Friday, October 9,1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Hispanic group will celebrate heritage month through the arts
Weekly shows to be at Union
By Mariana Paiva
Kansan staff writer
Students will have a free chance to learn more about Latin American music and dance this month in front of the Kansas Union.
The Hispanic American Leadership Organization and other sponsors invited different Latino groups to perform every Friday at the University of Kansas.
This activity is part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.
Janell Avila, president of the leadership group and Overland Park senior, said the idea of including free dance and music
performances to their calendar was not new, but this was the first time an event had been scheduled every Friday.
She said each group emphasized different musical aspects and regions of Latin America, but the groups all are based in Lawrence and surrounding areas.
The festival starts at noon today featuring Ballet Folklorico de Topeka. Avila said she learned about the group because three members of the leadership group were involved with it.
Lesil May, Topeka freshman and Ballet Folklorico member, said the group repertoire was based on traditional Mexican dances.
May, who has been performing for six years, said had learned to enjoy the culture by growing up in a Hispanic community.
HISPANIC HERITAGE Month
"This show will be a good way to express the Hispanic culture and get other people involved," she said.
Ortiz said the Ballet Folklorico helped to preserve Mexican culture in the United States.
Gabriel Ortiz, Topeka senior and 13-year member of the group, agreed with May.
"People like it because it is a lively performance," he said.
The other three dance groups participating in the Hispanic Heritage Month are Los Dancantes de St. John, Calero Group and Ole Group.
Avila said that Los Dancantes de St. John will play different music from Latin America and
FRIDAY PERFORMANCES
■ Friday performances for Hispanic Heritage Month
■ Performance times: noon
■ Where: Kansas Union plaza
■ Today: Ballet Falkorico
■ Oct. 16: Los Dancantes de St. John
■ Oct. 23: Calero Group
■ Oct. 30: Ole Group
"We had a big crowd last year during their show, so we decided to bring them again." Avila said.
the Calerio Group will perform the rumba and traditional balladas. The Ole Group will bring a Flamenco dance performance to campus for the second year.
All the shows start at noon. in case of rain or bad weather, the show will be held in the Kansas Union lobby.
Coming out can be stressful for students
By Monica Juarbe Special to the Kansan
The first year can be a trying time for many freshmen who are trying to make friends and establish a college social life. But for some students, the first year is more stressful than for others — because they are gav.
"When you come here as a freshman, you are dealing with so many other issues," said Chad Horsley Lawrence graduate student. "It's hard enough to make friends and meet people along with being gay."
Horsley 25, started telling friends that he was gav when he was 21.
Coming to terms with sexuality varies from student to student.
"I think students are coming out at younger ages, and it's becoming more accepted and commonplace for them to do that," he said. "And college is a good time to do that because KU has a very supportive environment."
"Students now, compared to five or 10 years ago, tend to be more comfortable with coming to terms with their sexuality," she said.
That was true for Leah Bates,
Poola freshman
Some find it tremendously painful and difficult, said Pam Botts, a Counseling and Psychological Services counselor. But she said the pressure was easing.
"I first realized I had bisexual children when I was about 12," said
Bates, "I decided to come out when I was 19."
Bates, who is now 20, said she waited until she was comfortable with her sexuality.
"I thought there was something wrong with me because I felt that way toward women and because I wasn't supposed to look at women in any other way than platonic." Bates said. "Also I had been raised in a Christian home, and homosexuality was very taboo."
Horsley said that as a small child he did not understand the concept of homosexuality.
"I didn't even really know what gay was until I was 14 or 15," he said.
Horsley is an Ellsworth resident who participates in programs to help students understand gay and lesbian issues and to help them come to terms with their sexuality. He spoke in a Sept. 29 program at Gertrude Sellars Pearson-Corbin Hall. The program was an informative session about homosexuality, featuring speakers telling their coming out stories.
"I don't think that a lot of people know what being gay or be an ally is all about, and that's why I do programs for it in the residence halls," said Horsley "What some people may not realize is that the KU closet is very packed, and I think that it is important for people to know that there are people that are 'out' that are going to be supportive of them."
COMING OUT DAY
National Coming Out Day is Sunday. Activities include:
- Tomorrow: Gay and Lesbian Academic and Staff Advocates sponsored yard sale, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1025 Tennessee St.
Proceeds will benefit the And Justice for All Conference.
■ Sunday: KU Queers and Allies patrick picnic, 2, to 4 p.m. at the South Park Gazebo, 13th and Massachusetts streets.
Sunday: Ecumenical Reconciling Fellowship picnic and gathering, 1 p.m., Broken Arrow Park, 31 st and Louisiana streets.
■ Monday: Q & A performance
"Come Out Talking," noon to 1 p.m. in front of the Kansas Union.
People need to know that not all gay people fit into stereotypes, Horslev said.
When deciding to come out, the issue of whom to tell can be important.
"I don't bring it up in everyday conversation," said Bates. "Mainly around straight people, I will stay more reserved. Once I am with allies and the gay community, I can be fully self-expressed."
For some straight students, like Amy Hull, Quenemo junior, sexual orientation revelations may be unwelcome.
"If it's someone I don't know, I have a problem. It's personal information that I didn't ask for," said Hull "At the pizza delivery place where I work this guy just told us that he was gay. I mean, we didn't need to know that to make pizazs."
Tribal event revisits land politics case
In 1831, the U.S. Supreme Court, composed of nine white men, decided that Native Americans did not have the right to govern themselves as a sovereign nation.
This weekend the second annual Tribal Law and Governance Conference will retry the case, Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia, to see what would have happened if Native Americans had served on the court.
Robert Yazzie, chief justice of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court, will preside over a court retrial of the famous decision from 1:30 to 5 p.m. tomorrow in the Burge Union. The retrial has no legal significance.
In the original case, the Cherokee Nation asked the court to stop Georgia from executing state laws that the Cherokees said sought to annihilate them as a political society. The Cherokee Nation also said the state had attempted to seize lands assured to the Cherokees by the U.S. government for its own use.
The American Indian Nations Supreme Court will hear the Cherokees' case argued by G. William Rice, attorney general for the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. Clay Smith, solicitor of the state of Montana, will represent Georgia.
Pere registration for non-students costs $150. KU and Haskell Indian Nations University students may attend the retrial and other presentations for free, but must register with the KU Tribal Law and Government Center at 864-3925.
By Kelli Raybern
Writing Consulting Student Resources 864-2399
Days Until the Grand Opening of the Writer's Roosts!
There once was a KU student named Lee; Taking English, math, anthro, and chemistry... Writing assignments never seemed "right;" Too much writing and re-writing into the night!
Nomination forms may be picked up at the Jayhawker Office, 428 Kansas Union, and must be returned by 5 p.m., Monday, October 12, 1998.
All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to nominate outstanding seniors whom they believe embody the ideals of the Jayhawker Hilltopper Award.
www.ukans.edu/~writing
Six convenient locations near you will open October 12: Burge Union, Kansas Union, Multicultural Resource Center, Strong, Templin, and Wescoe. Check our website for schedules:
The Jayhawker Yearbook is now accepting nominations for the 1999 Hilltopper Awards. The awards are given out each year to graduating seniors who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and service on campus and in the community.
Sponsored by the Jayhawker Yearbook
1999 Hilltopper Awards
STARTS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7TH
ENDS MONDAY
OCT 12TH
Warehouse Sale
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Only Located in the Tanger Outlet Mall
Wed. Oct. 7th - Mon. Oct.12th
Lawrence, Kansas