1992_05 The Daily Collegian May 1992

              Chicanos who study literature ...
Daniel Chacon
Contributing writer
There are differences in ide¬
ologies, and thus methodologies
in approaching literature, but aU
critics seem to agree on one
thing: the literature they study,
that which is taught in English
departments, is important to
studV, and perhaps it wouldn't
be too far off to say, is Litera¬
ture, that is, is Great. A feminist
deconstructionist might point at
the contradictions in gender
roles from a Shakespeare play,
and expose the contradictions in
male-dominated society/but she
was most likely drawn to
Shakespeare from a love of Lit¬
erature, a love which allowed
, her to indulge in the sweat
words of the Great Bard. It was
only after she became an English
i major and was, in essence,
forced to "take a side" by the
way she wrote about 1 it era tu re
that she evolved into a feminist
deconstructionist. By choosing to
continue commenting on    '
Shakespeare, she shows some of
her earlier reverence for him.
But as feminist criticism became
more significant in English de¬
partments, it was not placated
by analyzing all males, and
there was a conscious effort to
indude more women in the
canons. Professor Jean Picker¬
ing of the CSUF English depart¬
ment tells me of a group of
feminist critics in English de¬
partments from all over Great
Britain and the U.S. who fought
to indude Doris Lessing in the
canons, because she was a femi¬
nist writer, and a good one.
A feminist critic writes, 'Con¬
sciousness raising is the major
technique of analysis, structure
of organization, method of >
practice, and theory of social
change of the women's move¬
ment. In consciousness raising,
often in groups, the impact of
male dominance is concretly
uncovered and analyzed
through the collective speaking
of women's experience, from the
respective of that experience''
Chicano Literary theory, if
there is one, would want to
pursue the goals of the Chicano
movement, just like feminist the¬
ory is formed on the values and
interests of the women's move¬
ment. Therefore, one would
presume that Chicano theory
should express the values and
interests of the Chicano Move¬
ment, where the term Chicano
was defined. What is great
literature? Who says? How then
as a scholar committed to the
Chicano movement, shall one
approach the institution of Great
Literature, specifically great
English Literature, that is,
literature written in the English
language? What of the canons?
Would they stay as they are?
Many Chicanos entering the
field of English, this one
included, are appalled to learn
of their lack of representation in
literature, even though they be-
Convocation reconciles differences
Eduardo T. Perez
Staffwriter
Hob Raza!
The Chicano- Latino Convo¬
cation held on April 25 of this
year, addressed existing issues
that have threaten La Raza
Movimiento and unity. For the
first time there has been an effort
to identify, explain, and solve
those irritable differences that
threaten to separate our people.
The convocation was facili¬
tated by respected faculty and
students. The main issue floating
in an emotional atmosphere was
the distinct labeling, segregation
of each other, and invalid circula¬
tion of "chismes"  Students and
faculty holding distinct ideologies,
representatives of d iverse organi¬
zations, and absent students f
all corners of the campus world
were equally present in one
small room. In working together,
they were able to create a repre¬
sented agenda which will func¬
tion as a microphone where all
concerns can be properly ad-,
dressed. We can only speculate
on the perceivable outcomes.
Yet, as a result of the convo¬
cation, one matter was frequently
agreed by all participants. I will
try to mimic the togetherness '
which occurred and hope that it
agrees with you. No more ru¬
mors!, No more back stabbing!,
No more dictations!, No more
pointing fingers!, No more segre-
MEChA Newsletter focuses on education,
raising cultural awareness in community
Irma Serrano
Contributing writer
f     '
Why a MEChA Newsletter?
Mensajaros Estudien tiles was created as an al -
tentative medium to voice the political opinions of
the Chicano Community. Educating the student
population about community responsibility and
cultural awareness will be, the main focus of the
newsletter.
The rich history of MEChA and how it has
struggled to empower our people for over twenty-
three years will be included, in orde,r to dispel a
number of negative myths about our (
MEChA hopes to outreach to those students who are
unable to get involved regularly but align them¬
selves with the politica of the community. Every
publication will focus on pertinent issues affecting
our community so that students may become aware
and actively respond.
MEChA circulates approximately 200-300 is¬
sues during each publication,but intendsto increase
for the fall of 1992 semester because of the rise in
demand. The newsletter contains an editorial crea¬
tive section, announcements, and a current event
section. MEChA will expand to include open letters
from community leaders, calendar events for Chi¬
cano Organizations, and a high school student sec-
cam e interested in English as a
subject by reading Omar Salinas;
and when a Chicano learns
about the canons, they immedi¬
ately bring them into question. If
some Chicanos could, they
would restructure thecanons,
believing that the present ones
are not representative of the
entire American experience:
there is a lot more to consider
than white writers with a few
tokerFblack writers thrown in
here and there when consider¬
ing English as a subject.
With the so-called death of
Marxism, many Chicano radi¬
cals are finding their commit¬
ment in scholarship. It is impor¬
tant that we do not, no matter
how much we may learn the
language, become scholars con¬
cerned more with theories
handed down to us from above
that with the reality of the
streets, where we are impover¬
ished and treated often like
animals. Chicanos can relate to
the anger African Americans felt
about the Rodney King beating.
It happens to us too.
Ifs okay to be a scholar, but it
is not okay to become another
mainstream scholar distin¬
guished from the others only by
the surname. We must develop
our own theories and analyze
literature in our own way. We
must question the greatness of
all writers heretofore considered
great, and we must read and
study Chicano writers.
We must be willing to
proclaim, if necessary, Tuck
Shakespeare,'' and study our
own great writers.
/?
gation!. No more betrayal, No
more, No more, No more....!
Remember that we came from
different parts of the world, have
variety shades of brown in our
skin, and practicedif ferent belief s.
It is this type of diversity by our
own people that makes us unique.
Expand in areas seldom sought
by Raza individuals and reach
back to pull us up to where you
now stand.
All of you carry a shape of the
pictu re t hat we as one "Raza" have
been unable to puzzle together.
The only thing left to do is extend
our hand to each other so that
united we7 can draw the picture
perfect community. In all, "Peace
for our diverse people living *
within one collective group."
=^\
The CSUF Chicano Alumni Association will host the
16th Annual CSUF Chicano Commencement Celebra¬
tion off campus for the first time in 13 years. The last
time it was held off-campus was at the Fresno Fair¬
grounds' old Paul Paul Theater. Since then, the CSUF
amphitheater has been the annual sight for the event.
This year, it joins the University Master's Hooding and
BA/BS commencement at the Fresno Convention
Center's Exhibit Hall.
The ceremony will begin at 6:00 p.m. and to be fol¬
lowed by a reception at Adrian's Restaurant located on
P Street at Inyo, directly east of the Exhibit Hall.
Mariachi closes the ceremony with "De Cotores" and
continues to entertain at the reception.
*^=
JJ
Dear Editor: LSG and MEChA
should stop fighting already!
Dear Editor,
I am sick of the childish
games going on between Lamda
Sigma Gamma and MEChA. The
first thing I heard this semester
was that Lamda Simga Gamma
did not respect MECh A's request
that letters should not be wom
to MECh A's annual educational
event, C.Y.C. Lamda Sigma
Gamma was an invited guest
GET IT, Lamda Sigma Gamma
— You were Invited, You were
Rude, inconsiderate, and de¬
served to be escorted out for not
respecting MEChA's request
Respect others and you will earn
respect
As for the immature stabs
MEChA made in their newslet¬
ter - you know, loudly saying
Lamda Sigma Gamma's name
without actually spelling it out.
Please, we know exactly what
you were insinuating. Your
passive aggressive attack was
revengeful and unjust, just
because Mexican-Americans
enjoy the same rights as White
Americans, does not mean they
are less than you or your organi¬
zation. We are all apart of the La
Raza's body in promoting our
culture, whether one is the hand
and the other a foot both are
needed.
Lef s try to work together
and put these childish games
behind us (while the white man
sits back and laughs). Remem¬
ber, They are one against US—
WE|aedtobecorAe(>JEhUr^
AjTTingv^ytouMfettffCrty
CoalToday-
I am not a Mechista or a Sis¬
ter, but I do respect both of your
organizations and the contribu¬
tions they are making for La
Raza. Respect La Raza and atop
fighHag mWkbms^kjsmTmtbret.
VTVALARA2A1
A concerned Chicano
C