|
Mexicans ‘Alive’in Celebrating the Day of the Dead
Guest commentary by Theresa San Luis
The spirits of the dead are expected to pay a holiday visit home
to Mexico early November. Sound scary? Not for Mexicans
remembering their deceased loved ones. They will gather at
family burial plots to greet them in this eye-catching, highly
reverent, yet joy-filled tradition.
El Dia de los Muertos, (The Day of the Dead) held
November 1 and 2, is simultaneously marked by mourning and
celebration throughout Mexico: skeletons, macabre toys, along
with edible skulls and coffins are visible reminders of the
somber deaths of Mexicans’ relatives; yet fresh seasonal or silk
flowers, colorful adornments and fireworks make the days of
commemoration seem merry.
The first day, called All Saint’s Day, is in fond
remembrance of infants and children who passed away, often
called “angelitos” or little angels. The second day, known as
All Souls Day, honors beloved adults who died.
Preparation for the exalted holiday is found lively
in every corner of Mexico. Everything from marigolds, skeletons,
elaborate wreaths to special baked goods, crosses and unadorned
dark beads molded into humanoid figures called animas (souls)
occupy markets and shops for buyers’ offering to the dead.
These heartfelt purchases are placed on altars of
deceased relatives, which are already garnered with confetti,
candles, flowers, photographs of the departed, candy skulls
inscribed with the name of the deceased, and an array of his or
her favorite foods and beverages. Such foods may include
platters of rice, beans, chicken or meat in mole sauce while
beverages may include bottles of beer, tequila, coffee and fresh
water.
The journey of the spirits to the living is royally
rewarded on November 1, often with a washbasin and clean hand
towel provided for visiting souls to freshen up before the
feast. Also offered sometimes is a pack of cigarettes
post-dinner for former smokers, or an array of toys and sweets
for deceased children.
On November 2, family members gather at the
gravesite that is adorned with a cross that is made of marigold
petals or wreaths with artificial floral arrangements. Some
people bring picnic baskets, a bottle of tequila for toasts to
the departed or even a mariachi band to lead a spirited
sing-along. Local merchants set up stands selling food and
drinks outside the cemetery gates. Pyrotechnic rockets may start
booming, announcing the commencement of an open-air mass, the
most solemn moments of the occasion.
Although death becomes Mexico in a lively way,
the spirit of the tradition is seen haunting other Latin
American cultures throughout the world. Hispanics are in unison
celebrating the tradition which is like the marriage of mourning
and merriness. Till death do us part? With death do us party!
Emily Angel: AST History In
The Making
Guest commentary by Sherrika Green
University of
Illinois at Springfield history major Emily Angel describes
her applied study at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
and Lincoln Home National Historic Site as, “the most rewarding
experience I could have ever had in college.” Angels’ AST
portfolio, nominated for Outstanding Student, showcased a
diverse array of skills she acquired in learning about the
nearly sixty historic sites and memorials the agency oversees,
which are dedicated to preserving Illinois history. In meeting
Emily, it was quite obvious to see where her passion
lies--history
“I
didn’t plan on going into history. It was instilled in me. My
dad has a master’s in history and teaches it. Growing up,
whenever I would ask a question, he would explain it as a story
in historical context. A turning point occurred my junior year
in high school when I took U.S history. I loved it--taking
notes, writing essays, and discussing key moments in American
history. I decided to study history after high school in the
Capital Scholars program at UIS”.
During the course of Angels’ studies, she was approached to
apply for an Applied Study internship. “Interesting story. I
didn’t plan on doing one at all. I had myself signed up for
five classes when Dr. William Siles emailed me and told me about
the position. At first, I thought, five classes plus an
internship--no way. But after I thought about it, I dropped one
of my classes and picked up the AST instead.”
Angels’ energetic drive to experience hands-on training helped
her to draft several learning objectives. “What I wanted to
accomplish in this internship was to see what I could do with a
degree in history besides teach. So many people want to teach
and that’s great. But if everyone teaches, we’re going to have
a little bit of a problem finding a job. I had the opportunity
to see a different side to how history can affect people in
communities.”
Working alongside a nurturing and dedicated staff, Angels’
knowledge began to grow. “By doing this internship, I was able
to gain an understanding of what is going on in Illinois and
across the nation to preserve history. I spent a lot of time
talking to volunteers with backgrounds in history, archeology
and/or architecture about how the Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency works and what each of their jobs entailed. I researched
different preservation commissions around the United States,
reviewing their version of the Illinois Association of Historic
Preservation Commissions to see if any of their literature could
possibly improve programs Illinois has to offer local
communities. I edited the Commissioner a
history-related quarterly newsletter that is mailed to over 600
members. I also listened to Illinois citizens give passionate
presentations in hopes of earning a nomination for their site.
I saw first-hand how the community can be involved and
affected by historic preservation. I would have never known any
of this existed--except the Commissioner, my dad
subscribes to that-- if I wouldn’t have done this internship.”
Angels’ hard dedication, perseverance and thirst for history,
prepared her for an additional learning opportunity. “While I
was doing my internship, I had checked online at the AST website
and I saw an opening at the Lincoln Home. The same professor
who told me I needed to do the Illinois Historic Preservation
Agency came to me and said I needed to do this. At the time, I
was planning on going abroad to Germany to learn German. But
when I found out about this position, I thought, I can’t pass
this up--the Lincoln home has all these great stories known at
the local, national and international level. I already had a
great chance to sit in an office to work the public history.
But to actually be able to get outside and educate the public,
motivated me to do a second internship.”
As
Angel finishes up her internship, she offers these words of
advice, “I would definitely tell students to do an AST.
Everything I read says, “Do an internship. It is the best way
to get experience”. I think there was an article on the msn.com
website that said it is not necessarily the grades employers are
looking at. It’s the experience--you need both”. I thought,
I’m glad I did that.”
Angels’ future plans, “I have a knack for being with people and
being able to work with them but I’m still need to decide. I
had a person the other day say, “I hate history, but you told it
like a soap opera and it work.” So I think the combination of
volunteering at the Historic Preservation Agency and a career in
park service like the one at the Lincoln Home would be my dream
job. By volunteering on a preservation commission in my little
hometown, I would be able to contribute to preservation
efforts. In park service, I would be able to travel around the
nation learning more about historical sites while educating
people from all over the world about our history. ”
For more information about
these and other paid and unpaid internship opportunities, stop
by the AST office (SAB 50 A) or call for an appointment
(206-6640). The AST office is open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday -
Friday. Visit our web site for information about Applied Study
Term.
http://www.uis.edu/appliedstudy
Team building for SGA?
By Carly Hawkins
At the Student Government
Association meeting this past Sunday, the board discussed, among
other things, the planned “Fall Retreat” for its members.
Planned for November 21st, the retreat will be a
teams course, followed by dinner and then a meeting at the
Peoria Campus.
I’d like to
first commend SGA for getting a Peoria Campus meeting done. This
is something that has been planned almost every year and never
happens. Despite the fact that there is a (often empty) seat for
a representative from Peoria, SGA just doesn’t deal with Peoria
very regularly. While Peoria may not have many issues that
require the attention of SGA, I think it’s an admirable goal to
make it to that campus at least once a year for a meeting. Who
knows what issues may be brought forward once we make direct
access to governance convenient to Peoria students.
However, I must
call in to question the plans for the hours before the meeting
-- a “virtual reality” team-building clinic at a Peoria venue.
While this leads me to suspect that it will be a two-hour Halo
tournament more than anything else, I have to doubt the value or
desirability of team building for student governance.
President Tyson Roan commented that the team building exercises
would lead to a “more cohesive government, add to the diversity
of perspectives, and give us an understanding of our strengths
and weaknesses as a governing body.” I must respectfully
disagree with his assessment.
While the team building may, in fact, lead to the members of SGA
becoming better friends and leading to more congenial and easy
going meetings, I don’t see that SGA is having much of a problem
with that now. And in fact, I don’t want them to all be best
buddies. As elected representatives of the student body, I want
them to represent their constituencies to the best of their
ability, and not to be afraid of offending the guy who caught
them in the trust fall two weeks prior.
I fear that
building a “team” out of SGA will promote a groupthink within
the confines of that organization that will lead it to be blind
to outside perspectives. The fact is that SGA is not and should
not be a team. Everyone should have the same objective, yes:
making UIS better. But to have everyone working towards that in
the same ways and under the same constructs leads to elitism.
I don’t mean to
imply that the members of SGA are sheep that will fall in to
line behind Roan after their team is built. I know that many of
them are strong minded and independent and would remain so.
However, I think Team Building as an exercise for a governmental
organization threatens the diversity of viewpoints, even if only
in a small way. I recommend to the SGA that they might all go to
Chuck E. Cheese’s and accomplish the same things: eat some
pizza, have a little fun, maybe even win a cool prize – without
treading the dangerous path towards clique-ishness.
Group Attends Conference on
Integrated Studies
Guest Commentary by Tyson Roan
From October 14 through
the 17, students, faculty, and administrators within the Capital
Scholars program showcased our unique program and got some
insight into what other programs from around the nation are
doing in regards to integrated curriculums.
At the Association for
Integrated Studies Conference, held in Charlotte, North
Carolina, one thing was apparent: The Capital Scholars program
and other initiatives at the University of Illinois at
Springfield are at the cutting edge of what is now only a dream
at other colleges and universities around the nation.
Not only have we long
incorporated public affairs colloquia and liberal studies
colloquia into our general education requirements, but the value
of our applied study term and independent option opportunities
are just beginning to be realized by their equivalents at other
colleges and universities.
More than anything else,
though, the Capital Scholars program here at the University of
Illinois at Springfield incorporates exactly those principles
that the conference advocated.
At the conference, our
group presented on “Developing the Engaged Citizen,” a
roundtable discussion focusing on the various aspects of civic
engagement fostered through the Capital Scholars program.
And in reflection on the
past three and a half years of the program, it is astounding how
Capital Scholars has thus far rang true to that tune.
In the classroom, our
program has developed a curriculum around public policy, the
development of critical thinking, the value of ambiguity, and
personal and group reflection.
Armed with these skills,
the Capital Scholar students have applied the theoretical
framework provided in this curriculum into very practical uses,
ranging from the annual Nicaragua trip to the creation of the
United Students Against Sweatshops group to the supersaturation
of Capital Scholars in leadership positions on this campus and
activism in the greater community.
After our group presented
the framework for the team-taught, interdisciplinary core
curriculum and initiated discussion, leaders in integrated
studies from around the nation were astounded with the successes
of the young program. We were not only asked to present again
in subsequent years, but other faculty and administrators
proposed ideas for the implementation of Capital Scholars-like
curriculum into their own general education programs.
The conference left me,
as well as the students, faculty, and administrators that
accompanied me, very excited not only about what Capital
Scholars is doing, but about what it has the potential to do.
And with such a
successful program, unique to itself in the world and envied by
colleges and universities around the nation, it is now more
important than ever to assure that Capital Scholars be allowed
to flourish and grow to the true potential that it has yet to
fully realize.
Letter to the Editor
At the SGA meeting on
Sunday night it was disclosed by Dr. Karen Moranski, Director of
the Capitol Scholars Program and Chair of the General Education
Working Group that the new prospective first year students, due
to arrive in Fall ’06 will be admitted under the original
Capitol Scholars NEPR. This announcement should have been made
to the whole student body, not just the SGA, and it should have
come from the Provost or the Chancellor. This whole idea is a
renewal of a plan that was met with staunch resistance by
current CAP students. The administration has ignored those
initial objections and pushed forward with the same plan CAP
students so vehemently fought against last year.
I am appalled at
the administration’s refusal to attempt to follow the correct
process for bringing in new first year students. In the time
that they have twice attempted this shortcut course of action,
planned behind closed doors, and without widespread input, they
could have attempted to do this the right way, regardless of
political waters, and still maybe have had students here by Fall
’06. The students are reasonable; if they had tried the right
way and failed we would be much more accepting of the current
plan that does an end run around the original sentiment of the
CAP NEPR.
The
administration has painted all of us into a corner. We have a
countless number of “parallel processes” taking place, all with
a deadline of Fall ’06 when these students will arrive, whether
we’re ready or not. As I admonish the administration for these
back door, cloak and dagger tactics, I call on all students to
unite to make this process a success for all of us. The
administration has handed us damaged goods, it is our job to fix
it and ensure our university is ready to greet these new
students. I firmly believe no one at this institution has a
greater stake in the future of this institution than the
students, who have gambled their future earnings potential on
what it means to have a degree from UIS. It is right to be angry
in the face of the egregious disregard for the opinions of
students, but we must unite now to ensure that the process,
started in deception, will conclude in transparency and success.
I encourage all to go the various parallel process meetings,
including the General Education working group.
Our futures rely
not just on the degree we receive at graduation, but also the
reputation this university creates in the years to come.
Jason Kennedy
SGA Treasurer
Senior CAP Scholar
|
