El Burro - May 1972 - Volume 33 Number 2

illA~Y~••19•:Z-2

PAGE TWO

in favor of the establishment of day-care centers for work with the legislature to avoid the passage of children of working mothers. She sponsored unconstitutional legislation. He supports revision of legislation creating a Public Utilities Commission the state constitution, judicial redistricting and correctional institutions and for the state. She favors removal of the spending reform of ceiling on aid to dependent children. Those are a juvenile court and probation procedures. It is about few of the reasons why "Cissy" should be governor. time the people of Texas had a lawyer.

Also running - William Pate and Crawford Also running-Dolph Briscoe, Ben Barnes, Preston Smith, Robert Everett Looney, William J. Posey Martin.

It is a bad year for the "ins." That is a fairly safe and Gordon F. Wills.

Commissioner of Agriculture - John C. White. zsumption when applied to Texas state politics. It LIEUTENANT GOV.-JOE CHRISTIE. There is a He lost a close vote for chairman of the State may prove valid applied even on the larger, national reason why El Paso is so solidly behind Joe Christie. Democratic Executive Committee. He is an scale_ But at any rate, the stench of Sharpstown still He was first elected to the State Senate in 1966, advocate of an open and progressive party, and in taints many Texas politicos. carrying every precinct in El Paso County . He was Texas that is almost enough by itself.

Saturday's primaries are (is it really needless to Also running - Carl Bell. re-elected without opposition in 1968. He is a say?) very important. One of the reasons is that State Senate, 29th District - Paul Moreno. El strong supporter of legislative reform. He advocates they offer the first test of the voting strength of limiting conference committees to resolving the Paso's one and only "dirty thirty" member, new 18 to 21 year old voters. Liberalized changes in differences between the houses and streamlining the Moreno has been criticized for his efforts against the election code have encouraged more people to Senate committee structure. He has supported every the Democratic establishment in Texas. He rather register. It is important that they vote. major education measure and has placed special deserves our praise and support. Moreno is fighting One of the criticisms sometimes made of the emphasis on vocational-technical training. He an uphill battle against a lot more money. His party system is that it allows one to vote only for pushed through a bill in the last legislature to progressive stance _and courage for his ideals merit one of several pre-selected candidates. To a certain regulate private business and trade schools. He was your vote. extent it is a valid criticism and does apply.

Also running - Wayne Windle, Tom Niland, Tati the author of the Insurance Holding Company Act, However, it is not much of an excuse for staying Santiesteban, and Frank Owen III. which has been termed "the most important away from the polls. In many races this year, there insurance legislation in the past 40 years." He is State Representative, place two - Jose Medina. are candidates who do offer a choice. Even if they probably best known for his statewide battle to Also running - Charles Tupper, Jr. and Joe do not win, a strong vote for them among young legalize the local option sale of mixed drinks. He Weissmiller. voters will serve notice on the old pols of what they has received the endorsements of many "liberal" State Representative, place four - Luther Jones. may expect when we select the candidates. groups in the state, but has not alienated his Also running - Juan Stockmeyer, Joe Muirhead, It also strengthens the hand of those young moderate support. He voted against the food tax in Dan Armstrong and James Crook. politicians who even now negotiate to get special session and for a corporate profits ·tax. He County tax assessor-collector - Len Bailes. Bailes candidates to our liking on the ballot. Politics is not backed a minimum wage law for Texas. He promises something different for El Paso County a once-~year at-the-polling-place affair, but we owe advocates placing students on governing boards of an enthusiastic and efficient administrator. Also itto those who work at it for us to extend them our state-supported institutions. Christie is a hard running - Nick Perez, John Bowen, Ray Elliott and support once a year at the polling place. Better worker and would be a most refreshing change from Charlie Terrazas. make that twice a year, since there will be a general the hacks who now dominate state government.

County Attorney - Paul Caruthers. I am inclined election of some importance this fall. But if you do Also running-Bill Hobby, Ralph Hall, Wayne to agree that El Paso needs a full-time county not vote in the primary, where there is some choice Connally, Bill Jones, Robert McCord, Troy Skates attorney. Also running.- George Rodriguez. (at least this year,) do not complain too loudly and John Armstrong Stand lea.

County Democratic chairman Colbert about the lack of choice in the general election.

ATTORNEY GENERAL - John Hill. John Hill Coldwell. Also running - Larry Mathews.

EL BURRO endorses the following candidates in is running very much against the present attorney In races where no candidates are endorsed, we the May 6 Democratic Party primary. No general, Crawford Martin. Martin is seeking a fourth feel our readers are as capable of flipping a coin as endorsements of Republican candidates will be term. In his previous three terms he has : appealed we are. The dearth of good candidates in some made, but voters are reminded that there is also a the original bill passed by the U.S. Congress giving races, especially for state representative, is GOP primary on May 6. The candidate listed first I 8-20 year olds the right to vote in federal distressing,_ and in bold print receives the EL BURRO GOP candidates for governor are: Henry Grover, elections; ruled that I 8-20 year olds are not eligible endorsement. for jury duty in Texas; prosecuted a case which David Reagan, Thomas McElroy, Albert Fay, U.S. SENATOR Ralph Yarborough. would deny college students the right to vote in the Joseph Jenkins and John Hall.

Yarborough 's list of accomplishments is perhaps the Constable races are a good place to vote for a county where they attend school. Hill has linked best indication of his interests. He was either author Martin to the Sharpstown stock scandal. In friend, especially if you expect to be served with an or principal cosponsor of: the National Defense contrast, Hill pledges a "positive plan of action." eviction notice sometime after the election.

Education Act of 1958, the Elementary and He favors creation of regional offices of the Remember to participate in your precinct Secondary Education Act, the Cold War GI Bill, attorney general to insure adequate investigation convention this Saturday. It is especially necessary and the first Bilingual Education Bill ever and prosecution of environmental polluters and to for McGovern supporters to build this sort of introduced in Congress. He rewrote and passed over aid in consumer protection. He will push for grassroots support if he is to capture any Nixon's veto an expansion and reform of the stronger ethics laws for all state officials. He will convention delegates from Texas. We hope he does.

Hill-Burton Act, which provides money for hospital construction. He also authored health programs to MAY, 1972 VOL. XXXIII, NO. 2 provide migrant health care, to establish regional EL BURRO mental health centers and to expand schools of public health. The best thing he has going for him is COVER: Just as the cover of the last El BURRO El BURRO is the variety magazine of the Nixon's opposition to him.

University of Texas at El Paso. It is published by was basically irrelevant to its contents, so, in that Also running-Barefoot Sanders, Thomas same great tradition of journalism, we feature Student Publications, U.T. El Paso, El Paso, Texas Cartlidge, Alfonso Veloz, Hugh Wilson. another irrelevant photo classic. But then, the 79968. Reproduction in whole or part of any GOVERNOR - Frances Farenthold. "Cissy" has picture is about students, and so is this El BURRO. article without prior written perm1ss1on is been called the "den mother" of the "dirty thirty." Our photo spread on pages four and five show prohibited. Opinions expressed in this magazine are She was one of 14 to vote against the Sharpstown students at work and play. We highlight an article (obviously) not necessarily those of the University Banking Bill of 1969. She has proposed legislation on page three concerning stu.d ents' special of Texas at El Pa~, its administration, faculty, staff to have all testimony before legislative committees emotional problems. On page eight we offer or students. Letters to the Editor and contributions recorded to be available to the people of Texas. She encouragement to become involved in politics this may be delivered to the El BURRO office, was one of 12 legislators to vote against restrictions year, and especially this Saturday. Cover photo by 204-West Union. We reserve the right to accept (and on free speech on college campuses in 1969. She is lance Murray. edit) any material submitted for publication in EL in favor of placing students on the Boards of BURRO. We cannot assume responsibility for Regents of Texas universities. She opposed unsolicited material. requirements of minimum teaching loads for college teachers and ariy increase in tuition at state colleges STAFF: Editor-in-chief--Martin Wilson; Managing and universities. She voted for a corporate profits Editor--Frank Merriman; Head Photographer--Lance tax and against increases in consumer taxes. She is Murray. Thanks to our contributors.

11111 • ----------------,

'Page Two'

PAGE THREE

~Y, 1'12

.

The Ivy-Covered Padded Walls?

E01otional Proble01s In The University·

by Frank Merriman Counseling Center sponsors the s,-oups and helps train the Suicide is the third leading jiller among college students group leaders, it is basically run by student volun1eers. today, behind accidental death and cancer, according to Dr. Tucker and his two counseling assistants, Mary Sue Cole Philip Himelstein, professor of psychology at U.T . El Paso. and Joe Avila take charge of actual s,-oup counseling sessions This fact is somewhat misleading because on the average and individual counseling. we have less than one suicide a year. Sadly, that figure was "Counseling groups vary from e91t to twelve people," reached just last month when a student jumped to her death Tucker said, "and are composed of individuals who need to from the.sun deck of Kelly Hall. work at much deeper kinds of socialization problems. such What it does show, however, is that the university as those who don't know hOIN to relate to people. They are environment contains unique pressures for its student withdrawn." population. Most students can cope with these pressures After several counseling 5eS'Sions these individuals may be with . a minimum of strain, but for many others, these integrated into I-groups to develop more confidence. pressures can cause anything from minor fn.istrations to The Counseling Center handles about 140 students a intense depressions and, occasionally, suicide. month in all phases of pros,-amming, about double the Causes are as varied as the student body itself. number seen when Tucker began two years ago.

The Counseling Center is attempting to solve one big "Some of the more common problems," said Himelstein," KEITH TUCKER _ Director of the Counseling "are sexual adjustments, career adjustments, and the stress ·Center Tucker was recently given notice that he problem - contacting students who need help. "Many of of achieving adult status." Every person goes through these . . . . wou Id· be rep Iaced after th"1s summer. D r. Gary those we get here are referrals," Tucker explained, "from periods, he explained, but the demands of a university •B k . "d f d ff • h t students who come here, students who work · in the • t pu t grea t er emph asts • on th em. roo s, vice pres, ent or stu ent a. airs, opes o envtronmen dorms, faculty, staff and outside agencies."

"Students who are away from home for the first time find achieve a closer working relationship between the The biggest asset they have h<1Never, is the student it stressful trying to be self-supporting after the prolonged Department of Educational Psychology and counseling program. dependency they left at home," he said.

Guidance and the Counseling Center. Photo by "Students are able to help other students to a real Some fields of study are also sources of stress.

Vernon Miller. degree," Tucker said. "There is a point lhey need "liberal arts students that are in an unstructured program problems. supervis"ion, which is where my staff and I come in. But the as it relates to a career begin to wonder if it's all "When this occurs," he warned, "there are usually some emphasis should be the importance of students con1acting worthwhile," explained Himelstein. underlying problems bothering him." other students."

When this occurs, the student may show signs of All too often, when these problems go unnoticed and Dr. Spier agrees that trained student help would be inefficiency in studying, loss of motivation, and eventually untreated, the student seeks his own answer. All too often invaluable to assist the limited professional counselors. may drop out of school. this answer is drugs.

"Para-mental health workers are the answer to fill the "I know one girl," he said, "who goes to class until the "The use of drugs represents an attempt to relieve the gap," Spier said. "A well-supervised program can be useful in first test. At that point the strain gets too great for her and pressures of the grind," said Himelstein, "the tedium of filling a need for highly specialized mental health wt111cers." she drops out. The next semester she signs up for classes school."

He termed them the "front-line workers of the whole mental again and starts the whole process over again."

The extent of the use of drugs on the U.T. El Paso health problem. Peer group contact is the best way to get Dr. Himelstein does feel the problems here are not as campus is subject to debate, but most authorities agree it is through to many students with problems." great as at other universities. fairly extensive.

A new program designed to reach more of the student "Other campuses have higher rates of suicide and mental "To what extent drugs are used is difficult to ascertain," body is Connection, headed by sophomore psychology disorders because the pressures are greater," he said. "The explained Spier." About the only way we can get a record of major John Klumb. Connection at this time is similar to the better the school is, the more the student is expected to do who is using them is when someone is arrested, or gets so Hotline program. It "lends an immediate sympathetic ear" to be successful. Another reason is our predominance of a sick they have to be taken to a doctor, or someone di~s." to students with problems. It operates three phones on transient population which allows most students to leave the He believes students are more likely to use drugs due to campus, one in the Counseling Center and two in the Health problems and pressures of the university behind them most peer pressures than are non-students.

Service.

Volunteers handle calls until midnight of the day."

"Non-students have a wider range of contacts and Sunday-Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Dr. Curtis Spier is a psychiatrist employed as a psychiatric therefore aren't influenced as much as a student who has "We work with 22 volunteers and myself," explained consultant four hours a week by the university. He divides limited contacts," Spier said.

Klumb. "At this time we are geared mainly to phone calls his time between the Health Service, where he does Marijuana use is considered to be remaining at a steady and therefore our volunteers are trained mainly in listening counseling, and the Counseling Center, where he works in rate at this time, while the use of other drugs is beginning to techniques. However, we do handle walk-ins on a limited conjunction with its three counselors, helping to improve decline. basis." techniques and giving assistance. A large part of his work is "This is due to several reasons," Spier explained. "Many Klumb said he hoped to expand in financing, facilities and with "crisis" problems. people recognize that hard drugs are the most dangerous. training this fall so services can be increased. " 'Crisis' problems are those which are of short duration, Most users know heroin and speed will kill and stay away "We want to have it so anybody with a problem can just but intense enough to disrupt the •student's usual from them like the plague." walk in and get help," he said. performance on campus," Spier said.

He also attributed the lessening use of drugs to the Jesus "A program such as Connection may be the kind of These include such things as panic of failing, concern over movement sweeping college campuses and youth's in-between measure we need," said Spier, "to aid students draft status or the difficulties of dorm life. realization that "they aren't getting out of drugs what they getting a push in the right direction and for short term crisis "These usually lend themselves well to short term therapy expected and are switching." situations." or counseling," he said, "but if these fears persist, we have The job of attempting to cope with these problems has There seems to be a consensus that what services U.T. El to refer them out to professional agencies because we aren't fallen on the small Counseling Center and Keith Tucker, its Paso does provide aren't enough. equipped to handle them here." director for two years.

"Three counselors for 11,000 students just doesn't get Spier said one major problem many students face at one "Basically,'' explained Tucker, "we start where academic it," said Tucker. time or another is trying to establish an identity and counseling leaves·off. We are equipped to work mainly with Dr. Himelstein maintains the Counseling Center is independence which is unique in a university structure. problems of academic and vocational choice." oriented too much toward vocational help to meet mental "How a student reacts," he explained, "is dependent on Tucker said these ranged from students who can't listen problems. He feels the university should have a clinic for his personality traits. But in general, in a university there is or study to "pretty heavy emotional problems." In the latter mental health problems with a full clinical team composed the tendency to feel lost. The student feels like 'just another cases, the center consults with Dr. Spier and tries to work of psychologists, psychiatrists, and trained social workers. bee in the hive,' so to speak. They see alienation and the student into a program over a period of time. The "As it stands, now,'' he said, "Dr. Spier can't possibly impersonalization. Some people aren't suited to this and can Counseling Center operates several permarient programs. meet our needs." become depressed to the point of suicidal."

I-groups are opportunities for students to sharpen their Dr. Spier agreed, pointing out that student health is a Spier said many times students with these types of mental skills at relating to other people. Tucker emphasized that the specialty in itself. problems will appear repeatedly at someplace that appears I-groups are not counseling groups, but an "outreach for helpful, such as at the Health Service- complaining of minor social communication and feedback." ailments, or to a particular professor with a series of minor Each group consists of eight to 14 people, and though the

Cont., p. 6

PAGE FOUR

MAY, 1972

Spring is a time when people enjoy helping other people. Here members of a physical education class for aiding mentally handicapped children, teach one of the children to swim.

One Week In Spring Photographers ·Look At Campus Scenes

Recently a symposium on the Idea of the University was held. Dr. Joseph R. Smiley, U.T. El Paso President, was the moderator. Some speakers don't draw crowds..... .

. . . . . . but when a political theorist, such as England's George Catlin spoke, one could not find a seat.

PAGE FIVE

Layout by Lance Murray Photography by Lance Murray and Valerie Enriquez

"If you elect me, I promise to bring back rag time . dancing. Here, let me demonstrate." Actually Democrat Ralph Yarborough is shown giving a political speech on the Union Mall April 27.

It appears Tommy Lyons, freshman engineering major, has found a new friend. In • case one can't tell, Lyons is on the left.

Seniors--What 's Around the Corner ?

• PAQE SIX MAV. 1972

The Final Cry of Anguish Fiction

by Joseph delta Malva

The tall, muscular uniformed police captain looked over the rubble in the room - overturned tables and chairs, propaganda leaflets in disarray on the floor, a mimeograph machine fallen on its side and damaged, and the cache of weapons, only slightly disturbed and standing in a corner: automatic rifle~. handguns, ammunition and materials for explosives.

And the four dead.

The four dead victims of the police raid, one a girl no more than nineteen, lying grotesquely on the floor or slumped against the overturned furniture.

The captain muttered the vilest derogatory racial slur, that came to his mind, toward the four lifeless bodies. Skin color he detested.

But it was followed by an inaudible grunt of satisfaction. The victims really had been surprised by the suddenness of the police raid.

Only one of them - the youth still wearing his beret - had been able to reach for a rifle and fire several shots before he was gunned down by the heavy caliber police bullets.

Anger swelled in the captain as he looked again at the four bodies.

The beret - that damned, arrogant symbol of Racial Pride! It was splattered with blood, too, from the gaping, fatal wound in the militant's head .

Police bullets also had ripped into the posters and the obscene slogans on the walls - posters and slogans insulting the society against which these punks rebelled with screaming, disorderly demonstrations, bombings and wanton killings.

The police photographer was just finishing up his work: the inevitable picture-taking of crumpled, shattered bodies that followed all these violent raids against the militants.

It never seemed to end. Knock

out a headquarters in one ratty place, and another pops up somewhere else.

Now the bodies were being covered being readied for removal to the morgue. But the captain stopped the covering of the girl until he could remove, from her clenched fist, a crinkled sheet of papE:,· he had spotted. He bent open the still warm fingers, removed the paper, spread it flat in his palm, and started to read.

The handwriting was steady and firm. After the first sentence, the captain knew it was all predictable crap. Predictable rhetoric, boring in its sameness: pride of race, the call to action against the outrageous .oppressors, the strident call for freedom - the word heavily underlined and repeated . Then there were all the other sentences and phrases in the liturgy of revolutionaries - especially of the

racially obsessed violators of decent society.

The sameness of the words: justice, equality, immediate release from poverty, opportunity, education, human dignity, the severance of bondage from the savage establishment.

But then the captain noted a rambling that W<E different - a rambling that had poured from the girl's mind faster than her hand could write.

The sentences were short and jerky. Barely legible. But the message was clear. It was tormentingly personal. It W<E a cry of despair.

"Oh, God! Do you exist? Are you there? I hate you! Can you hear me? I hate you for your evil mockery!"

Then the final cry of anguish : "Oh, God! Why did you create me WH-ITE!"

The Desert Seen

by Vernon Miller

WE LABELED IT 'LIFE' Fiction

by Glenn T. The old man sat on an unupholstered couch. From his mouth hung an ancient pipe out of which emitted an acrid odor. His face bore the stamp of many a hard yesterday. The child in the cradle beside him garbled in its sleep. Memories broke from their chains of time and were free to dance about in the old man's mind. Often they weren't too careful where they stepped for an occasional tear would blur his vision, but the face's grave countenance was never broken.

His watery eyes turned toward the baby but were focused far into the past. His mind spoke.

"So, kid, you're just starting out. For your sake I wish I could say I envied you. No, I can't say that I'm envious and be completely honest because I know where you're going to be in a few years. You can't even raise your head yet to look out this window, but I've been out there. I must admit it wasn't all bad. There were those times when my only concern was which game to play next. That was before ~ realized it's all a game. Also there were those joyous times.

I'll never forget the twinkle in a pretty girl's eye or the security that comes from the knowledge that I put the twinkle there. It's also impossible not to remember the terrible emptiness which replaces her after she's gone.

Emptiness - that's too mild a word. It's more like the hold me had on your heart was so strong that when she left she tore it from your body."

"Sometimes I've wished I were a rock. I could then only be erosioned away by nature. As a person, worry has beaten against my forehead setting in deep furrows. Loneliness chipped away at my heart paining me greatly. Once in a while someone special, a friend or lover, has passed my way and briefly replaced all that life has torn away. They too disappeared, leaving a great gap where once dwelled happiness. I've cried and the world called it immaturity ; laughed and they called it foolishness; did neither and they called me a stoic. Many a friend has met with worldly success and was forced to leave it all in this world. I'm lucky. I've never been a 'succe$$' so my pockets won't be weighing me down on my final journey. The minister says that everyone has to walk that last road to heaven by himself. That won't bother me any . All my paths have been traveled alone anyway. I don't want to call them roads, paths will do. Roads are made to go someplace special. Paths are created by individualists. I was never special or going anywhere in particular. I guess I just lied to you kid. I never traveled alone. Not even down the most desolate path was I ever alone. Some out there are going to tell you that God is dead; if He is I would be too, for chances are that I would have died of loneliness long ago. I tried to keep God in me, · not just all around."

"I suppose if I'm still around when you get older I'll be expected to give you advice. I don't think I'll do too much of that. Chances are even if I did you won't heed me and would wind up going your own way anyway. You won't believe the fire's hot 'til you've been burned a few times. It's all just some of the rules we go by."

The old man came back to reality by taking the pipe from his mouth, which had long since gone out, and dumping its

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ charred contents into an ashtray. Then as he stood to go check on the reason for the child's shrieking his feeble vocal cords emitted a brief creed of all grey heads and wrinkled brows. "God took the glory of the sun, the dreariness of a rainy day, the nothingness of the sky and breathed it into each of us. We labeled it 'Life'."

1969

Emotional Problems Cont., from p. 3

myltfe 011

"The American College Health Association W<E formed students and not the professional help ideally needed now. because of the recognized unique nature of college health It would be wishful speculation to assume that last problems,'' he said. "We need more than a half-time month's suicide was the result of the pressures of school psychiatrist on this campus. What we should have is a alone. The fact is that this student didn't seek help, and full-time staff which can relate to students' problems and today's programs aren't efficient enough and don't have the promote better understanding and cooperation between the manpower to pinpoint and pursue all those in need of help. students and staff personnel."

The problems and pressures of the university are known An attempt at increased service comes this summer with all too well. How long before another student, needing help closer cooperation between the Department of Educational but not getting it, decides to further increase that already Psychology and Guidance and the Counseling Center, frightening suicide statistic? though this basically will be experience for education

muder ihtefld "'" I ;:µth to ,YQ« '11lff ask why

l'tldie for

OU

o she we:,tttehtnocm And lnck-ed,,tlt door

Amt played her fqJorileJOfft "MUk bi'!!'!,IQ keep (1911~"1& Nd, · • the i/tiin«e dbrre. . • 'he .,la.shed hn ~tf.t;

MAY, 1972

PAGE SEVEN

QUE DIFERENTE mira el cielo nub/ado ... ?oyes el cielo tronar? todo esto es solo por dentro en tu pensar, el cielo es azul y claro y be/lo, si quieres llorar no le sigas hechando la culpa al tiempo o al lugar, la tristeza la trais nadando en tu propio mar y se me hace que el porque estas asi te voy a adivinar, es claro, estas lejos de tu sol y te sientes nublar. muerte pides a gritos y en muerte vas a acabar, si tu ma/ es seguir ausente de lo unico que vas a amar hasta que llegue oval/as tu tristeza se va a qumentar, dime si la comida mas sabrosa note sabe a ace"in dime si al suspirar tus suspiros no tienen fin. ?que diferente, verdad? el mundo, la gente, hate temblar saber que sin el/a ni si quiera una oracion puedes rezar.

- abelardo

SHOOTING GALLERY it will be very interesting to contrast ( at the risk of giving up some rest) with the vitally timely book i'm now halfway .... pedagogy of the oppressed, will we be recipients of deposits of tidbits of intellectual mierda or will we make a gasping attempt to name the world, our world... 1971 and its multiplicity of self created dilemmas? some ph d's sitting in front of us items on the menu, products empowered to speak to the peasantry, empowered, oddly enough by the consent of the peasantry who openly and secretly idolizes oppression, educational, economic, political and so i take a deep breath and hope god or the calendar allows me enough time to humbly find others in me and me in others and be liberated and liberate my brothers.

- abelardo

MAYA 71 all of you, my carnales, are the anchor men in this historical raza relays we wish to end, the last lap is yours, we hand you the brown baton of justicia... of causea... of huelga. we know, those of us, fathers, mothers, 'gue/itos, older brothers we did not run so well, we wish we had given you some delantera but the course was rough. the three laps we ran were these, this was our land, the land we toiled on the first lap but the gringos overtook us, the second lap was trying out the newly imposed ways of the white which led, we became their ill paid labor and rejects and we fell far behind, the third lap in which we ran was fighting distant wars in their name and there we started to close in to the point we could see them at the turn, now you run, see how you do, do not only try to catch up but run to win for there is no end to what you now begin.

- abelardo

A B E L A R D 0

STUPID AMERICA stupid america, see that chicano with a big knife on his steady hand he doesn't want to knife you he wants to sit on a bench and carve christfigures but you won't let him. stupid america, hear that chicano shouting curses on the street he is a poet without paper and pencil and since he cannot write he will explode. stupid america, remerr,ber that chicanito flunking math and english he is the picasso of your western states but he will die with one thousand masterpieces hanging only from his mind.

- from "Chicano"

METAMORPHOSIS my integration consists ( my, how the thought persists) of having kissed an anglo girl once, twice, a hundred times. my integration consists of having mamed an anglo girl ( ceremony was in latin tho) my integration consists of having once fiercely punched an anglo man once, twice, a hundred times. my integration consists of having once tried to understand an anglo 's colorless mind, my integration consists of having felt my gut hurt as if full of urine when I saw an anglo looking down at me. my integration consists ( and here i end all lists) of having become an anglo without having died and without having been born again, my integration and segregation are one and the same.

- from "Los Cuatro .... "

"LALO" - Abelardo Delgado, distinguished Chicano poet and author. Lalo is presently director of the Special Services project of the Chicano Affairs Program on campus, and an instructor in the Department of Philosophy. He is currently working on several writing projects, including a book of sketches on Chicano leaders in El Paso, an autobiographical novel, and an anthology of Chicano poets from the Southwest. Photo by Lance Murray.

PAGE EIGHT

MAY. 1972

How to Nominate a President

by Buddy Hicks One of the most confusing, and closed, aspects of Editor's Note: EL BURRO here presents two features on American politics has, for many years, been the selection of this Saturday 's Democratic Party primary. The first is an Following is an example of the apportionment of delegates to national party conventions in states w hich do article prepared by Buddy Hicks, treasurer of the El Paso delegates at a convention with 20 voters in attendance in a not hold a primary for that purpose. This has been County Young Democrats and a senior political science precinct allowed 16 delegates to the county convention: particularly true of Texas. major at CJ. T. El Paso. He discusses the significance of the No. present for each percentage No. of delegates This confusicn and lack of universal rules has resulted in party 's new rules for participating in precinct conventions, candidate "boss" and "machine" politics in perhaps the most and how these new rules can be used to greatest 1 for McGovern 50% 8 important of political exercises - the selection of the effectiveness. Below are direct excerpts from the party 's new 5 for Humphrey 25% 4 president. In these exercises the art of cheating has become rules governing precinct conventions.

5 uncommitted 25% 4 such common practice that notice has hardly been paid even EL · BURRO anticipates that most students participating After the number of delegates each candidate is to receive the most flagrant violations, until recent years. in party politics this year will participate in the Democratic has been determined, the voters present for each candidate The texts of entire precinct conventions have often been as Party. That is why the Democratic Party mies are will break up into caucuses to select delegates to the county follows: emphasized. convention from among their numbers. In the sample ''The convention will now com~ to order. All in favor precinct above, the McGovern caucus would choose eight 0 f me as convention chairman say 'aye;' all opposed , delegates, Humphrey four, and uncommitted four. a fairer, more open state convention, and thus for a more 'no.' The 'ayes' have it.

The most significant aspect of the convention process is representative delegation to the national convention from All in favor of my set of delegates say 'aye;' all that most of the El Paso precincts are large enough to have a Texas. opposed, 'no.' The 'ayes' have it . delegate to the state convention, to be selected by the In the convention states, such as Texas, the idea of I will now entertain a motion to adjourn. All in b_eginning the , convention process on the precinct level is delegation from the precinct to the county convention. This favor, 'aye;' all opposed, 'no.' The 'ayes' have it . We that the delegates selected to attend the county convention means that any candidate's supporters who have 50 per cent are adjourned." will represent the presidential preference of the local people. plus one at the precinct convention will choose a delegate to This is certainly not very democratic.

The delegates elected f rom the precinct conventions control the state convention.

This type of practice has resulted in numerous challenges By the same token, the El Paso delegation to the state delegate selection to the state convention. to delegations to the national conventions. Principally in The precinct convention, under the new rules, will be convention will select its delegates to the national response to the challenges to the Texas and M ississipp i called to order at a unifo rm time and place in urban areas. It convention, three in number, by a vote of 50 per cent plus delegations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, will begin at 7:15 p.m. on the day of the primary (this one. The candidate whose supporters are well organized in the Democratic Party appointed a commission (the Saturday, May 6) .at the polling place in each El Paso any particular county, can control the delegations to the McGovern-Fraser Comm ission) to establish m inimum precinct. All registered voters who vote in the Democratic county convention from the majority of the precinct standards for states to participate in the national Democratic primary that day are el igible to participate. As the voters conventions, can control the entire selection of delegates convention. One part of t hose standards is the requirement enter the convent_ion ·they will be asked to sign their names, from the county all the way to the national convention. that each state publish a set of party rules that will apply The usual small attendance at the precinct conventions addresses and presidential preference or uncommitted status. uniformly throughout the state. make the weight of the vote of one individual at the precinct After preliminaries, which are necessary to the operation of As a result, the Texas State Democratic Executive convention quite influential. The student who will organize the convention, the delegates to the county convention will Committee adopted the first set of complete statewide party his fri°ends and align himself with other supporters of his be elected, on the basis of percentage support present for rules T exas has ever had. I t is on these rules that the reform candidate in h is precinct w ill have a significant impact on each presidential candidate. elements of the Texas Democratic Party base their hopes for the selection of the Democratic presidential nominee.

o.

------------ --- ----

Party Rules DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES ARTICLE IV

convention, wit h resident addresses inclu ding towns shown thereon. e.) Election of Delegates and Alternates.

Party Conventions 1. Apportionment. Each precinct convention shall Section 1. Precinct Conventions. elect that number of delegates to which it is entitled a.) Time and Place. (Editor's note: For reasons of space, by law (Art. 13.34 says each p(ecinct shall elect one this clause is omitted. All precinct conventions in El Paso delegate for each 25 votes, or major fraction thereof, will be held at 7: 15 p.m. at the polling place.) b.) El igibility to Participate. Any qualified Democratic cast in that precinct for the p~rty's cand idate for voter 18 years of age or older who resides in the precinct governor in the last general election, with each where the convention will be h~ld, and who meets statutory precinct entitled to at least one delegate.) qualifications shall be eligible to attend; participate in, and However, where boundaries of an election precinct be a candidate for any party office or for any delegate or within a county have changed since the last general alternate position to be filled at that convention. election, the county executive committee shall c.) Order of Business. The precinct convention shall be determine the allocation of delegates to such governed. by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order. precinct(s), using any fair and reasonable method.

I. Call to order by the precinct chairman (or in his The convention shall elect one alternate for each absence, by any qualified participant.) delegate.

2. Preparation of a list of qualified participants who 2. Qualifications. The qualifications for delegates and are present. The list shall includ~ the residence address alternates shall be the same as those required for witti town of each. participation in the convention (except that State law provides a person otherwise qualified need not be 3. Election from among those present of a permanent present at the convention to be elected a delegate.) chairman of the convention, a permanent secretary, (Art. 13.34c) and such other officers as may be necessary to 3. Delegate chairman. The Precinct Convention shall conduct the business of the convention . elect a delegate chairman by vote of a majority of 4. Election of delegates and alternates to the county those present. or senatorial district convention . f.)

Election Procedure in Presidential Years. It is the duty of 5.

Other business: committee reports, if any; the precinct chairman, at the opening of each precinct resolut_ions, etc. convention, to establish the temporary roll of eligible 6. Adjournment. d.) Duties of Convention Officers. The permanent chairman participants, As each qualified participant enters his name shall preside over the convention following his election and upon such roll, he shall - in presidential years - incic;.ate his shall be responsible for appointing any convention presidential preference or "uncommitted" status.

When it is time in the order of business to elect delegates committees as he deems necessary or as directed by the convention. He shall be responsible for seeing that an to the county (or senatorial district) convention, the accurate record is kept of all convention proceedings, procedure shall be as follows: including the list of persons present and a list of delegates The precinct convention chairman shall announce the and alternates elected to the county or senatorial district number of eligible voting members on the roll and the

number of delegates the convention is entitled to elect and the number and per cent of each presidential preference or uncommitted st atu s.

On the basis of such determ ination, those preferring each presi dential candidate and t hose who are uncommitted shall caucus to elect the same proportion of county convention delegates and alternates as their group represents in the precinct convention, provided that at least 20 per cent of all the convention participants favor such presidential candidate or are uncommitted.

Persons finding themselves in a group comprising less than 20 per cent of the whole convention shall proceed to thil caucus of their second choice.

Within each caucus any participant may nominate himself or any other participant in that caucus for the position of delegate. Nominations shall be open from the floor of the caucus until a motion is made, seconded, and passed to close nominations.

Each participant may cast a number of votes equal to the number of delegates allocated to such caucus. Those persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be the delegates elected by that caucus.- The same number of nominees next highest in the voting shall be the alternates.

The election of the entire body of deiegates chosen by the represe'1tative caucuses in the manner described above shall then be ratified by majority vote of the precinct convention.

A delegation chairman shall be elected by a majority of all those duly elected to be delegates to the next level convention.

If the convention is entitled to elect only one delegate and one alternate, this shall be accomplished by a simple majority vote of the convention.

If the convention is entitled to more than one delegate, on a motion supported by at least 70 per cent of those on the roll, the convention may decide its procedure shall be to act as a whole in electing all delegates "at large" by majority vote ( i.e., in the traditional manner.)