1986_02 The Daily Collegian February 1986

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Page 4  The Daily Collegian
NEWS
February 3, 1986
Artist paints what she loves
displaying some of Biggs' paintings
Staff Writer Dr. Robert Milcell. o
Ethnic Studies departr
People with bare feet, head wraps and artwork was brought tc
dashikisare just somcof the picturesartist one of his students as pan of a group
Bettv BieES shows in her portrayal of the project.
culture of Africa. A continent she has yet "Lisa Castros.a student in my American
to travel to. Black Ghettocs class brought in
Biggs admits that she only sees the part of Betty's work...I liked them so well that I
of Africa ■•thechamber of commerce warn started calling her (Biggs)...and we finally
you to see." but still gets a feeling of put it (the display) together," he said,
"serenity" from painting its natives. Biggs has lived in Lompoc. Calif, for
"They seem to be so self confident, no the past 20 years with her husband and six
matter what they have to overcome," she children. She has been painting profes-
said about her depictions of African life. sionally for only five of those 20 years.
As part of African  People's  History Before launching her professional career.
Month, a  reception  in  the  Thomas she was involved in the Parent-Teacher's
Administraion Building was held Sunday Association and chairperson for the
Her professional career started when a The pan
friend asked her to do a painting in black Thomas /
and white of Africans. She later went to Ethnic  Studies department  throughout
color paintings which were displayed in a the month of February,
only two days. The
■ ■    -     Thomas The celebration of African  Peoples
ng from History month will continue Wednesday
with Gospel-Family night, in the Satillite
:o docs College   Union.  Choirs  from   St.   Rest
African Baptist Church. Fresno City and State
combined choir and lhc Second Mission-
fBiggs"artwo7k can be seen in homes as ar> Baptist Church will be present. The
far away as  Ireland.  She says painting show begins at 7 p.m. and admission is
gives her "good therapy" and she hopes free.
people who view her art go away with a
S65toS3l8.
Besides  painting,
lithographed  black  a
Childhood dreams of space becomes nightmare
Lip
exactly empathi
JANELLE SCHNEIDER       folder.
ord I. however, a receni u;inc lun
nfs has forced mc to alter my plans
link you've probably guessed wha
fernngto: the ill-fated launch of th(
shuttle- Challenger 111 leave thi
' >cicntific details to thi
probably beali
world, v
stratcd in a childish hand wit
and a Saturn lacking the appro¬
priate number of rings, stuffed with every¬
thing I could find in the press about
Geminis and Apollos I have the 8" x 10"
promotional glossies thai NASA sent to
my 6th-gradc class: the lunar landscapes 1
dreamed for hours over, and Neil Arm¬
strong saluting the American flag, a world
When 1 think of the space pr.
don't think aboul those, cither
If any message came through loud and
clear during the Challenger's prc-flight
countdown, it was send it up now, ready
or not Send it up now. or we and our
million-collar satellites don't go.
The withdrawal of the federal govern¬
ment from enthusiastic spiritual and fin¬
ancial support of the space program *as
bound to lead to private industry's virtual
control of it; no one should be surprised.
rocs are s
ficed on the altar of eco-
imicsifor
n the final chapter is writ-
m line.
1 refuse t
l a price on mv dreams.
ver and a
bove
bureaucracy and every-
;o death    is what 11
Sigma Alpha Epsilon,
1986 Spring Rush
February 3rd-7th
jesttons~226-950S or 22(
less within a space sun. standing air
a strange and beautiful planet, far
lhc grasp of ideology, governmental
we could only watch, wondering al
he felt, and wondering whether he'dc
awns in their glory-games I <
bout the most-certainly shady,
sen glaringly obvious excuses.
Applauds AS Stance
Letters
to the editor
orpoi
necannot logically;
gher priority of edi
ilg business
I Sout
Editc
n TheD
y Col-
... a front page;
legian. January 29. 1986. Earle Basscll,
general manager of the CSU F Foundation
was quoted as saying. "The Foundation's
first responsibility is fiduciary:
as wisely as they can."The articl
this appeared reported on the ,	
Senate's recent actions to encourage the a11 members
CSUF Foundation to sell any investments Actively. Cut
in corporations doing business in South   c,cs g°vernii
Mydcfen
defining education as arrangingcondi-
ns under which people learn skills which
! useful in the long run. 1 have little
',''   doubt in my analysis that skills which
s,    promote equalily of personal, economic,
:h   political, educational and social oppor-
ol th
able.
icCSUFFoundat
species and species col-
lolitical and social poli-
arcdiffercntiallvavaii-
See Letter, page 8
! i Sunridge Townhouses :
IGARYI.ISTANBOUUAN.CPAJ j ^sdroom Apts. I
.Can,r*dPuN« Accountant , ; Starting at $400
! : 4885 N. Chestnut 294-8012 |
'For  all your  personal  n
•Form 1040A and 540A
■     KaffaKaKaVVVaKaKaKaKaVaKaKaVa.*^
„ !     J    $1,250 Weekly Home-Maying    J
J Program! £
Slart immediately. FREE DETAILS,   5
Rush stamped, self-addressed envelope 9
S&B-P, 804 Old Thomsby Road,   9
rA
ia 35045
photograph to I.E.S.
Teach In Japan
Panonne! Department
trnatlonal Education Sarvlcaa
BLACK PEOPLES HISTORY MONTH
This week's activities:
FEB. DAY EVENT
4        TUES. Gospel • Family Night
WED.   Food Sale
SPEAKER
Various Choirs
PLACE
s.c.u.
WED.   Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day
WED.   Tribute to Black Poets
SAT.    African Heritge Day
TIME
7:00 p.m.
Soul Foods Free Speech Area 10:00 a.m
Rededication Ceremony  Free Speech Area Noon
Conley Arts Bldg.   7:00 p.m.
Sherley Williams
Professor of English
U.C. San Diego
Film Lecture S.C.U.
Foods and Music & Dances
from Congo, Brazil,
Trinidad, & Tobago
SAT.    Dance
"Dr. X"
S.C.U.
5:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
February 3, 1986
The Daily Collegian
Skaters line up to take their turn on the giant
c "Gator" Rafowski ahow. off Ihe Invert
Dally Colltthr,
the exhibition for funding of the arc.
Skate!
Skaters find paradise
on custom built ramp
By Elizabeth Breen
Staff Writer
The relentless weekend rain dispersed long enough Saturday
for a display of gravity-defying maneuvers on rubber wheels
and wood. The Ark. an immense skateboard ramp, was the
gathering place for curiosity seekers, punks, poseurs, moms
and babies, and skaters — both beginners and professionals.
The diverse crowd had gathered to catch the thrill of skate¬
boarding and while doing so, they helped fund the remodeling
of the Ark. Located in between Clovis cow pastures, the Ark is
the central valley's premier skateboard haven.
Local amateur skater Chuck Gillette, who built the Ark.
opened the day-long fest at 1:30 p.m. with a prayer of thanks for
the dry weather and sunshine. Gillette had hoped to kick things
off earlier in the morning, but Friday's heavy rainfall made it
necessary for him to resurface the ramp wtih I / 8"-thick mason-
ite before the skating could begin.
"I was really worried about the rain," said Gillette, "but it has
turned in to a beautiful day. V.MI night. 1 thought we might have
to call the whole thing off."
The inclement weather did not dissuade the ever-changing
crowd. A S5.00 admission fee provided a raffle ticket, coupons
dog. Some came to part of the skate scene, some to check out
the pros, semi-pros and the upstarts, but everyone, skate fan or
not. ended up watching the boys on the boards.
"Contortions are definitely happening today." said Joey
Morales, a local amateur.
The contortions he spoke of are the movements a skater uses
to swing up an almost venicle nine-fool slope, grab a narrow
horizontal pipe at the top of the ramp, and throw his legs over
the edge while holding a skateboard in position with his free
While the skate enthusiasts watched the break-neck antics on
the Ark. a steady crowd of about 40 youngsters restlessly waited
for Gillette to throw handfuls of stickers bearing the trade
names and slogans of skate brands into their midst. At times the
"sticker dashes" generated more attention than the skaters did.
Standing among audio equipment, stereo speakers, and the
instruments of a featured punk bank, Gillette good-naturedly
egged the crowd into a yelling, 'struggling mass as he tossed
T-shirts and stickers and announced the coming skate
Gillette had more on his mind than passing out stickers. He
rarely took his eyes from the two decks which protruded about
10 feet on either side of the Ark, creating a ledge for skaters
waiting their turn to stand on. The decks were creaking under
the weight of pre-teen fans screaming"rockin'air!"everytimea
skater managed to propel himself past the top of the Ark.
Periodically, he would pause and his voice would turn
"OK, everybody but the skaters and the sponsors, please get
off the decks. Lets keep everyone in one piece," he yelled into
the microphone.
his most impressive "tricks" for later. After wowing the crowd
along with Hasoi and Mountain. Ragowski reflected on his
ecause they got too close lo a skater at the wrong moment."
In spite of his interest in the spectators' well-being, Gillettee
skated without using a protective helmet.
By the time the promotional giveaways and blaring live
music died down, only the diehard fans remitted. They had
waited all day to see some of the hottest competing skaters, and
they would not be disapointed by the last afternoon spectacle.
Christian Hasoi, Lance Mountain and Mark Ragowski are
not household names, but, as a member of the audience com¬
mented, "in the skate bible, these guys are at leasLdemi-godj."
This was not the first time pro-skater Ragowski had prac¬
ticed his trade in Fresno.