The University Star | Wednesday, April 1, 2015 | 5
LIFESTYLE
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University celebration honors César Chavez By Sarah Bradley LIFESTYLE REPORTER @sarah_bradskies Students gathered in the LBJ Ballroom Tuesday evening to honor and celebrate the legacy of one of the most well-known Latino civil rights leaders. The Texas State Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion presented the “Con Dolores y César: iSí, Se Puede! Celebration.” The event was held in honor of Chavez’s work as a civil rights leader. The title of this event translates to “With Dolores and Cesar: Yes, We Can! Celebration.” The celebration featured a narrative play about how César E. Chavez and his partner, Dolores Huerta, changed working conditions on farms. Sherri Benn, assistant vice president and director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, said the play taught viewers the significance of Chavez and Huerta’s work. The event was organized to commemorate and celebrate both cofounders of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), Benn said. The history of Chavez and Huerta details a liberation movement for a group of oppressed farmers, Benn said. The movement occurred dur-
ing a time when people’s health and well-being were overlooked. “March 31 (César Chavez Day) is an official holiday in the U.S. states of California, Colorado and Texas,” Benn said. “So we typically try to celebrate him every year on this day by giving back to the community as César and Dolores have done.” Texas State typically celebrates the holiday with a breakfast for the custodians. Custodial staff work a thankless, low-wage job, similar to the workers Chavez and Huerta fought for, Benn said. Officials with the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion have expanded their audience by holding an extra event in the evening, she said. “This is our first year for an evening celebration,” Benn said. “We usually only have a breakfast, but we thought it best to try and broaden our scope with including an open evening event in addition to that.” Benn said the best way to honor Chavez’s legacy is to continue to educate the public. “Chavez’s life was devoted to serving the community and helping his fellow man by fighting for the rights of farm workers,” Benn
Italian opera relatable for university students
Photojournalist shares firsthand accounts from Afghan women By Adriana Ruiz LIFESTYLE REPORTER @Adreezzy Students attended the Voices of Freedom section of the Philosophy Dialogue Series March 31 to hear from the author of Gathering Strength: Conversations with Afghan Women. Peggy Kelsey, photojournalist, is the founder of the Afghan Women’s Project. Her goal is to seek wisdom from women who have experienced hardships. During her conversations with students, she discussed sections of her book, which details the lives of individual Afghan women. Kelsey visited Afghanistan for the first time in 2003. She returned in 2010 after meeting Afghan women in Austin. The people she met did not fit the victim stereotype of Afghan women the media often portrays. Kelsey said meeting the women made her want to investigate the situation further in order to better tell their stories. “I wanted to tell a bigger story,” Kelsey said. “They were not poor, helpless victims that needed help.” She asked women what they thought about their burqas, an outer garment worn by women in the Islamic culture that covers the body, throughout her trips. The responses she received were surprising. “They did not care,” Kelsey said. “They were more concerned about education and healthcare.” Mark Norris, philosophy senior, was captivated by the women’s concern for particular issues. “I think it was interesting when (Kelsey) said the women talking about the burqas and how they are not concerned with what they wear but instead (with) what it means to be a person,” Norris said. Kelsey said her discussions about domestic violence included the fact it is not always between a man and a woman. “Twenty-five percent of violence is woman-to-woman, mostly between motherin-laws and sister-in-laws,” Kelsey said. Kelsey said this type of violence occurs because some women follow more modern customs than others. When a woman marries a man, she usually moves in with his family. Problems can arise if the new bride does not follow the family’s traditional customs. Maximiliano Hernandez, philosophy sophomore, who attended the lecture, said the women’s stories surprised him. “I learned more about
said. “What better way to honor him and his life work by further helping the community as he has done?” Margarita Arellano, Dean of Students, said honoring Chavez and Huerta is significant because they dedicated their lives to serving others. “(They are) so signif icant and worthy of this holiday because they fought for all famers, not just Latinos,” Arellano said. “Although they both serve as symbols of DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR hope and positive change in the world Members of Grupo Folklorico Ocotochtli perform native folk dances March 31 at the Con Dolores y César: ¡Sí, for the Latino com- Se Puede! Celebration in the LBJ Student Center. munity, Chavez and hard work Chavez and Huerta societal changes, he said. Huerta helped any and all in need.” put in during their lifetime (is), “Chavez and Huerta were people Ramces Luna, communication junior, played Chavez in the nar- the impact their actions have on who fought for what they believed rative. He said Chavez and Huerta society are even more amazing,” were injustices amongst human beings and never gave up hope serve as role models for Latin Luna said. Nonviolent boycotts, marches, in their fight for improvements,” Americans as well as members protests and civil disobedience Luna said. “That is why César of other cultures. “Along with how amazing the from the movement led to positive Chavez Day is so significant.”
By Denise Cervantes LIFESTYLE REPORTER @cervantesdenise The Texas State Opera Theatre presented Giacomo Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” March 26-29 at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre in the Performing Arts Center. The opera was separated into two parts by an intermission, with one portion in Italian and the other in English. The story is a comedy about a family and a friend, Gianni Schicchi, who plans a scheme to receive all the money left behind by the wealthy Uncle Buoso. Samuel Mungo, director and associate professor in the School of Music, said the cast and crew put in four months of practice for the show. “Gianni Schicchi” was the first foreign-language opera Mungo has directed. Emphasis was placed on the Italian portion to give the actors a chance to tell the story effectively. “It was a challenge,” Mungo said. “There was a disconnect no matter how hard you tried, so we did a lot of training, and a lot of hours were spent on translation. During rehearsal, we would stop and say, ‘OK, what exactly are you saying?’” Actors received books explaining the meaning of each song in Italian to help them accurately convey the story when performing. “Singing operatically and acting is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life,” Mungo said. “People
what exactly the women of Afghanistan want and their outlook,” Hernandez said. Kelsey said the women she met were educated and concerned about civil rights issues and feminism. The women were passionate about feminism, but their concerns departed from the context of American views. “When we think of helping them, we think of, ‘Oh, be more like us,’ but they want their own interpretation,” Kelsey said. “‘We don’t want Euro feminism, we want Islamic feminism.’” Fixing the various social issues the women face in Afghanistan will take time, she said. People working to solve problems in Afghanistan should not expect the women to be more like Americans because they are members of a different culture. “We are dealing with civil rights issues here, but things are getting better here, and things will get better there, too,” Kelsey said.
say the hardest thing to do is hit a curveball. I would say a curveball is nothing. Trying to create something truthfully while using your voice at high demands—that is hard.” Jennifer Dryer, music masters student, played the role of Schicchi’s young daughter, Lauretta, during the Friday and Sunday productions. DENISE CATHEY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR She said singing in Italian was easy because Spencer Reichman (performance senior), Francis Nieves (music of her fondness for the studies sophomore) and Kurt Kaiser (music senior) perform March 29 at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre. language. “I actually prefer singing in Italian,” Dryer and I’m sure other people would have, said. “It is one of my favorites. I just too. You still get the story because of think it is a beautiful language.” the acting.” Subtitles displayed English translaDryer said the show was ideal for tions on a screen above the set so the beginning opera watchers because of the audience could understand the Italian production’s comedy and short duration. portion of the show. “I watch it every night and find some“I was grateful for the subtitles,” said thing different to laugh at each time,” Will LeBlanc, audience member. “I sort Dryer said. of would have wanted the second part Mallorie Gabbert, performance juof the show to be in Italian as well. Both parts were great, but the Italian is just nior, played Lauretta during the Thursday and Saturday productions. She said very nice to listen to.” LeBlanc said the comedic aspect the show is relevant to college students. “I want the audience to see that opera of the show made it relatable for the is not just for music majors,” Gabbert audience. “It was really funny,” LeBlanc said. “I said. “It’s very relatable, and it’s for think even without the subtitles, I still everyone. I hope they have a good time would have been able to understand, and they see how hard we’ve worked.”
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