wednesday,september17,2003
news
the university-daily kansan 3A
Hispanic Heritage month honors diverse culture
Lindsey Gold/Kansas
Santos Núñez, director of the Multicultural Resource Center read from Ana Castillo's poem. We would like you to know, at the Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off at the Kansas Union in the Hawk's Nest last night. The microphone was opened to anyone who wanted express their feelings.
By Johanna M. Maska
jmaska@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Victor Aguilar didn't want to be a monkey.
In grade-school gym class, children taunted another boy who climbed up a rope the fastest.
"I'm Italian." Aguilar said
an American but
an African was Mexican too but
he didn't admit it.
"Oh, he's Mexican — they're
monklets," a boy told Aguilar.
But Aguilar knows now that stereotypes don't make a culture, and he certainly knows that Mexicans are not monkeys.
The Dodge City freshman has embraced his culture. Aguilar spoke at the Hispanic Heritage month kick-off last night at the Kansas Union in the Hawk's Nest. The kick-off, in its first year, was an open-mic event featuring poetry, personal stories and music.
"I am proud of where I come from." Aquilar said.
Aguilar is the son of an illegal immigrant from Mexico. He is the first in his family to graduate high school and the first to come to college. Aguilar was one of more than 10 students to share at the event.
Hispanic Heritage month lasts from September to Oct. 15. The University of Kansas Multicultural Resource Center is sponsoring 23 events to celebrate and highlight Hispanic-American culture.
Multicultural Resource Center director Santos Nunez shared her culture with a poem.
"We would like you to know, we are all not brown," Núñez said as she read from Ana Castillo's book. My Father was a Toltec. "We never claim to be a homogenous race."
For that reason Hispanic Heritage month includes a variety of programs that focus on the diversity of Hispanic-American culture.
“Diversity Fiesta,” from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday on the Strong
Hall lawn will feature a wide-range of Hispanic crafts and facts.
of Hispanic Civilization "When Blacks and Browns throw down," an event at 7:30 tonight in the Multicultural Resource Center, will go further to compare Hispanic-American and African-American cultures.
The events are intended to break down stereotypes and promote pride. Gender differences are up for discussion too.
"Luscious Latinas — the evolution of a stereotype" and its counterpart, "Muy Macho — a session for Latinos to speak out" are planned to draw people who will
Melanie Weiser, president of the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, said she realized a yearning for the cultural discussion late in life.
talk openly about gender stereotypes within the Hispanic culture.
Weiser is now outspoken about her Jewish and Hispanic heritage. She said she wanted people to find their way to events this month, because it is intended for everyone.
"Until I came to college, I took my culture for granted." Weiser said.
-Edited by JJ Hensley
By Paul Kramer
pkramer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Jayhawk Express gets going
After confusing bus riders for the first four weeks of school, the Jayhawk Express is showing signs of finding its niche on campus.
The free route, established as a KUUnited campaign promise, has hit some early snags, including letting students know the bus is free and that the route will take students through campus, said Patrick Quinn, off-campus senator and transportation board member.
Susie Breeze, Express driver, said she had noticed a small change in riders since the first couple weeks of the program.
On two recent afternoons there were, at most, five students
Jayhawk express campus route
The free bus route through campus, Jayhawk Express, makes a figure-eight.
It starts at 16 minutes and 46 minutes past each hour at the Kansas Union.
Source: KK On Wheel
The bus comes back up to campus at the entrance past the Dole Human Development Center.
After the Union, the bus travels west through campus past the Jayhawk Bookstore and then down to Robinson Center.
Again, passing through campus, the bus then turns north at the Chi Omega fountain and swings past JRP Hall and Memorial Stadium.
"They are starting to know the bus, but I still pull up and tell them where I am going, to avoid confusion." Breece said.
The Jayhawk Express does have a group of students that know the route well and what time to catch it. The problem is that although there is a core group of dedicated riders, the group is small.
The Express begins at the Kansas Union 16 minutes past each hour and returns to the Union at 46 minutes past each hour, stopping at many campus locations.
the hill to campus. The last stop is 11th and Indiana streets, before reaching the Union, thirty minutes later.
The next stop is Ninth and Indiana streets, where Breece said she picked up a lot of students who didn't want to walk up the hill to campus.
taking advantage of the bus at one time. Quinn said low numbers were a result of the program being in its beginning phases
"It is constantly being evaluated," Quinn said. "It's about getting the awareness out there. We are looking at putting posters up on the buildings that the bus stops at, and may be putting ads on the side of the bus."
Quinn said the route's value would not be seen until the weather got colder and winter arrived.
arrived.
In the meantime, those that do ride the bus are enjoying the convenience.
Bono, a member of Delta Delta
venience.
"It takes me to JRP and I can just walk to my house from there," said Jennifer Bono, Overland Park sophomore, a regular rider of the route.
Delta, said that she didn't know of anyone else in her house who used the Express.
Lisa Gray, Girard junior, said she rode the bus almost everyday because it took her by her house on Ninth and Indiana streets.
Also getting off at that location was Chris Maute, Northbrook Ill..junior.
Maute enjoyed the free ride up Indiana Street to campus.
"It's definitely a great idea," he said. "I don't have a bus pass, so this bus is great."
Until the rest of campus catches on to what Maute and a few others have discovered, Breece said she would continue to yell out destinations in an attempt to attract students who do not know about the program.
— Edited by Michael Owell
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