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(03/28/96 10:00am)
Cartooning is not what it used to be, according to Chicano political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz. Alcaraz spoke Monday night in Houston Hall, opening up the 14th annual Festival Latino de Penn. "A Mexican sense of humor is unknown in the U.S," Alcaraz said. Combining the sharp wit of his mother -- one of his earliest inspirations -- and a sense of Latino activism, this native Californian produces a weekly comic entitled L.A. Cucaracha that is published in "alternative publications" around the country. Transforming the Bowl Room into a multimedia center, Alcaraz used slides, video and a lively commentary to explain to the audience of about 20 what he did as a cartoonist in the Latino community. To the sounds of laughter, Alcaraz presented slides of many of his cartoons, noting that the issues he parodies are significant to the Latino community today. Among the topics covered in his cartoons are Proposition 187 -- the California referendum regarding illegal immigration -- the death of Mexican music star Selena and the 1996 presidential campaign. "It's really important to make the kids aware," Alcaraz said, adding that he tries to make his work accessible to all members of the Latino community. In an attempt to reach out to more people, Alcaraz has recently created a home page on the World Wide Web called "the Virtual Barrio." "The Internet is a great way for us to publicize our work," Alcaraz said. "We didn't want to get locked out of the Internet like we did with TV." For instance, the home page includes the "Goatee Club for Men" and "Home Girls," a parody on the movie Show Girls. These and other similar features put mainstream American life into a Latino perspective. Alcaraz noted that his work does not go without criticism. He said he receives hate mail frequently, from Latinos and non-Latinos alike. But he added that the hate mail will not stop him from writing the controversial cartoons. Alcaraz received some of his most vehement criticism from a project he worked on during the 1994 California gubernatorial campaign. Proposition 187 was on the same ballot and Alcaraz formed a "Hispanics for Wilson" group as a joke, an ironic twist because Gov. Pete Wilson (R) was in favor of the measure. Under the name Daniel D. Portado, or Deported Dan, Alcaraz's fake group encouraged immigrants to return to their homelands, an act he called "reverse immigration." Once people started to take him too seriously, though, he decided to put an end to "Hispanics for Wilson" and stick to cartooning. Festival Latino De Penn also celebrated yesterday with a keynote address by two prominent Latino authors.
(03/25/96 10:00am)
College freshman Daniel Sloane began a new life last semester when he "came out of the closet" -- news which led his friends to support him, hallmates to rally around him and his roommate to drop out of school on medical leave. A forum held Thursday night as part of Bisexual Gay Lesbian Transgendered Awareness Days focused on stories like Sloane's about the decision to acknowledge one's sexual orientation. Sponsored by the Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Center at Penn, the forum featured six panelists who shared their stories with the rest of the group. Sloane, one of the panelists, described his coming out as "three-and-a-half weeks of hell," yet he said he knows he is a stronger and better person as a result. The other panelists talked about their own personal situations, ranging from shocked siblings to disbelieving parents. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Alliance co-Chairperson Dan Weiner, an Engineering sophomore, took a medical leave of absence for six months before he came out -- to overcome the "fear, shame, hatred, loathing," he said he sometimes felt for himself. For second-year Wharton graduate student Felipe Munoz, coming out was one of the most "gratifying and enriching experiences" of his life. Munoz said he believes that coming out is an "ongoing process" and he described several different stages that he went through. First, Munoz came out to his parents and dealt with their reactions, then he went to friends and soon in his workplace. Eventually, he said he will have to confront corporate America. "It's been a rocky road," Munoz said, but added that it was worth the trouble. Many of the panelists and the 12 others in attendance laughed and shared stories, expressing their admiration for the members of the panel and other participants who were courageous enough to share their experiences. Panelist and College freshman Maria Arlotto did not come out when she came to the University, like many of the other panelists. Instead, she recognized that she was a lesbian during her sophomore year of high school. Attending a Catholic, all-girl's school, she used this realization to change many of the rules of her school. Her ultimate success came during her senior year, when she gained administrative approval for "girls bringing other girls" to their senior prom. Each coming out story varied dramatically. Program for Student-Community Involvement Associate Director Bea Swedlow said she came out "over a 15-year period since I was four." And the evening's facilitator, Gloria Casarez, said she was "outed" by her aunt, who told the family at Thanksgiving dinner that "Gloria doesn't like boys." Many participants talked about similar themes, including the enormous support they received from their friends, faculty and especially the LGBC on campus. The discussion was very informal, especially when the floor was opened for questions. College freshman Alex Gino questioned LGBC staff member Laura Lau as to why Lau came out when she knew that her brothers would kick her out of her home. "I wanted to feel mentally and emotionally well," Lau replied. Other questions involved parental reaction, which ranged from extremely supportive to hostile and cold. Despite panelist and Wharton junior Sam Chandan's belief that by coming out "the planets would align," the stories told Thursday night emphasized the hardships involved in the process.
(02/19/96 10:00am)
Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Bruce Wright grew up celebrating a "Black History Week." And Wright said he appreciates the change to a month-long commemoration. Wright dealt with this and several other issues in a speech to approximately 50 people at the Penn Law School last week. Wright came to the University to speak about "issues that are pertinent to [the Black] community," according to first-year Law student Kanika Williams. The Black Law Students Association sponsored the speech as a part of Black History Month in an effort to keep with the group's theme of "Unity within the Black Community." Wright interspersed the speech -- delivered to an audience of primarily Law students -- with jokes and quirky anecdotes. He called racism "America's nastiest public dilemma," discussing it in the context of the black community and, more specifically, the courthouse. According to Wharton graduate student Dwayne Rayner, one of the judge's most appealing aspects was his accurate historical references. Citing examples of racism he had encountered in the justice system, Wright challenged the next generation to "civilize white America." Wright also discussed unity within the black community. He said a "divisive tribalism" still existed within the black individual today. He explained that this only exacerbated a situation in which "blacks have become an endangered species." Wright placed much of the blame for this problem on the justice system's use of the death penalty as a way to "deter black males from raping white women." He listed statistics and cited such cases as the Dred Scott decision and Plessy vs. Ferguson, to support his argument. Wright aimed his message directly at the "African American bourgeoisie," a term used freely by both the speaker and the audience. "He spoke of issues that affect me personally as an African American woman," first-year Law student Michele Simms said. Other audience members voiced similar opinions about the speech. "It was very informative," said second-year Law student Baye Adofo, who organized the event. "He was on the front lines of the criminal justice system." Adofo added that Wright was able to provide background to the audience of aspiring lawyers and judges. Wright posed many rhetorical questions and offered examples of the subjugation of blacks in America. He also kept the attention of the audience by placing historical information within a contemporary context, referring, for instance, to the Speaker of the House as "Gingrich Kahn." And he referred to the American justice system as being "too pale and too male," to do any good. "Is America beyond redemption?" he asked. "Would things be better if all judges were black?" According to Simms, "as long as there is dialogue about these issues," the bleak situation Wright portrayed could improve.
(02/09/96 10:00am)
Many students look at living off campus as one of the perks of college life. But for some, attempts at moving off campus are thwarted by seemingly relentless parental pressure. Whether they refuse to let go or simply are concerned for their children's well-being, parents have their own opinions about where students should live. College freshman Rachel Greenman said her overprotective parents would not even consider allowing her to live off campus. Their philosophy is that she should take advantage of the housing the University provides. Parents also express concerns that students themselves are familiar with, including safety, cost, accessibility to campus, isolation and responsibility. Some parents argue along more pragmatic lines. College freshman Geeta Shah's parents have focused on the benefits of having Residential Living take care of all housing details. Since each student living on campus pays his or her rent individually through the Student Financial Services office, roommates do not have to depend on one another, Shah's parents assert. But not all students and parents disagree with one another about housing decisions. For those whose parents exacerbate an already difficult situation, though, conflicts sometimes occur. When College freshman Julie Buxbaum's friends opted for a five-bedroom apartment in Hamilton Court, her toughest task was not choosing an apartment but convincing her father to let her take it. "He just did not like the idea," she said. "He had questions about the safety, since it is at least two blocks away from the center of campus and does not have around-the-clock security like the high rises." Buxbaum said attempts to appease her father with thoughts of saving money failed, since his main concern was her safety. But eventually, Buxbaum was able to convince her father that living off campus was right for her. Nursing freshman Erin Meyer had a similar problem with her father, who was "very concerned about fires and money." When she showed her father that the house she is planning to live in actually costs less than the cheapest on-campus option, her father conceded. Other parents, such as College senior Juliet Hansel's, had an easier time accepting her decision to move off campus. "They were able to deal with the transition from dorm to sorority house to off campus better than if I had moved directly from the dormitories to an off-campus house," Hansel said. Although her parents are satisfied with the situation, they still feel concern when they come to visit her "because West Philadelphia is very different from Connecticut." For those who are fighting a losing battle for off-campus living, there are many on-campus options that they can explore. The high rises are a popular option since they contain University-owned apartments and living clusters. Many students live in Superblock as a transition between dorm life and off-campus living. Other options include fraternity and sorority houses, living/learning programs and the college house system. This year, there are also three residential pilot programs in which students can choose to live. All on-campus residences provide utilities, gas, water and waste disposal services, as well as 24-hour security. Off-campus living, on the other hand, does not come with these conveniences. But Wharton and Engineering freshman Joe Boswell cited freedom as the biggest asset to living off campus. "My parents understand that I want to live my own life, and I can't always do that in a dorm," Boswell said. "College is all about growing up, and my parents understand that."
