Since 1949
Volume CXV1, edition 3
October 1, 2008
It’s a Pow Wow! FCC celebrates Native American tradition with day long dances, music, and food
by Ivette Lopez Rampage Reporter In honor of California’s Indian day, Fresno City College hosted a pow wow in the Free Speech area last Friday. The festivities included dancing, singing and friendship of both non-natives and Native Americans. The various performers were members of OSA (OSA center for Indian education in Fresno) a major contributor of the event. Such dances are done to represent grief or joy, as well as prayer and war alongside drummers that sing in vocables. Cisco Hernandez explained the interpretation of these dances in order to teach children the Native culture through song and dance. Complete with booths that sold traditional Native American art such as sculptures, paintings, baskets and dream-catchers, FCC students enjoyed the day filled with entertainment and rich culture. Organized by FCC’s NAISA (Native American Inter-Tribal Students Association), the day’s festivities proved to be a success in the eyes of OSA member Frankie Williams. “[The celebration] was really good. A lot of students came in,” said Williams. Robert Sanders, Native American History major and Public Relations officer of NAISA at FCC worked with the organization on campus to make the festivities a success. With the help of sponsors such as Wells Fargo and OSA, the event thrived until the campus withered down at the end of the day. NAISA’s members are currently working on other events soon to take place at FCC. According to Sanders, the is looking to set up free flu vaccinations on campus for students, and seminars sponsored by Wells Fargo to advise students on good economical choices. Photo by Chris Alaniz
Inside 10 Best things to do in Fresno pg. 6
Producing “The Producers” pg. 7
Pro/Con Debate on Prop. 8 pg. 10
One on One with Eduardo Pinedo pg. 14
Economic turmoil distresses students by Marcell Dilworth Rampage Reporter
The current national economic crisis weighs heavily on many at Fresno City College. Students are distressed over the economic turmoil that is gripping the nation. FCC students report loss of homes, loss of jobs and inability to get employment, as well as hopelessness about the future. More than 60 percent of FCC students said they have been affected by the economic downturn, according to a recent survey of 500 students on campus. “It worries me. Will my family have a job next month? Will we have enough money for rent? It concerns me,” said one FCC respondent. Another said, “The economic situation doesn’t make sense. A lot of bad decisions are being made.” Yet another student said simply, “It’s 1929 again.” The prevailing sentiment of pessimism and despondency mirrors the national mood. On Monday, as this story was finalized, Wall Street closed with a huge loss, with the Dow Jones industrials plunging 778 points, their largest one-day point drop ever. The Dow Jones Industrials lost seven percent of its value, and Americans lost about $1.3 trillion. “I am very angry and worried,” one FCC student said. Among students who participated in the survey 14 percent said they had lost their jobs, 26 percent said their hours at work had been significantly reduced and 39 per cent said they have been unable to find jobs despite looking. Even students who are not impacted directly say they have friends and family who have suffered drastically. 67 percent of survey respondents said they knew people who have lost their jobs, and 43 per cent knew people who have lost their homes due to the economic mess. Fresno County is also hard hit by the economic problems. In a Fresno Bee story published Sept. 20, Fresno’s unemployment was 9.7 percent in August 2008. Jobs in construction and real estate were down 4.7 percent and 6.7 percent respectively, since August 2007. About 300 jobs or 1.3 percent of all restaurant jobs See ‘modern depression’ on page 4