raza, Indian Week, etc.) have been getting the "lion's share" of money and
should be cut, while voting to give over
$50,000 to intramural sports, we must
stop and question their motivation. If cuts
need to be made, should they not be equitable? The Inter-Business Council, of which
Love is a member did not suffer a single
cut while MEChA was reduced by over
85%. To some Reality die hards, this is
suppose to be non political. To the rest of
the world it is political pork barreling to
the worse kind.
•
Photo by Lawrence Tova,r
Carmen Moreno, a native of Heron, came from Palm Springs to sing at the SCU Wednesday as part of Semana de /a Raza
Moreno·sings at·Satellite
Spotlight
By Belen Rodriguez,
Staff Writer
Carmen Moreno a widely recognized
singer and musi~ian was on the CSU F
campus on Wednesday, April 30, to per•
form for Semana de La Raza.
Moreno is orginally from East Los
Aq~les and (?Omes from a second genera.~ family of musicians.
Moreno moved to the San Joaquin Valley when her father moved his family after
accepting a job offer. She lived here most
of her life as a child and later attended 4
C's vocational college and became a
Moreno said she didn't want to do
secretary.
favors and things that others did to become
"I didn't like being a secretary. I wanted famous. Nor did·she want to be very sucto be a physicist or a hospital technican, cessful because this only meant that she
said .Moreno.
would lose her privacy and above all
"I ~s always creative and felt very else,- time with her family.
limited as a secretary, so I went into per"It's a crazy business, personality helps 1
forming since I had grown up in it. I but you don't have to be smart since you
immediately got a job as a singer in a are constantly told what to do," said
restaurant called Sinaloa in San Fran- Moreno.
sisco."
Moreno, unlike other Chicano singers
Moreno r~called the first time she oer- such as Vicky Carr or Freddie Fender did
formed at..S.inaloa. She said her boss has not change her name to accommodate the
pressur~d her into going over to a table general ·public. Moreno feels strongly
full of businessmen that requested her about her ethnic identity .
co~pany. Stit refused.
Today Moreno performs in restaurants
"Men in -the business see women in. throughout Palm Springs and many other
three ways: loose, lesbian or crazy if you states singing songs from a variety of
don't do them any special favors.
styles, including rock, bl ties or folk music.
Her ability as a bilingual singer has earned
her much recognition for her easy flowing
style and diversity.
''-My music is a product of the environment. Sometimes you want to flee but you
can't."
Through her-music she tries to educate
her audience in order to dispell stereotypes and myths about Chicano culture
and language.
"We have to help our lesser brothers
and sisters, so they can lead a fulfilling life
in whatever pursuit they choose. We are
the ones laying the bricks for the road, and
it's not easy.
"We are part of the same planet. We
have no room for destructive pri4e aJ!ld
nartbw minded views.
"Love, care and concern is where it is all
at." Moreno said.
CSUF Teatro helps community
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
An ecclectic and attentive audience
attended the performance of Teatro de
µs Cucarachas at the Satellite College
Union on Sunday night.
"Teatro was developed to help the community," said Guillermo Lopez, a counselor for adolescents of chemical dependency for Renaissance and a consultant
for the Teatro.
Lopez said that the purpose ofTeatro is
to put on performances that deal effectively with social issues which aren't thoroughly_ dealt with by the media and
teachers; such as, drug addiction,~alcoholis_m, gang warfare and teenage pregnancies among Chicanos.
"I have never walked away from one of
our plays feeling like we failed to serve our
purpose," said Lopez.
The community heJ;;;:; T eatro by providing them with the means for transportation as well as other basic needs.
"The only thing that we ask for from
people who have requested a performance
from us is that they pay for the gas, and
maybe make-up or other minor necessities.
Teatro has performed as far south as
Houston, Texas and major cities in
California.
-".We've done commercials, made video
tapes, perform_ed -for embassa<1ors, pri- writes a script. The plays are improvised."
sons, juvenile haHs, schools; o1d folh
Since there are no scripts, no two plays
homes and many other places, said Lopez. are alike:"We usuaHy don't have all of the
"The number of volunteers in the play same actors in following plays, and if we
fluctuates. There are over a total of l 00 repeat a play- which we seldom do- actors
individuals who are willing and prepared never play the same _roles, said Lopez.
to perform, but we usually have about ten
According to Lopez, the age of the perperformers por play."
formers range from four years old and
older. "We perform to a variety ofaudienLopez said that the pertormers aren't ces: young, oltl, black, white, brown, and
required to memorize any lines; "Nobody anybody else who's interested in watchin~.
"I couldn't sing or dance, and I wasn't a
strong speaker, but after seeing a Teatro
one time, l wanted to become part of the
very special group of people who were
doing special ~hings for the community.
"Teatro is very dynamic, extremely
entertaining and highly motivating. Teatro will always exist in one form or
another, as long as there are pe'ople willing
to motivate others in the community,"
said Lopez.
•r-···················-·································································:•
M.A.P .A. del Valle invites you to attend I
•!i
•
+.~,.M PouT,cA{
their meetings the first Wednesday of the- i
•
I
t:::====~
~MAPA~
••
0•
i
i
I
•
:
:
t
~-s:
z
«
~STATfOfCAUi°O
month at the Ted C. Wills community center!
at 6:00 p.m.
M. A.P .A. believes that students can
!
I
make a difference in their community.
For more information contact
••
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:
:
••
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Ben Benavidez, at 442-0380.
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I
aVoz
de.Aztlan
rms at
page4
5,1981
Pesticides threaten lives
Deukmejian
accused as
pro- grower
By Carlos Castillo
Labeling it "A plague born of selfish
men," United Farm Workers President
Cesar Chavez said the wjdespread use
of toxic pesticides threatens the lives ot
farm workers and consumers and called
tor a consumer boycott of table grapes
during a speech at CSUF, highlighting
Semana de La Raza.
Chavez is currently in the midst ot a
cross-country tour to drum up support
for his "Wrath ot Grapes Boycott,"
which he hopes will pressure growers
to return to the bargaining table.
ChavezailicizedGov. GeorgeDeukme;ian
and the Agricultural Labor Relations
Board as being ineffecUve in dealing
with grievances tiled by farm workers
against growers.
Chavez said agencies that enforced
the laws dictated by the Agricultural
Labor Relations Act ot 1975 were targets
of Deukmejian budget cuts and investigations into violations ot the law rarely
occur.
"Through Governor George
Deukmejian, growers have made a
mockery of the law," said Chavez. "The
ALRB has become just one more weapon growers are using to oppress farm
workers.''
See Chavez page 3
/f
·Photo by Lawrence Tovar
UFW leader, Cesar Chavez started off Senana de la Raza Tuesday night at the $atelllte Union.
-
Chicanas on the move
Lourdes Espinosa
Staff Writer
Las Adelitas, a CSUF campus organization primarily composed of Chicanas,
is rapidly reviving after being away from
the campus scene.
When membership. in Las Adelitas
decreased last semester due to lack of
:enthusiasm, f oriner members pushed recruitment increasing membership to fifteen this semester.
"We are developing into a more interesting organization that pertains to problems affecting women, said Connie
Moreno, president of Las Adelitas.
According to Moreno, the purpose of
Las Adelitas is to "enhance the perception
of wo_men."
the history of Las Adelitas stems from
the Mexican Revolution, when a need for
increased manpower was apparent and
women began taking on a new active role.
Some fought alongside the men, while
others served as moral support. The idea
of the aggressive, assertive, and strong
woman was born.
Moreno said that society· has long
implemented the role of men as aggressive
and the role of women as passive.
Moreno believes adrogeny is the key
to a richer personality. Adrogeny, the
combination of male and female characteristics is the " ... only way in which we can
possibly grow. We need to share and
divide roles."
According to More no the political aspect
of Las Adelitas ha·s long been a disputed
question. Within the dub there are various_
politicai issues which they support but the
main emphasis for the members are the
roles of women in society. "We are a po lit:.
ical organization, but we also emphasize
education and other issues pertinent to
our members."
Las Adelitas sponsored a conference on
April 8 which ,addressed the issueWoman: The Other Half of the Revolution,
featuring Juanita Gomez as the guest
speaker.
Blanca Jauregui, vice-president of Las
Adelitas, feels that her involvement in the
club has helped her own personal growth.
During her first semester with Las Adelitas
she described herself as a quiet and shy
person. After. participating in Las Adelitas
for several semesters, she has learned to
voice her own opinion.
"Las Adelitas has taught me to gro\\
itnd become more self confident about
myself," said Jauregui.
·
Las Adelitas is preparing for next fall
by continuing the push for recruitment.
They have also begun a survey on subjects
that members would like to see discussed
at future meetings, a possible revision of
their constitution.
Erasing myths
and stereotypes
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
"Changes in the world of work and
in society have and are continuing to
occur as more women enter the working world," said Lea Ybarra, a Chicano
Latino Professor at CSU F at a lecture
on Male and Female Relationships on
April 30.
Ybarra said tbat most college women
assume that after they graduate from
college, are employed and marry, that
their husbands will share some of the
household responsibilities. Unfortunately, statistics show that most marriages don't work out this way.
Studies also show that the one area
in which men help their wives with the
household is in washing windows
which is done about once a year."
According to Ybarra, a conflict
occurs when the working women wants
to become a mother and she's faced
with the decision to chose between her
career, and motherhood.
"Men have always been allowed the
opportunity to be fathers and workers.
Women should be allowed the same
opportunity.'-'
Cuba, unlike the United States, has a
, national law which requires men to be
responible for half of the household
chores, stated Ybarra.
"Societal expectations differ from
our expectations or ones we would like,
said Ybarra.
Women are programmed to act a
certain way since they are young; for
example, by giving girls dolls they are
taught to be passive.
Ybarra critisized commercials and
movies as being regressive. "In the wisk
commercial a woman feels guilty because of the ring around the collar,
when it is her husband with the dirty
neck. The movie An Officer and a Gentlemen portrays a woman working in a
factory who can only be saved by getting married.
Ybarra believes that if changes are to
be made among men and women in our
society, we must start erasing myths
and stereotypes which we have developed through the years about men and
women.
French influence
Mexican culture
During Mexiccts colonial period, Spain jealously guarded its colony from cultural
influences from other European nations. Especially those powers which the
Spaniards considered a threat to its colony, primarily England and France.
As a consequence, the mestizo culture that developed in Mexico and in the
Southwest (USA) was a blending of the Indian and Spanish culture with the latter
asserting a predominant influence.
It wasn't until Mexico gained its independence from Spain (1821) that Mexico
opened its doors to other countries of the world.
Mexico, howevever, still maintained strong cultural ties with its mother country,
Spain, and remained "Spanish" culturally until the beginning of the twentieth
century.
It was during the second half of the nineteenth century that the music and dances
from Eastern Europe started to gain popularity throughout Mexico, particularly, in
the north.
The waltz and its related forms (polka, shottise, redovas) received considerable
resistance from the conservative Catholic Church which still maintained strong ties
with Spain.
This resistance centered supposedly on moral rather than cultural grounds.
Despite the opposition from the Catholic Church, the music and dance from Eastern
Europe started to take roots in Mexico especially among the aristocratic class.
The estab1isn.ment of the Maximilian Empire in 1864 reinforced the predilection
for this type of music and dance.
Maximilian and his wife, Carlota, came from Europe's finest aristrocratic society
and entertained their Mexican guest in the finest European tradition. The courtly
dances that were performed during this period in time, besides the waltz and its
related forms, were the French Quadrilles, or most commonly known in Spanish as
cuadrillas.
The cuadrillas were a French variation of the English country dance. They were
reminiscent of the square dances that we see today except that they were danced in a
much more stately fashion.
Penetration of French soldiers to the northern part of Mexico brought this "latest"
style of dance to this region where it quickly underwent certain changes and quickly
acquired a unique norteno temperament.
Even though this style of dance is no longer popular, the word cuadrilla is still in
popular use today, but in a different sense. Today, the term is used to refer to a group
of people who work in the fields.
Another cultural tradition left by the French are the musical groups which
accompany the dancers of Jalisco called mariachi.
During this short lived reign of Maximilian, there existed in Jalisco, Mexico,
musical groups which played at various official ceremonies and social events. These
un-named ensembles were especially popular with the French and with the Mexican
aristocracy at wedding receptions.
The French attempted to Hispanize the French word rnariage (marriage) by
appending a "chi" to the word.and as a consequence, these group.s that played at the
weddings were christened mariachi.
These are but a few examples of the cultural legacy left by the French during their
short stay in Mexico.
The cultural influence that took place during this period of time is still felt by many
Mexicans and Chicanos alike but have been obscured by time and space.
Mexican/ Chicano culture is rich in history and tradition and knowledge of it can
only lead to ~ better understanding of our heritage and real pride in ourselves.
By Ernesto Martinez
El Significado de
Cinco de Mayo_en E.U.
~os_libros de historia de Mexico nos dicen: "El memorable 5 de mayo de 1862
atacp de Conde Lorencez con arreglo al arte de la guerra, al ejercito mexicano
cornpuesto de c~atro mil hombres ~ las ordenes del valiente General Ignacio Zaragoza, que defend1a los cerros-de Loreto y Guadalupe, rompiendo el fuego de canion a
las doce del dia .. Cuatro columnas de mil hombres cada una lanzo el jefe frances y
todas fueron rechazadas tres veces, teniendQ que abandonar el cam po a las cuatro de
la tarde, con una perdida de 513 entre muertos y heridos, impidiendo un fuerte
aguac~.ro que se continuara la persecucion, que era tarnbien dificil, porque derrotados _los ~nvas9res. corn~ estaban, te_nian todavia mas fuerza numerica que Zaragoza.
~l e1erc1to frances, dec1a este caud1ll0, se ha batido con rnucha bizara; su general en
Jefe se ha portado con torpeza en el ataque, las armas naciona- les se han cubierto
de gloria ... puedo afirmar con orgullo que ni un solo rnomento volvio la espalda al
enemigo el ejercito mexicano durante la larga lucha que sostuvo."
Este discurso historico jusfica y explica parcialmente la celebraci~n del 5 de mayo
en la Republica Mexicana, pero no en los Estados Unidos. El hecho de que la
poblacion de origen mexicano sea un conglomerado compartidor de las tradiciones
civico cultu~ales mexicanas, 1ampoco aclara la pregunta implicada en el titulo, ya
que no festeJamos exceptuando "El Grito de Dolores,". otras fiestas patrias importantes corno el 20 de noviembre: Celebracion de la Revolucion Mexicana de 1910' el
5 de t'"ebrero: Constituciones de 1857 y 1917, etc. Entonces, por que celebramos el 5 de
mayo en los territorios de Aztlan? Quien inicio esta fiesta? Al parecer, indirectamente, Don Portfirio Diaz. Como todos sabemos, este controvertido dictador
participo tambien en la "Batalla de Puebla" de memorable 5 de mayo. Por lo tanto,
cuando don Porfirio estuvo en el poder ordeno que el 5 de mayo se celebrara con
igual esplendor que el 16 de Septiembre: Independencia de Mexico, puesto que el
habia sido uno de los protagonistas en la "Batalla de Puebla."
Poste_ri_orment~! al iniciarse el movimiento de la Revolucion Mexicana, muchos de
los porfmst~s e~1hados ~n lo Esta~os Unidos siquieron festejando el 5 de mayo en la
zona front~nza de la Umon Americana, creando asi esta tradicion que perdura hasta
nuestros d1as, pero sin Diaz.
Dr. Cosme Zaragoza
La Voz de Aztlan:
A historical view
La Voz, or La Pluma Morena (The
Brown Pen) as it was first called, was
spawned from the turbulent times of the
late 60s and early 70s, when racial tensions
were high and protest demonstrations
were a common occurence.
. The first issue was done on May 5, 1969,
its content was largely political. Stories
ranged from the opposition to the draft;
the on-going war in Vietnam; the "Liberation of Chicanos'~; to Ceasaer Chavez'
farm labor struggle.
The newspaper's political stance was no
secret; its stories and art work depicted
that. The name changed from La Pluma
Morena to Chicano Liberation, with the
name encircled in bandoliers. Stories calling for an end to oppression and the need
for justice were standard copy. The atmosphere in the early 70s was one of
urgency for Chicanos, and La Voz captured it. Every square inch of every page
was used, with either a story, artwork, ora
poem relating the need for Chicanos to
educate, motivat~ and participate.
The use of La Voz as a medium for the
Chicano viewpoint was an important objective, but also just as important was the
desperately needed experience that
Chicano journalists received.
With that experience, La Voz became
the starting point for such local media
people as Tom Uribes, editor of
Sentimientos and El Tiempo; Al Reyes,
former Channel 30 reporter and now with
El Tiempo; Marty Uribes, reporter with
Channel 47; and Larry Romero, formerly
with the Fresno Bee and currently with the
San Jose Mercury News.
La Voz spoke with Larry Romero, who
was editor during the years 74-75, about
his experiences and feelings with La Voz.
"lt was_ an alternative newspaper, it
gave a voice that was needed and is still
needed today," Romero said. Larry also
agreed that La Voz was a good training
ground for a reporter.
Having been with the San Jose Mercury
News for three years, now Larry looks
back, and remembers that one of the
problems La Voz encountered was the
lack of recognition.
"La Voz wasn't taken seriously by the
Journalism Department; they didn't consider it a legitimate endeavor," Romero
continued. "We were as concerned or
more so than other journalism students,
because we had a special feeling for the
community we wrote about." Even though,
according to Romero, La Voz broke
stories even before the Collegian, "we
didn't get recognition from the established
media."
Romero's staff, like many other La Voz
staffs, was sprinkled with very few
journalism majors. "I was the only
journalism major on the staff, others were
·concerned students and most of it I wrote
myself," he added.
Newspaper policy generally changed
trom editor to editor; some thought La
Voz should be used primarily as a learning
tool, while others thought La Voz should
be used as a political tool. Romero disagreed with the latter, "l didn't think it
should be used as a political tool. You
See La Voz page 3
Reality leadership ·
plays political games
~
The Reality leadership in Associated students do not have a clear understanding of what it is to be political and to
"play political games with student's interests and concerns". They lable themselves
nonpolitical because they refuse to approach so-called "off campus" issues such
as apartheid and the grape boycott; these
issues do not involve students, they assert.
When they profess that the senate should
not be political, they mean these and other
social issues should not be directly dealt
with by A.S. government, but rather by
student clubs and organizations, if at all.
They simply cause to much political
division.
However, these self-proclaimed nonpolitical actors in the senate are in fact
playing power politics with students at an
unprecendent~d level and as a result are
arousing much more salient controversy
and polarization in the senate than a resolution condemming South Africa-type
racism ever could. The voting membership of the Finance and Budget Committee (John Love, School of Business; Kent
Foster, School of Engineering; Greg Barfield, School of Health and Social Work;
and Ellen Tyler) have, as a body, decided
to n;iake draconian cuts in cultural, ethnic,
progressive and academic student interests while augmenting to student government enough money and power to support a Third World nation.
The cuts in such areas as MEChA (cut
from $2,900 to $700), Chicanos In Law
( cut from $1,130 to $650) and the Chicano
Youth Conference (cut from $3,950 to
$3,350) are alarming vis-a-vis the increase
in student government, about $30,000
(The requested amount for student government is over$100,000 a significant increase
over last year's $78,956.) Most clubs are
not being budgeted at all for the purpose
of bringing relevent speakers on campus.
Instead, clubs must now go through a
separate hearing to sponsor those activities. For example, MEChA, if they want
to bring speakers, would not be able to use
thier allocated funds but rather wp11ld
have to make a sepaiate reouest to ihe A~
programming comr.:iittee. Thus, ii. is proposed by the Finance and Budget committee, that in lieu of MEChA choosing their
speakers, the student politicans on that
particular committee would make the
choices. _Even worse, any speaker recommended by the committee would have to
be approved by two executives ( of which
there are three). That means that neither
the committee, the Senate, or MEChA
will choose MEChA speakers, but rather
Bob Whelan, Rebeka Burger, and John
Love·wou}d make the decisions for all.
How can two people decide what is
right for every club and organization on
campus? When the Geography Club
chooses a speak.er, their decision is based
on their academic interests and what the
club wishes to promote (in this case the
study of Geography), not for political
purposes or the interests of the three executive students (all business majors). The
..Chican·o-Latino Student Association
might want to bring a speaker that promotes the Chicano, but because of the
proposed Fianance and Budget policy,
would have to get the approval of two
people that have no idea what it is like to
be an ethnic minority and could not possibly see the same importance in a specific
activity. They do not care if a ·Caesar
Chavez comes to campus and if faced with
See Chacon page 3
Letters to the Editor
Pappa speaks
There's been a lot written and broadcast
about me because of recent controversies
and I've allowed many of them to go with:
out response. I'll make an exception in
this case though,. because Danny Chacon 's column in the last edition of La Voz
put me in the writing mood, and it got a
hearty laugh out of me, one which still
echos in the Collegian office where I happened to be when I first read it.
Danny, I've watched you during AS
senate meetings and have silently rooted
for some of the causes you espoused and
have silently opposed others. And I've
sometimes admired yo·ur chutzpah, even
when I fervently disagreed with you and
even when your diatribes could be characterized as ramblings.
l recognize, Danny, that your recent
column was hastily written with little forethought. Your ramblings ·were indeed entertaining, for it was easy for me to picture
you working yourself up into a frenzy as
one thought piled atop another and you
stuggled to remember them all and transfer
them to paper. But please try next time to
think out what you plan to write.
If I didn't know any better, I would
have taken offense at your labels. First,
you make me out to be a supporters of
apartheid in South Africa, which I am
not. · Then you say l may be in favor of
sending student money to aid the Nicaraguan contras. I am not. Next you place me
on the political spectrum to the far right.
Actually, I might say that I'm more moderate and am a little right of center. Certainly, like much of this university's and,
indeed, this nation's population, ! am
more conservative than-liberal, though I
do come out on .the side of liberab c•~-:.
some issues. Then you compare me to a ·
notorious tyranical killer. No, Danny,
you need not refer to me as "Pappa-doc."
Erik is just fine, thank you.
If I were to take this matter as far as you
and your cohorts have, I might classify
your statement as a racial slur, to take it a
step further, for I am a member of both
ethnic groups. I also will have you know
that if I were to require international students to carry special campus passportrs,
which you have stated, my mother who is
still a citizen of Norway, would probably
never let me have the privilege of visiting
any of my Norwegian relatives ever again.
Many of these relatives, incidentally, know
what it's like to have their country occupied by a foreign army, one filled with
Nazis.
Furthermore, on another point, how
would I conduct myself in a government,
if I ever decide to make a "legir.imat~" bid
for office? Well, I'm riot running for anything yet, so why should I create a platform hei:e? Certainly, like many of your
cohorts (which does not mean all the
minorities on this campus), you have
twisted the issues to fit your requisites.
(Incidentally, it was very fortunate your
ploys _didn't work in the recent student
body elections.) My concerns for professionalism and fairness were directed at
those publications which should strive for
such high journalistic standards. I never
proposed that they should cease puplication, only that if they couldn't shape up,
they should be distributed independently
and let the students, then, decide if they
wanted to pick up those publications.
Eviden~ly. your cohorts feared the results
of such a test. Such journalistic standards
easily could not be applied to cultural
events.
Another thing: I have not favored the
abolition of special publications. But, if
we are to spend student money to support
products of the Ethnic Studies Department, the Chicano-Latino Studies Department and the ~rmenian Studies Department, why shouldn't we also spend student
money to create voices for the Art
Department, the Music Department, and
the Theater Arts Department, the School
of Business, the School of Agriculture and
all the others. Many of these have as much
to offer students, if not more. The point
may simply be that funding of items that
legitimately belong to the respective departments on campus has been picked up by
students too long. I see no reason why
students should be made to pay for products which, legitimately, should be paid
for by their respective departments.
One more item: Federation '87? Come
on Danny, really. You've been watching
too many Star Trek episodes.
'
Erik Pappa
Learn facts
If La Voz readers would like to see a
good example of how not to write a letter
to the editor they should check out the
Collegian (May l, 1986) in which·Robert
Edwards and Andy Adams respo11ded to
my column of April 30 which delt with the
myth that the U.S. is really undergoing· a
.. war against terrorism."
Edwards and Adams think we are. They
sound to me like two white South ,Africans,
blissfully ignorant of the horrors of
Apartheid, lounging .by a pool sipping
Pina Coladas in a lush Johannesburg
suberb, wondering what all the "terrorism"
is all about. Pitiful.
In many ways we Americans are in a
similar position. We don't hear about
U.S.- sponsored terrorism because it
doesn't reinforce our biases to hear about
Contra atrocities, the bombing of El
Salvador, the death squads in Latin
America, etc. To Edwards and Adams,
anyone who talks about these things that
disturb their personal mythology must be
a "terrorist" or a "commie" or what~ver.
My column...addressed the problem of
terrorism against the U.s·. and Israel from
its root · causes. If Edwards and Adams
think that I was supporting Qaddafi's
tactics they should read it again. In fact,
after I read their responses to my column I
wondered if they even read past the
headline.
They don't respond with facts or counter
arguments, just rhetoric. Take away the
name- calling, the anti- semitism bullshit,
and o.ther assorted non- facts and what is
left? Nothing.
Edwards and Adams seem deeply concerned about terrorism, but ''they are
unwilling or too ignorant"' to stop and
think what it is all about. Jhey both have
fallen info the same trap. The notion that
crticism of policies (that help foster
terrorism) is someho~ criticism of a people
(Americans), and criticism of; bad policy
decis'ions is "blaming America." This is a
mistake. If Ed wards and Adams are so
convinced that Reagan has done the right
thing,1 invite them to travel to the Middle
East and proclaim to crowds of people
how proud 'they are to be an American
and that they support U.S. policy 100
nercent. They might get a surprise.
While they are at it, they could stop
Managua, Nicaragua on July 19 and be
guest speakers at the anniversary celebration where one- sixth of the Nicaraguan
people assemble (500,000 people) to reaffirm their commitment to the revolution.
We can hardly get that percentage of
people to vote!
Chavez
wrong people to make policy virtually
without question. It's about time we started
asking questions.
Steve Bruhn
A.S. budget
From page 1
Chavez accused Deukmejlan and the
agricultural Industry of "the systematic
and ·reckleBB poisoning of not only
California farm workers, but of grape
consumers throughout our nation and
Canada."
Illness, permanent disability and
death
were cited by Chavez as the
Associated student Body fees total
approximately $500,000; allocations will retulls of the "lndls$rimlnate and even
be voted on Tuesday, May 6th. Various llfegal use of dangerous pesticides.''
Chavez said the progre88 nade by
legitimate _groups feel that the membership of the Finance and Budget committee the UFW In past years Is being destroyhas shown favoritism to some clubs at the ed by corporate growers and .. hemlcal
expense of others. We are asking for a companies who "so thoroughly domcloser look at Asfociated Students Adminis- inate the state government In Califtration costs. With two new computers ornia."
and a new copy machine in theA.S. office,
"We must not allow the go• ernor of,
the work- load should be significantly less Calilornla and the selfish Interests of
than last year. Therefore fewef office staff CalHornla grape growers to threaten
will be needed, however the F & B com- llves throughout North America," •aid
mittees's recommendation is to increase Chavel.
·
their budget by $35,000, a 25% increase
Chavez Hated five peatlcktes that he
over 1985-1986.
wants banned from the fields and gave
We feel that the proposed A.S. Admin- examples -o f potential harmful effecta
istration budget ofS 180,000, which is 36% associated wHh their u■e.
of the total Associated Students budget is
excessive and unfair to the student body
as a whole when one sees that the social
issue groups are only budgeted for a mere
$3,980 .. 79% of the budget, and various
other minority and cultural organizations
funds have been cut drastically or eliminated all together. We feel student fees
should go to clubs, and not create an
expensive bureauocracv.
intramural sports and recreation has
been allocated $56,000 which is 11 % 0£.the
budget. In light of the fact that some"clubs
were gutted, we feel this amount must be
investigated.
The Environmental Protection Agency
recently placed commerclally-u1ed
pesticides at the top of their 11st of moat
urgent problems.
"The grape growers can
hide from their duty under
the law, but they can't hide
from a boycott.
-Chavez
Chavez issued a challenge to the
If cuts must be made, they should be CalifornJa Table .Grap_e_C.01111:niBBlon, ,
based on objecti-ve criteria, not on the P & headquartered in Fresno, to Join with
B members' personal opinions or biases the UFW in sponsoring thorough testing
about the clubs.
of pesticides on grapes by an independSenators, club representatives, and ent laboratory, with the results made
concerned students, will confront the F & available to the consuming public.
B committee at Tuesday's senate meeting
Chavez said the only way the dewith these questions. We want all clubs to mands of farm · workers will be acknowlhave acc~s to fair and equitable funding. edged is through a boycott.
Craig Brooks
Concerned Student
La Voz
From page 2
have to keep it as objective as possible and
strive for that."
Romero also remembered the attempts
by the Associated Students to do away the
Black and Chicano editions during considerations. "It happened almost every semester," Romero said.
Fortunately for Romero and his staff,
the Daily Collegian supported them. The
Chacon
From page 2
a choice between funding a visit from him
or say Howard Jarvis, who would they
pick?
The answer is that they should not have
the choice in the first place; Chicanos In
Law should choose their speakers, CLSA
theirs, etc.,
Besides their reluctance to give money
Edwards and Adams obviously see
to clubs for speakers, these "non politithings through such an ideologically biased cans" have also decided that the AS has ·
perspective that they are not able to sort
been much too generous in allocatiQ.g
out the facts. They are J'.ke two little pigs,
money, period. AS President- elect Bob
stuck in the ideological mud, oblivious of
Whalen says that he is tired of people
the world around them.
thinking of the AS as "a place to come and
It is not inherent that our c:-,untry's get money that they don't have to pay
foreign policy will support or provoke back."
This means that even though it is stuterrorism, but it is in part made possible
· because so many ignorant people like dent money to begin with, students who
Edwards and Adams have allowed the wish to utilize it must pay it back. His
"The grape growers can hide from
their duty l.rnder the law, but they can't
hide from a boycott," said Chavez.
publications developed good rapport with
each other. Romero cited no real problem
with the Collegian and added that they
were always helpful in one way or another.
One of Romero's priorities while being
editpr was to get the Native American
students involved. One such student was
Rick Herdia, who broke a story that the
Fresno Bee later picked up, but neither
Rick nor La Voz received anv other credit.
This article was writen by a former editor
of La Voz de Aztlan, Bobby Rodriguez
proposal to establish the Associated Students as a credit union would accomplish
this. Bu,1eacracy would increase and business students would have a place to train
for the professional world, but everyone
else would be left out.
This is a potentially dangerous shift in
the purpose and proper role of student
government. When we have as our leaders
individuals like John Love, who has stated
that cultural activities (e.g. Semana de la
Raza, Indian Week, etc.) have been getting the "lion's share" of money and
should be cut, while voting to give over
$50,000 to intramural sports, we must
stop and question their motivation. If cuts
need to be made, should they not be equitable? The Inter-Business Council, of which
Love is a member did not suffer a single
cut while MEChA was reduced by over
85%. To some Reality die hards, this is
suppose to be non political. To the rest of
the world it is political pork barreling to
the worse kind.
•
Photo by Lawrence Tova,r
Carmen Moreno, a native of Heron, came from Palm Springs to sing at the SCU Wednesday as part of Semana de /a Raza
Moreno·sings at·Satellite
Spotlight
By Belen Rodriguez,
Staff Writer
Carmen Moreno a widely recognized
singer and musi~ian was on the CSU F
campus on Wednesday, April 30, to per•
form for Semana de La Raza.
Moreno is orginally from East Los
Aq~les and (?Omes from a second genera.~ family of musicians.
Moreno moved to the San Joaquin Valley when her father moved his family after
accepting a job offer. She lived here most
of her life as a child and later attended 4
C's vocational college and became a
Moreno said she didn't want to do
secretary.
favors and things that others did to become
"I didn't like being a secretary. I wanted famous. Nor did·she want to be very sucto be a physicist or a hospital technican, cessful because this only meant that she
said .Moreno.
would lose her privacy and above all
"I ~s always creative and felt very else,- time with her family.
limited as a secretary, so I went into per"It's a crazy business, personality helps 1
forming since I had grown up in it. I but you don't have to be smart since you
immediately got a job as a singer in a are constantly told what to do," said
restaurant called Sinaloa in San Fran- Moreno.
sisco."
Moreno, unlike other Chicano singers
Moreno r~called the first time she oer- such as Vicky Carr or Freddie Fender did
formed at..S.inaloa. She said her boss has not change her name to accommodate the
pressur~d her into going over to a table general ·public. Moreno feels strongly
full of businessmen that requested her about her ethnic identity .
co~pany. Stit refused.
Today Moreno performs in restaurants
"Men in -the business see women in. throughout Palm Springs and many other
three ways: loose, lesbian or crazy if you states singing songs from a variety of
don't do them any special favors.
styles, including rock, bl ties or folk music.
Her ability as a bilingual singer has earned
her much recognition for her easy flowing
style and diversity.
''-My music is a product of the environment. Sometimes you want to flee but you
can't."
Through her-music she tries to educate
her audience in order to dispell stereotypes and myths about Chicano culture
and language.
"We have to help our lesser brothers
and sisters, so they can lead a fulfilling life
in whatever pursuit they choose. We are
the ones laying the bricks for the road, and
it's not easy.
"We are part of the same planet. We
have no room for destructive pri4e aJ!ld
nartbw minded views.
"Love, care and concern is where it is all
at." Moreno said.
CSUF Teatro helps community
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
An ecclectic and attentive audience
attended the performance of Teatro de
µs Cucarachas at the Satellite College
Union on Sunday night.
"Teatro was developed to help the community," said Guillermo Lopez, a counselor for adolescents of chemical dependency for Renaissance and a consultant
for the Teatro.
Lopez said that the purpose ofTeatro is
to put on performances that deal effectively with social issues which aren't thoroughly_ dealt with by the media and
teachers; such as, drug addiction,~alcoholis_m, gang warfare and teenage pregnancies among Chicanos.
"I have never walked away from one of
our plays feeling like we failed to serve our
purpose," said Lopez.
The community heJ;;;:; T eatro by providing them with the means for transportation as well as other basic needs.
"The only thing that we ask for from
people who have requested a performance
from us is that they pay for the gas, and
maybe make-up or other minor necessities.
Teatro has performed as far south as
Houston, Texas and major cities in
California.
-".We've done commercials, made video
tapes, perform_ed -for embassa<1ors, pri- writes a script. The plays are improvised."
sons, juvenile haHs, schools; o1d folh
Since there are no scripts, no two plays
homes and many other places, said Lopez. are alike:"We usuaHy don't have all of the
"The number of volunteers in the play same actors in following plays, and if we
fluctuates. There are over a total of l 00 repeat a play- which we seldom do- actors
individuals who are willing and prepared never play the same _roles, said Lopez.
to perform, but we usually have about ten
According to Lopez, the age of the perperformers por play."
formers range from four years old and
older. "We perform to a variety ofaudienLopez said that the pertormers aren't ces: young, oltl, black, white, brown, and
required to memorize any lines; "Nobody anybody else who's interested in watchin~.
"I couldn't sing or dance, and I wasn't a
strong speaker, but after seeing a Teatro
one time, l wanted to become part of the
very special group of people who were
doing special ~hings for the community.
"Teatro is very dynamic, extremely
entertaining and highly motivating. Teatro will always exist in one form or
another, as long as there are pe'ople willing
to motivate others in the community,"
said Lopez.
•r-···················-·································································:•
M.A.P .A. del Valle invites you to attend I
•!i
•
+.~,.M PouT,cA{
their meetings the first Wednesday of the- i
•
I
t:::====~
~MAPA~
••
0•
i
i
I
•
:
:
t
~-s:
z
«
~STATfOfCAUi°O
month at the Ted C. Wills community center!
at 6:00 p.m.
M. A.P .A. believes that students can
!
I
make a difference in their community.
For more information contact
••
:•
:
:
••
!
••
i
Ben Benavidez, at 442-0380.
••
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I
de.Aztlan
rms at
page4
5,1981
Pesticides threaten lives
Deukmejian
accused as
pro- grower
By Carlos Castillo
Labeling it "A plague born of selfish
men," United Farm Workers President
Cesar Chavez said the wjdespread use
of toxic pesticides threatens the lives ot
farm workers and consumers and called
tor a consumer boycott of table grapes
during a speech at CSUF, highlighting
Semana de La Raza.
Chavez is currently in the midst ot a
cross-country tour to drum up support
for his "Wrath ot Grapes Boycott,"
which he hopes will pressure growers
to return to the bargaining table.
ChavezailicizedGov. GeorgeDeukme;ian
and the Agricultural Labor Relations
Board as being ineffecUve in dealing
with grievances tiled by farm workers
against growers.
Chavez said agencies that enforced
the laws dictated by the Agricultural
Labor Relations Act ot 1975 were targets
of Deukmejian budget cuts and investigations into violations ot the law rarely
occur.
"Through Governor George
Deukmejian, growers have made a
mockery of the law," said Chavez. "The
ALRB has become just one more weapon growers are using to oppress farm
workers.''
See Chavez page 3
/f
·Photo by Lawrence Tovar
UFW leader, Cesar Chavez started off Senana de la Raza Tuesday night at the $atelllte Union.
-
Chicanas on the move
Lourdes Espinosa
Staff Writer
Las Adelitas, a CSUF campus organization primarily composed of Chicanas,
is rapidly reviving after being away from
the campus scene.
When membership. in Las Adelitas
decreased last semester due to lack of
:enthusiasm, f oriner members pushed recruitment increasing membership to fifteen this semester.
"We are developing into a more interesting organization that pertains to problems affecting women, said Connie
Moreno, president of Las Adelitas.
According to Moreno, the purpose of
Las Adelitas is to "enhance the perception
of wo_men."
the history of Las Adelitas stems from
the Mexican Revolution, when a need for
increased manpower was apparent and
women began taking on a new active role.
Some fought alongside the men, while
others served as moral support. The idea
of the aggressive, assertive, and strong
woman was born.
Moreno said that society· has long
implemented the role of men as aggressive
and the role of women as passive.
Moreno believes adrogeny is the key
to a richer personality. Adrogeny, the
combination of male and female characteristics is the " ... only way in which we can
possibly grow. We need to share and
divide roles."
According to More no the political aspect
of Las Adelitas ha·s long been a disputed
question. Within the dub there are various_
politicai issues which they support but the
main emphasis for the members are the
roles of women in society. "We are a po lit:.
ical organization, but we also emphasize
education and other issues pertinent to
our members."
Las Adelitas sponsored a conference on
April 8 which ,addressed the issueWoman: The Other Half of the Revolution,
featuring Juanita Gomez as the guest
speaker.
Blanca Jauregui, vice-president of Las
Adelitas, feels that her involvement in the
club has helped her own personal growth.
During her first semester with Las Adelitas
she described herself as a quiet and shy
person. After. participating in Las Adelitas
for several semesters, she has learned to
voice her own opinion.
"Las Adelitas has taught me to gro\\
itnd become more self confident about
myself," said Jauregui.
·
Las Adelitas is preparing for next fall
by continuing the push for recruitment.
They have also begun a survey on subjects
that members would like to see discussed
at future meetings, a possible revision of
their constitution.
Erasing myths
and stereotypes
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
"Changes in the world of work and
in society have and are continuing to
occur as more women enter the working world," said Lea Ybarra, a Chicano
Latino Professor at CSU F at a lecture
on Male and Female Relationships on
April 30.
Ybarra said tbat most college women
assume that after they graduate from
college, are employed and marry, that
their husbands will share some of the
household responsibilities. Unfortunately, statistics show that most marriages don't work out this way.
Studies also show that the one area
in which men help their wives with the
household is in washing windows
which is done about once a year."
According to Ybarra, a conflict
occurs when the working women wants
to become a mother and she's faced
with the decision to chose between her
career, and motherhood.
"Men have always been allowed the
opportunity to be fathers and workers.
Women should be allowed the same
opportunity.'-'
Cuba, unlike the United States, has a
, national law which requires men to be
responible for half of the household
chores, stated Ybarra.
"Societal expectations differ from
our expectations or ones we would like,
said Ybarra.
Women are programmed to act a
certain way since they are young; for
example, by giving girls dolls they are
taught to be passive.
Ybarra critisized commercials and
movies as being regressive. "In the wisk
commercial a woman feels guilty because of the ring around the collar,
when it is her husband with the dirty
neck. The movie An Officer and a Gentlemen portrays a woman working in a
factory who can only be saved by getting married.
Ybarra believes that if changes are to
be made among men and women in our
society, we must start erasing myths
and stereotypes which we have developed through the years about men and
women.
French influence
Mexican culture
During Mexiccts colonial period, Spain jealously guarded its colony from cultural
influences from other European nations. Especially those powers which the
Spaniards considered a threat to its colony, primarily England and France.
As a consequence, the mestizo culture that developed in Mexico and in the
Southwest (USA) was a blending of the Indian and Spanish culture with the latter
asserting a predominant influence.
It wasn't until Mexico gained its independence from Spain (1821) that Mexico
opened its doors to other countries of the world.
Mexico, howevever, still maintained strong cultural ties with its mother country,
Spain, and remained "Spanish" culturally until the beginning of the twentieth
century.
It was during the second half of the nineteenth century that the music and dances
from Eastern Europe started to gain popularity throughout Mexico, particularly, in
the north.
The waltz and its related forms (polka, shottise, redovas) received considerable
resistance from the conservative Catholic Church which still maintained strong ties
with Spain.
This resistance centered supposedly on moral rather than cultural grounds.
Despite the opposition from the Catholic Church, the music and dance from Eastern
Europe started to take roots in Mexico especially among the aristocratic class.
The estab1isn.ment of the Maximilian Empire in 1864 reinforced the predilection
for this type of music and dance.
Maximilian and his wife, Carlota, came from Europe's finest aristrocratic society
and entertained their Mexican guest in the finest European tradition. The courtly
dances that were performed during this period in time, besides the waltz and its
related forms, were the French Quadrilles, or most commonly known in Spanish as
cuadrillas.
The cuadrillas were a French variation of the English country dance. They were
reminiscent of the square dances that we see today except that they were danced in a
much more stately fashion.
Penetration of French soldiers to the northern part of Mexico brought this "latest"
style of dance to this region where it quickly underwent certain changes and quickly
acquired a unique norteno temperament.
Even though this style of dance is no longer popular, the word cuadrilla is still in
popular use today, but in a different sense. Today, the term is used to refer to a group
of people who work in the fields.
Another cultural tradition left by the French are the musical groups which
accompany the dancers of Jalisco called mariachi.
During this short lived reign of Maximilian, there existed in Jalisco, Mexico,
musical groups which played at various official ceremonies and social events. These
un-named ensembles were especially popular with the French and with the Mexican
aristocracy at wedding receptions.
The French attempted to Hispanize the French word rnariage (marriage) by
appending a "chi" to the word.and as a consequence, these group.s that played at the
weddings were christened mariachi.
These are but a few examples of the cultural legacy left by the French during their
short stay in Mexico.
The cultural influence that took place during this period of time is still felt by many
Mexicans and Chicanos alike but have been obscured by time and space.
Mexican/ Chicano culture is rich in history and tradition and knowledge of it can
only lead to ~ better understanding of our heritage and real pride in ourselves.
By Ernesto Martinez
El Significado de
Cinco de Mayo_en E.U.
~os_libros de historia de Mexico nos dicen: "El memorable 5 de mayo de 1862
atacp de Conde Lorencez con arreglo al arte de la guerra, al ejercito mexicano
cornpuesto de c~atro mil hombres ~ las ordenes del valiente General Ignacio Zaragoza, que defend1a los cerros-de Loreto y Guadalupe, rompiendo el fuego de canion a
las doce del dia .. Cuatro columnas de mil hombres cada una lanzo el jefe frances y
todas fueron rechazadas tres veces, teniendQ que abandonar el cam po a las cuatro de
la tarde, con una perdida de 513 entre muertos y heridos, impidiendo un fuerte
aguac~.ro que se continuara la persecucion, que era tarnbien dificil, porque derrotados _los ~nvas9res. corn~ estaban, te_nian todavia mas fuerza numerica que Zaragoza.
~l e1erc1to frances, dec1a este caud1ll0, se ha batido con rnucha bizara; su general en
Jefe se ha portado con torpeza en el ataque, las armas naciona- les se han cubierto
de gloria ... puedo afirmar con orgullo que ni un solo rnomento volvio la espalda al
enemigo el ejercito mexicano durante la larga lucha que sostuvo."
Este discurso historico jusfica y explica parcialmente la celebraci~n del 5 de mayo
en la Republica Mexicana, pero no en los Estados Unidos. El hecho de que la
poblacion de origen mexicano sea un conglomerado compartidor de las tradiciones
civico cultu~ales mexicanas, 1ampoco aclara la pregunta implicada en el titulo, ya
que no festeJamos exceptuando "El Grito de Dolores,". otras fiestas patrias importantes corno el 20 de noviembre: Celebracion de la Revolucion Mexicana de 1910' el
5 de t'"ebrero: Constituciones de 1857 y 1917, etc. Entonces, por que celebramos el 5 de
mayo en los territorios de Aztlan? Quien inicio esta fiesta? Al parecer, indirectamente, Don Portfirio Diaz. Como todos sabemos, este controvertido dictador
participo tambien en la "Batalla de Puebla" de memorable 5 de mayo. Por lo tanto,
cuando don Porfirio estuvo en el poder ordeno que el 5 de mayo se celebrara con
igual esplendor que el 16 de Septiembre: Independencia de Mexico, puesto que el
habia sido uno de los protagonistas en la "Batalla de Puebla."
Poste_ri_orment~! al iniciarse el movimiento de la Revolucion Mexicana, muchos de
los porfmst~s e~1hados ~n lo Esta~os Unidos siquieron festejando el 5 de mayo en la
zona front~nza de la Umon Americana, creando asi esta tradicion que perdura hasta
nuestros d1as, pero sin Diaz.
Dr. Cosme Zaragoza
La Voz de Aztlan:
A historical view
La Voz, or La Pluma Morena (The
Brown Pen) as it was first called, was
spawned from the turbulent times of the
late 60s and early 70s, when racial tensions
were high and protest demonstrations
were a common occurence.
. The first issue was done on May 5, 1969,
its content was largely political. Stories
ranged from the opposition to the draft;
the on-going war in Vietnam; the "Liberation of Chicanos'~; to Ceasaer Chavez'
farm labor struggle.
The newspaper's political stance was no
secret; its stories and art work depicted
that. The name changed from La Pluma
Morena to Chicano Liberation, with the
name encircled in bandoliers. Stories calling for an end to oppression and the need
for justice were standard copy. The atmosphere in the early 70s was one of
urgency for Chicanos, and La Voz captured it. Every square inch of every page
was used, with either a story, artwork, ora
poem relating the need for Chicanos to
educate, motivat~ and participate.
The use of La Voz as a medium for the
Chicano viewpoint was an important objective, but also just as important was the
desperately needed experience that
Chicano journalists received.
With that experience, La Voz became
the starting point for such local media
people as Tom Uribes, editor of
Sentimientos and El Tiempo; Al Reyes,
former Channel 30 reporter and now with
El Tiempo; Marty Uribes, reporter with
Channel 47; and Larry Romero, formerly
with the Fresno Bee and currently with the
San Jose Mercury News.
La Voz spoke with Larry Romero, who
was editor during the years 74-75, about
his experiences and feelings with La Voz.
"lt was_ an alternative newspaper, it
gave a voice that was needed and is still
needed today," Romero said. Larry also
agreed that La Voz was a good training
ground for a reporter.
Having been with the San Jose Mercury
News for three years, now Larry looks
back, and remembers that one of the
problems La Voz encountered was the
lack of recognition.
"La Voz wasn't taken seriously by the
Journalism Department; they didn't consider it a legitimate endeavor," Romero
continued. "We were as concerned or
more so than other journalism students,
because we had a special feeling for the
community we wrote about." Even though,
according to Romero, La Voz broke
stories even before the Collegian, "we
didn't get recognition from the established
media."
Romero's staff, like many other La Voz
staffs, was sprinkled with very few
journalism majors. "I was the only
journalism major on the staff, others were
·concerned students and most of it I wrote
myself," he added.
Newspaper policy generally changed
trom editor to editor; some thought La
Voz should be used primarily as a learning
tool, while others thought La Voz should
be used as a political tool. Romero disagreed with the latter, "l didn't think it
should be used as a political tool. You
See La Voz page 3
Reality leadership ·
plays political games
~
The Reality leadership in Associated students do not have a clear understanding of what it is to be political and to
"play political games with student's interests and concerns". They lable themselves
nonpolitical because they refuse to approach so-called "off campus" issues such
as apartheid and the grape boycott; these
issues do not involve students, they assert.
When they profess that the senate should
not be political, they mean these and other
social issues should not be directly dealt
with by A.S. government, but rather by
student clubs and organizations, if at all.
They simply cause to much political
division.
However, these self-proclaimed nonpolitical actors in the senate are in fact
playing power politics with students at an
unprecendent~d level and as a result are
arousing much more salient controversy
and polarization in the senate than a resolution condemming South Africa-type
racism ever could. The voting membership of the Finance and Budget Committee (John Love, School of Business; Kent
Foster, School of Engineering; Greg Barfield, School of Health and Social Work;
and Ellen Tyler) have, as a body, decided
to n;iake draconian cuts in cultural, ethnic,
progressive and academic student interests while augmenting to student government enough money and power to support a Third World nation.
The cuts in such areas as MEChA (cut
from $2,900 to $700), Chicanos In Law
( cut from $1,130 to $650) and the Chicano
Youth Conference (cut from $3,950 to
$3,350) are alarming vis-a-vis the increase
in student government, about $30,000
(The requested amount for student government is over$100,000 a significant increase
over last year's $78,956.) Most clubs are
not being budgeted at all for the purpose
of bringing relevent speakers on campus.
Instead, clubs must now go through a
separate hearing to sponsor those activities. For example, MEChA, if they want
to bring speakers, would not be able to use
thier allocated funds but rather wp11ld
have to make a sepaiate reouest to ihe A~
programming comr.:iittee. Thus, ii. is proposed by the Finance and Budget committee, that in lieu of MEChA choosing their
speakers, the student politicans on that
particular committee would make the
choices. _Even worse, any speaker recommended by the committee would have to
be approved by two executives ( of which
there are three). That means that neither
the committee, the Senate, or MEChA
will choose MEChA speakers, but rather
Bob Whelan, Rebeka Burger, and John
Love·wou}d make the decisions for all.
How can two people decide what is
right for every club and organization on
campus? When the Geography Club
chooses a speak.er, their decision is based
on their academic interests and what the
club wishes to promote (in this case the
study of Geography), not for political
purposes or the interests of the three executive students (all business majors). The
..Chican·o-Latino Student Association
might want to bring a speaker that promotes the Chicano, but because of the
proposed Fianance and Budget policy,
would have to get the approval of two
people that have no idea what it is like to
be an ethnic minority and could not possibly see the same importance in a specific
activity. They do not care if a ·Caesar
Chavez comes to campus and if faced with
See Chacon page 3
Letters to the Editor
Pappa speaks
There's been a lot written and broadcast
about me because of recent controversies
and I've allowed many of them to go with:
out response. I'll make an exception in
this case though,. because Danny Chacon 's column in the last edition of La Voz
put me in the writing mood, and it got a
hearty laugh out of me, one which still
echos in the Collegian office where I happened to be when I first read it.
Danny, I've watched you during AS
senate meetings and have silently rooted
for some of the causes you espoused and
have silently opposed others. And I've
sometimes admired yo·ur chutzpah, even
when I fervently disagreed with you and
even when your diatribes could be characterized as ramblings.
l recognize, Danny, that your recent
column was hastily written with little forethought. Your ramblings ·were indeed entertaining, for it was easy for me to picture
you working yourself up into a frenzy as
one thought piled atop another and you
stuggled to remember them all and transfer
them to paper. But please try next time to
think out what you plan to write.
If I didn't know any better, I would
have taken offense at your labels. First,
you make me out to be a supporters of
apartheid in South Africa, which I am
not. · Then you say l may be in favor of
sending student money to aid the Nicaraguan contras. I am not. Next you place me
on the political spectrum to the far right.
Actually, I might say that I'm more moderate and am a little right of center. Certainly, like much of this university's and,
indeed, this nation's population, ! am
more conservative than-liberal, though I
do come out on .the side of liberab c•~-:.
some issues. Then you compare me to a ·
notorious tyranical killer. No, Danny,
you need not refer to me as "Pappa-doc."
Erik is just fine, thank you.
If I were to take this matter as far as you
and your cohorts have, I might classify
your statement as a racial slur, to take it a
step further, for I am a member of both
ethnic groups. I also will have you know
that if I were to require international students to carry special campus passportrs,
which you have stated, my mother who is
still a citizen of Norway, would probably
never let me have the privilege of visiting
any of my Norwegian relatives ever again.
Many of these relatives, incidentally, know
what it's like to have their country occupied by a foreign army, one filled with
Nazis.
Furthermore, on another point, how
would I conduct myself in a government,
if I ever decide to make a "legir.imat~" bid
for office? Well, I'm riot running for anything yet, so why should I create a platform hei:e? Certainly, like many of your
cohorts (which does not mean all the
minorities on this campus), you have
twisted the issues to fit your requisites.
(Incidentally, it was very fortunate your
ploys _didn't work in the recent student
body elections.) My concerns for professionalism and fairness were directed at
those publications which should strive for
such high journalistic standards. I never
proposed that they should cease puplication, only that if they couldn't shape up,
they should be distributed independently
and let the students, then, decide if they
wanted to pick up those publications.
Eviden~ly. your cohorts feared the results
of such a test. Such journalistic standards
easily could not be applied to cultural
events.
Another thing: I have not favored the
abolition of special publications. But, if
we are to spend student money to support
products of the Ethnic Studies Department, the Chicano-Latino Studies Department and the ~rmenian Studies Department, why shouldn't we also spend student
money to create voices for the Art
Department, the Music Department, and
the Theater Arts Department, the School
of Business, the School of Agriculture and
all the others. Many of these have as much
to offer students, if not more. The point
may simply be that funding of items that
legitimately belong to the respective departments on campus has been picked up by
students too long. I see no reason why
students should be made to pay for products which, legitimately, should be paid
for by their respective departments.
One more item: Federation '87? Come
on Danny, really. You've been watching
too many Star Trek episodes.
'
Erik Pappa
Learn facts
If La Voz readers would like to see a
good example of how not to write a letter
to the editor they should check out the
Collegian (May l, 1986) in which·Robert
Edwards and Andy Adams respo11ded to
my column of April 30 which delt with the
myth that the U.S. is really undergoing· a
.. war against terrorism."
Edwards and Adams think we are. They
sound to me like two white South ,Africans,
blissfully ignorant of the horrors of
Apartheid, lounging .by a pool sipping
Pina Coladas in a lush Johannesburg
suberb, wondering what all the "terrorism"
is all about. Pitiful.
In many ways we Americans are in a
similar position. We don't hear about
U.S.- sponsored terrorism because it
doesn't reinforce our biases to hear about
Contra atrocities, the bombing of El
Salvador, the death squads in Latin
America, etc. To Edwards and Adams,
anyone who talks about these things that
disturb their personal mythology must be
a "terrorist" or a "commie" or what~ver.
My column...addressed the problem of
terrorism against the U.s·. and Israel from
its root · causes. If Edwards and Adams
think that I was supporting Qaddafi's
tactics they should read it again. In fact,
after I read their responses to my column I
wondered if they even read past the
headline.
They don't respond with facts or counter
arguments, just rhetoric. Take away the
name- calling, the anti- semitism bullshit,
and o.ther assorted non- facts and what is
left? Nothing.
Edwards and Adams seem deeply concerned about terrorism, but ''they are
unwilling or too ignorant"' to stop and
think what it is all about. Jhey both have
fallen info the same trap. The notion that
crticism of policies (that help foster
terrorism) is someho~ criticism of a people
(Americans), and criticism of; bad policy
decis'ions is "blaming America." This is a
mistake. If Ed wards and Adams are so
convinced that Reagan has done the right
thing,1 invite them to travel to the Middle
East and proclaim to crowds of people
how proud 'they are to be an American
and that they support U.S. policy 100
nercent. They might get a surprise.
While they are at it, they could stop
Managua, Nicaragua on July 19 and be
guest speakers at the anniversary celebration where one- sixth of the Nicaraguan
people assemble (500,000 people) to reaffirm their commitment to the revolution.
We can hardly get that percentage of
people to vote!
Chavez
wrong people to make policy virtually
without question. It's about time we started
asking questions.
Steve Bruhn
A.S. budget
From page 1
Chavez accused Deukmejlan and the
agricultural Industry of "the systematic
and ·reckleBB poisoning of not only
California farm workers, but of grape
consumers throughout our nation and
Canada."
Illness, permanent disability and
death
were cited by Chavez as the
Associated student Body fees total
approximately $500,000; allocations will retulls of the "lndls$rimlnate and even
be voted on Tuesday, May 6th. Various llfegal use of dangerous pesticides.''
Chavez said the progre88 nade by
legitimate _groups feel that the membership of the Finance and Budget committee the UFW In past years Is being destroyhas shown favoritism to some clubs at the ed by corporate growers and .. hemlcal
expense of others. We are asking for a companies who "so thoroughly domcloser look at Asfociated Students Adminis- inate the state government In Califtration costs. With two new computers ornia."
and a new copy machine in theA.S. office,
"We must not allow the go• ernor of,
the work- load should be significantly less Calilornla and the selfish Interests of
than last year. Therefore fewef office staff CalHornla grape growers to threaten
will be needed, however the F & B com- llves throughout North America," •aid
mittees's recommendation is to increase Chavel.
·
their budget by $35,000, a 25% increase
Chavez Hated five peatlcktes that he
over 1985-1986.
wants banned from the fields and gave
We feel that the proposed A.S. Admin- examples -o f potential harmful effecta
istration budget ofS 180,000, which is 36% associated wHh their u■e.
of the total Associated Students budget is
excessive and unfair to the student body
as a whole when one sees that the social
issue groups are only budgeted for a mere
$3,980 .. 79% of the budget, and various
other minority and cultural organizations
funds have been cut drastically or eliminated all together. We feel student fees
should go to clubs, and not create an
expensive bureauocracv.
intramural sports and recreation has
been allocated $56,000 which is 11 % 0£.the
budget. In light of the fact that some"clubs
were gutted, we feel this amount must be
investigated.
The Environmental Protection Agency
recently placed commerclally-u1ed
pesticides at the top of their 11st of moat
urgent problems.
"The grape growers can
hide from their duty under
the law, but they can't hide
from a boycott.
-Chavez
Chavez issued a challenge to the
If cuts must be made, they should be CalifornJa Table .Grap_e_C.01111:niBBlon, ,
based on objecti-ve criteria, not on the P & headquartered in Fresno, to Join with
B members' personal opinions or biases the UFW in sponsoring thorough testing
about the clubs.
of pesticides on grapes by an independSenators, club representatives, and ent laboratory, with the results made
concerned students, will confront the F & available to the consuming public.
B committee at Tuesday's senate meeting
Chavez said the only way the dewith these questions. We want all clubs to mands of farm · workers will be acknowlhave acc~s to fair and equitable funding. edged is through a boycott.
Craig Brooks
Concerned Student
La Voz
From page 2
have to keep it as objective as possible and
strive for that."
Romero also remembered the attempts
by the Associated Students to do away the
Black and Chicano editions during considerations. "It happened almost every semester," Romero said.
Fortunately for Romero and his staff,
the Daily Collegian supported them. The
Chacon
From page 2
a choice between funding a visit from him
or say Howard Jarvis, who would they
pick?
The answer is that they should not have
the choice in the first place; Chicanos In
Law should choose their speakers, CLSA
theirs, etc.,
Besides their reluctance to give money
Edwards and Adams obviously see
to clubs for speakers, these "non politithings through such an ideologically biased cans" have also decided that the AS has ·
perspective that they are not able to sort
been much too generous in allocatiQ.g
out the facts. They are J'.ke two little pigs,
money, period. AS President- elect Bob
stuck in the ideological mud, oblivious of
Whalen says that he is tired of people
the world around them.
thinking of the AS as "a place to come and
It is not inherent that our c:-,untry's get money that they don't have to pay
foreign policy will support or provoke back."
This means that even though it is stuterrorism, but it is in part made possible
· because so many ignorant people like dent money to begin with, students who
Edwards and Adams have allowed the wish to utilize it must pay it back. His
"The grape growers can hide from
their duty l.rnder the law, but they can't
hide from a boycott," said Chavez.
publications developed good rapport with
each other. Romero cited no real problem
with the Collegian and added that they
were always helpful in one way or another.
One of Romero's priorities while being
editpr was to get the Native American
students involved. One such student was
Rick Herdia, who broke a story that the
Fresno Bee later picked up, but neither
Rick nor La Voz received anv other credit.
This article was writen by a former editor
of La Voz de Aztlan, Bobby Rodriguez
proposal to establish the Associated Students as a credit union would accomplish
this. Bu,1eacracy would increase and business students would have a place to train
for the professional world, but everyone
else would be left out.
This is a potentially dangerous shift in
the purpose and proper role of student
government. When we have as our leaders
individuals like John Love, who has stated
that cultural activities (e.g. Semana de la
Raza, Indian Week, etc.) have been getting the "lion's share" of money and
should be cut, while voting to give over
$50,000 to intramural sports, we must
stop and question their motivation. If cuts
need to be made, should they not be equitable? The Inter-Business Council, of which
Love is a member did not suffer a single
cut while MEChA was reduced by over
85%. To some Reality die hards, this is
suppose to be non political. To the rest of
the world it is political pork barreling to
the worse kind.
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Photo by Lawrence Tova,r
Carmen Moreno, a native of Heron, came from Palm Springs to sing at the SCU Wednesday as part of Semana de /a Raza
Moreno·sings at·Satellite
Spotlight
By Belen Rodriguez,
Staff Writer
Carmen Moreno a widely recognized
singer and musi~ian was on the CSU F
campus on Wednesday, April 30, to per•
form for Semana de La Raza.
Moreno is orginally from East Los
Aq~les and (?Omes from a second genera.~ family of musicians.
Moreno moved to the San Joaquin Valley when her father moved his family after
accepting a job offer. She lived here most
of her life as a child and later attended 4
C's vocational college and became a
Moreno said she didn't want to do
secretary.
favors and things that others did to become
"I didn't like being a secretary. I wanted famous. Nor did·she want to be very sucto be a physicist or a hospital technican, cessful because this only meant that she
said .Moreno.
would lose her privacy and above all
"I ~s always creative and felt very else,- time with her family.
limited as a secretary, so I went into per"It's a crazy business, personality helps 1
forming since I had grown up in it. I but you don't have to be smart since you
immediately got a job as a singer in a are constantly told what to do," said
restaurant called Sinaloa in San Fran- Moreno.
sisco."
Moreno, unlike other Chicano singers
Moreno r~called the first time she oer- such as Vicky Carr or Freddie Fender did
formed at..S.inaloa. She said her boss has not change her name to accommodate the
pressur~d her into going over to a table general ·public. Moreno feels strongly
full of businessmen that requested her about her ethnic identity .
co~pany. Stit refused.
Today Moreno performs in restaurants
"Men in -the business see women in. throughout Palm Springs and many other
three ways: loose, lesbian or crazy if you states singing songs from a variety of
don't do them any special favors.
styles, including rock, bl ties or folk music.
Her ability as a bilingual singer has earned
her much recognition for her easy flowing
style and diversity.
''-My music is a product of the environment. Sometimes you want to flee but you
can't."
Through her-music she tries to educate
her audience in order to dispell stereotypes and myths about Chicano culture
and language.
"We have to help our lesser brothers
and sisters, so they can lead a fulfilling life
in whatever pursuit they choose. We are
the ones laying the bricks for the road, and
it's not easy.
"We are part of the same planet. We
have no room for destructive pri4e aJ!ld
nartbw minded views.
"Love, care and concern is where it is all
at." Moreno said.
CSUF Teatro helps community
By Frank Avllea
Staff Writer
An ecclectic and attentive audience
attended the performance of Teatro de
µs Cucarachas at the Satellite College
Union on Sunday night.
"Teatro was developed to help the community," said Guillermo Lopez, a counselor for adolescents of chemical dependency for Renaissance and a consultant
for the Teatro.
Lopez said that the purpose ofTeatro is
to put on performances that deal effectively with social issues which aren't thoroughly_ dealt with by the media and
teachers; such as, drug addiction,~alcoholis_m, gang warfare and teenage pregnancies among Chicanos.
"I have never walked away from one of
our plays feeling like we failed to serve our
purpose," said Lopez.
The community heJ;;;:; T eatro by providing them with the means for transportation as well as other basic needs.
"The only thing that we ask for from
people who have requested a performance
from us is that they pay for the gas, and
maybe make-up or other minor necessities.
Teatro has performed as far south as
Houston, Texas and major cities in
California.
-".We've done commercials, made video
tapes, perform_ed -for embassa<1ors, pri- writes a script. The plays are improvised."
sons, juvenile haHs, schools; o1d folh
Since there are no scripts, no two plays
homes and many other places, said Lopez. are alike:"We usuaHy don't have all of the
"The number of volunteers in the play same actors in following plays, and if we
fluctuates. There are over a total of l 00 repeat a play- which we seldom do- actors
individuals who are willing and prepared never play the same _roles, said Lopez.
to perform, but we usually have about ten
According to Lopez, the age of the perperformers por play."
formers range from four years old and
older. "We perform to a variety ofaudienLopez said that the pertormers aren't ces: young, oltl, black, white, brown, and
required to memorize any lines; "Nobody anybody else who's interested in watchin~.
"I couldn't sing or dance, and I wasn't a
strong speaker, but after seeing a Teatro
one time, l wanted to become part of the
very special group of people who were
doing special ~hings for the community.
"Teatro is very dynamic, extremely
entertaining and highly motivating. Teatro will always exist in one form or
another, as long as there are pe'ople willing
to motivate others in the community,"
said Lopez.
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M.A.P .A. del Valle invites you to attend I
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+.~,.M PouT,cA{
their meetings the first Wednesday of the- i
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~MAPA~
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~STATfOfCAUi°O
month at the Ted C. Wills community center!
at 6:00 p.m.
M. A.P .A. believes that students can
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make a difference in their community.
For more information contact
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Ben Benavidez, at 442-0380.
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