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L e "You can never really see what they see in this country until you have seen where they have been. Then you know why they are here, searching for a new life." But Ms. Payne, do you really, truly know why? I don't t think so. t Last month's issue of The Other Side had an article that talked about the Latino immigrant workers in e Southern California and their experiences here in the United States. The first mistake was to refer to them as r "illegals," ''beaners," and "wetbacks." I do not think that this story was written with malicious intent to hurt or offend anyone. It was an honest attempt of self-expression. I can see her honesty, but also her ignorance. You say that "they deserve a medal." Yes they do, but please do not belittle their situation. More than t a medal, they deserve a good job with fair wages and proper working facilities. What good is a medal if one 0 cannot afford a mantle to put it on. And maybe you thought you had it bad at Burger King for one year, but that is all many of us have. You say that "they are happy with the simple meals they eat and the clothes they wear... Because they t have their life-priorities straight. They don't need to put much emphasis on material things." Many times they h cannot afford to be materialistic and luxurious. I think many would agree that having a plate of simple food e and outdated, mismatched clothing is ranked higher on the list of priorities than a pair of Guess jeans or eating out at Spago's. There are many other things in this article that I did not agree with and found perturbing. But something E that I can agree on is that many of us are "pretty dam selfish" and that we do need to "wake up." We can no d longer be condescending about other peoples situations. My people. We need to be more that just spectators i on the sidelines, but active players in the game. It is going to take more than just a smile to make things better. Ms. Payne, you asked in your article if this is not the "land of opportunity?" To answer your question, t my opinion is NO! This is not the land of opportunity. But that is why we need to work together as people, as 0 human beings trying to educate and inform each other. We need action now, not tomorrow, because tomorrow r may be too late. I have taken my first step, now it's your tum. -Hortensia Balthazar
Seniors, Graduation is drawing near Free and and decisions must be made! anonymous HIV The Senior Committee has received some sugges tions for the senior gift, but we need your input in compiling a final list of choices. If you have ideas testing on or input, contacted Elizabeth Jensen c/o The Development Office. Ideas, so far, include: campus. Oass of 1993 Scholarship Fund A substantial scholarship award could be made next year to a deserving student. Like April all financial aid at Pitzer, the scholarship Tuesday, 13 would be awarded on the basis of financial need. Sound system for the new Student Recreation CALL HEALTH EDUCATION Center OUTREACH AT EXT.3602 FOR The senior class gift money could be put toward the purchase of a sound system in the TIME AND LOCATION BEGIN Student Recreation Center that could be used for live and recorded music in the Center's NING THE WEEK OF APRIL 5. lounge/ party room.
A PRIL 7, 1993 THE O THER SIDE THE OTHER SIDE
~ Editor's Desk . , 'tattoos by Kim Gilmore pg 6 If, after reading the back cover, you feel as though you bave just ~ ~ <&~e been hit over the h~d with a sledgehammer, then we did our job. '1 t" ~ J Our society has become desensitized by a deluge of violent imagery. We now dismiss drive-by's, shooting sprees in restaurants and on playgrounds, assassinations, executions, armed takeovers, teachers Managing Editors: Dauid Stoiber and and students gunned down in classrooms and hallways, riots, and Seth Winnick merchants doing battle with would-be assailants as pan of our every Executive Editor: Andrew Starbin day existence. An awful air of permanence surrounds all of these Production Editor: Heidi Schuman events, as if our society has little interest in and ability to make a Music Editor: Jordan Kurland change. Features Editor: Kim Gilmore I'm not certain why I suddenly awoke from the daze. Perhaps it is Writers: Alfie Alschuler because of the macabre, almost ridiculous situation in Waco, Texas. Pat Dolan Doug Fidaleo Maybe it was after hearing about the doctor who was shot down by a Joanna Garfein Pro-lifer for performing abonions. Or maybe it was simply the statis YusefOmowale tic from the back cover that I came across in an article in the New Orangellough Yorker: Over 60,000 people killed by guns in the last five years. It's CatiPayne an appalling figure. But instead of making an attempt to use our Tobin Steers system of governance to curb this bloodshed, our "chosen representa Zach Taub tives• kneel before pressure groups which wrap themselves up in laws Cover Design: JonLeuin designed more than two centuries ago. I'm fully aware that tinkering with the Constitution is a nebulous, Faculty Advisor: Allen Greenberger dangerous game. However, I see a society today that bears little or no resemblance to that of our founding fathers (a group of men who could hardly have conceived of an outcome as gruesome as the one we The Other Side Magazine is a face today). As the anicle went on to state: •The N.R.A. [and, in my publication of the students of opinion, everyone who is opposed to gun control} is still trafficking in Pitzer College. The editors frontier mythology in an era when the coonskin cap and the musket reserve the right to edit or have yielded to the crack pipe and the Glock." Our world and our refuse any material submitted, however that doesn't happen environment are not stagnant. They are constantly evolving, and often, and we're extremely therefore our laws must react to that evolution: changing when interested in publishing any necessary, to insure that those permanent, inalienable rights described responses to articles. As are enjoyed by all and abused by none. always, we are continuously looking for people who wish Some worry that once you alter one law, others will be vulnerable. to contribute to The Other Side. They forecast a mad-scramble of legislation that will topple our system Address any inquiries or and freedoms like the proverbial house of cards. 1 have more faith in responses to: people than they do. And, I must admit, I value human life a lot more than a set of abstract principles. It is high time that we remove our The Other Sid~ Magazine Pitzer Box'857 laws from their lofty pedestals, and treat them as they were meant to c/o Pitzer College be treated: as tools. Intelligent acts like the Brady Bill and the outlaw Claremont,CA 91711. of assault weapons will save lives and shape the society of today, and they will do so without damaging or infringing upon anyone's free The opinions expressed in this doms. How many more people must die before our citizens and magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the leaders act like panicipants in our sy~ ~oolsl editorial staff, or even in some cases, the writers.
APRIL 7, 1993 4 TH E OT HER SIDE 5 THE OTHER SIDE
ing in other and that did it for people. "' got a me... Idon'tthinki11 tattoo because I ever get another like tattoos. It one, three's something kind enough." of rebellious. It's The people that leading, it makes I talked to represent you wonder. It a very small percent awakens my cu of the population, riosity in other and don't touch on people." major groups of in I thought dividuals that might most people choose designs that would have a reflect a sense of very long drawn identification witha out rationale larger group. about why they Mostly, they were got tattoos, what people that acted it meant for them, out of personal con and how it signi cerns. '1t symbol When I first started to write an article on tattoos, I 1uul a big theory about Jww they fied a major izes part of where are becoming mare and mare common because we find ourselves less and less able to control change in the·fu I'm from, as well as ture of the world. our realities. In the technology driven age of the sound byte, our present seems less and things that I value (Why did you get a tattoo?) "Because I sort of weight or responsibility.. .but and care about." less stable,and we have to process information and quickly move onto the next major world thought it would look cool." not like a burden." It seemed to me that tattoos have But mostly, the reasons why people I also somehow came up with the event, brought to us as it occurs from CNN and the other news networks. To get a tattoo been becominga bigger and bigger part then would be to embrace a permanency we find ourselves unable to reach otherwise. at Pitzer get tattoos, if they care to idea that if people got multiple tattoos, of "popular cuiture." Perhaps they are verbalize them at all, cannot be com they might have meant varying things, even, as some recent magazine articles pacted into a single explanation. '1 had but still would have had the same mo have suggested, acceptable. One per So much for theories. What It may be true that in general, youth and recklessness. How been thinking about it for a long time. tives behind them. ''Igotallofthemfor son with visible tattoos said that, con And I didn't know of a reputable tattoo I was met with when I started men and women get them for ever, this explanation doesn't different reasons. The first one was versely, he had experienced overall joint. .. and I was still having doubts I asking people at Pitzer about different reasons, that people move toward an analysis of spontaneous.. .and had wanted a tat dismay from the general public. "For about it, and (my friend) said 'I know why they got tattoos was a vast with the same occupations are whatcould produce those feel too for a long time and I just thought the most part the moral majority would assortment of reasons and an influenced by some of thesame ings either. this great place in Fullerton, I'll take say that no tattoos is enough tattoos." you there. Let's do it.' I was searching swers. Flrstofall,alotofpeople valuesand end up getting simi Some people feel that a tat Perhaps, though, it is unfair to try for a reason to get a tattoo, something that have tattoos don't like an lar designs, etc. But it is also too issomething personal, that to give meanings to things based upon really important. And I don't think swering the question in the first true that I didn't have the skills they don't have to explain or how the mainstream media perceives there is one. I think basically what it place. "Because I wanted to. I or the means by which to try to justify. "I just felt like it. It's an them. Because those are, finally, only needs is some intuitive recklessness that didn't get it for anybody to adequately pattern them. Ire impulse... I wanted something perceptions, and are probably far too pushes you, that says go do it anyway. look at. It's not for display alized that I would do better to that I really liked. It's not that ~w to adequately define expres I'd like to be a writer so I like the idea of that's for sure. It's not for let people speak for them they mean anything it's just Sion. The moral of all this is that un having the symbol for creativity on my people to window shop on my selves. that I really liked it. Not the skilled people should try not to go into back. shoulder. I don't have to look I was reading some jour way they look on me, just the an experiment expecting certain an ''I think we all have our own rea at it I can feel it. I just know it's nals to see some of the aca way the moon looks." swers. Th.atisaneasyway to eliminate sons to get tattoos. .. Other people might there." demic exlanations for tattoing. "I had to trust somebody a subject's voice. (And to takeaway the have really good reasons to get their Many people weren't Therewasonewomanthatwas I'veneverseen. Iwasjustput rights we all have to keep our person tattoos. ldidn'thappen to, I just thought happy aboutbeing bombarded quoted repeatedly in a variety ting myself into this butcher's alities unpublicized and it was interesting and I didn't want to with this question. After ask of places. "In the future when hands. So it was very scary. uncommodified.) Besides, our precon leave California, I'm from the East ing one individual about the rm sitting around and bored But I liked it too. (Do you think ceived answers are often wrong any Coast, I didn't want to leave California implications the tattoo possi with my life and wonder if I of your tattoo as a public sym way. without trying it, so I just said, 'what I~d be a cool thing to do. I was only bly could have on her personal was ever young once and did bol or a personal decoration?) (P.S. Please practice safe tattooing. perception of herself and on exciting things, I can look at Can it be a personal symbol? the hell."' SiXteen I think it was like this rebellious ''I kind of like having it on my back. Y" e all know that needles ~al danger her overall outlook on life, she the tattoo and remember." That's what it is. Oh, and fuck thing. I thought I was all cool. The tf not properly sterilized.) 0 responded, witha strange look, Obviously, this interview had my boyfriend who hates my (Why do you like having it somewhere second one... you become addicted to '1 have no idea." a certain resonace for those that tattoo." whereyoucan'tseeit?) Well, it'snotso getting them. I wanted a second one Then, there were contra study tattoos. This is probably Another person I asked much where I can't see it... I just like the and I just saw a really cool design and dictory explanations from one of the more popular no implied that, by getting her symbolism of having it on your back, justwentwithit. !thought it was a nice people I may have presumed tions dominant society has tattoo,shemay havebeenemu you're kind of carrying that symbol. bit of self-expression. For the third one, would have the same answers. about tattoos: they are about latingwhatshefoundinterest- It's not so much decorative, as some lwasjustbored. Ineededalittlechange,
APRIL 7, 1993 6 THE O THER SIDE 7 THE OTHER SIDE
board to the administration." Some members, however, and the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles Bar Associations stressed other elements. For instance, one person felt that, were all represented. There were also references to hospital "the board gives the institution leadership and direction." organizations (the Speech, Hearing, and Lynn Sage Breast This was reflected in another comment, "We offer advice Cancer boards at Northwestem, and the USC med. school) and counsel to the President and senior administrators." and educational establishments (the Boy Scouts, the Califor One person corralled all of the duties into one word: "over nia Student Aid Commission, two national boards for uni sight." versity based centers, and several schools). The most interesting responses usually involved a com Itwas not until the final question, "What changes would bination of all of the duties. One member stated that, "if the you like to see?" that the communication issue began to school is operating at equilibrium, raising funds is the most present itself (or perhaps it was even earlier than this: of 47 important [role]." They did questionnaires sent, only U not describe what that equi were returned). Some mem By Andrew Starbin librium was or the process bers, through their responses, that would have produced it. made the linkexplicitly: "More Whatisthefirstimageorimpressionthatpopsintoyour I found the members of the board to be a concerned, caring Perhaps the most interesting student-trustee communica mind when you see or heai the phrase "Board of Trustees?" group- and one that was fairly diverse as well. Their commentmadewasthis, "The tion", "more college activities One might conjure up a vision of a cold, crusty collection of commitment to this school is not to be taken lightly: each major role is fund raising and involving trustees," "more ac person is elected to a three year term, and with that respon suits squabbling over finances while, simultaneously, en community outreach. Sec cess," and "more attendance sibility comes the expectation of making, each year, a mini joying a five-star banquet. Perhaps you would picture a ondary is a reality check for during board meetings of the group composed entirely of males; a supposition that could mum gift of $10,000. From the beginning, finances are the 'real'world vs. academia." members." Other members certainly be reinforced by the messages of television. Maybe ever-present worries on the peoples' minds. You may be I was startled by that raised the issuein a more subtle the answer is "complete disinterest" You would lump the surprised, though, at how that concern manifests itself. The adversarial comparison, and fashion: "(I would like to see] a board's "obsession with money" revolves around solvency, "board" into a nebulous category labeled "the administra the dissonance that it seems better understanding, [by] the tion"; a category that assumes the physical characteristics of increasing endowment, and making more aid available to a to represent. Who inhabits entire community, of budget larger number of students. Indeed, keeping tabs on each a barrier, blocking student freedoms and impervious to this nether world of ary realities and how the de student interests and ideas. I would suggest that this last ?ther's gift-giving (failure to make a gift is not grounds, in academia? Htheboardstands mands in the budget limit impression is the most dominant on the Pitzer campus. ttself, for removal) creating special perks or luxuries, and as a separate, dose of "real various groups' achievement Recent events, such as the Alexander Hall takeover and the other petty activities never see the light of day. ity," does that, then, create a of goals." Along these lines creation of the liberation through Education movement, in This mindset relates directly to the specific duties of the common bond amongst the came the statement, "more ap combination with well established feelings of uncertainty board: the hiring and firing of the President, fund-raising, faculty, students,and even the preciation from the students anddistrustdearlydemonstratethatstudentsandadminis and insuring that the school is both fiscally sound and "run administration? of Pitzer' s sharing gover trators inhabit two, distinct spheres. in an appropriate and good way for the students.'' It was Another question that I nance." There were members When I was first thinking about this article, I had a very telling to me that the board members, who don't have asked was, "If you could who wanted to see "more mi pretty straight forward premise. I wanted to find out about the authority to interfere in the academic arena, are the ones choose anyone, who would nority and female academi the board. Who they were, what their function was, and who can be sued should the school fall into bankruptcy. you suggest to be the 'perfect' member for the Pitzer board cians and trustees," "more alums and people of color on how much impact they had on ourschool were the questions Conceivably, they would haveeverything to lose and "noth and why?'' The catch phrases here were "rich" and "for working groups," and "more support for President Massey." that I wanted to answer. But larger issues soon presented ing to gain." However, inputand understandingareachieved ward thinking." One person was of the opinion that "no Are any of these changes possible under thecurrent system? themselves. Are there effective ways for students and via the sub-committee system. When meetings occur (pres one's perfect" Still, some specific individuals were sited: If the answer is "yes," then how can all of the groups administrators to communicate on this campus? Is there a ently 5 times a year, though this may decrease), reports Michael Ovitz of CA.A. ("intelligent, brilliant, rich, liberal, involved voice their opinions? system in place, and are both sides taking full advantage of emanate from various groups: budget, investment, aca resourceful, not bound by convention"), Frank Ellsworth I will begin with the actual board meetings. I attended demic, student, development, and composition and proce that system? In any communication system there must be ("prudent, fiscally sound, egalitarian ideas"), Eleanor o~e on March 8th, my second in three and a half years at dures. Two deserve special attention: the composition and movement in two, equal directions. 1bat is not the case at Roosevelt ("for her brilliance and humanitarian spirit"), Pi~r. Compared to the rest of the student body, it seems, the present time, and we all need to understand why. procedures committee, which is in charge of finding new Lynn Harris ("an alum who was on the board several years thattsa pretty good record. Thereareusuallyfewerthan ten First, let me dispel some of the erroneous impressions. members, and the student life committee, which meets in ago-Ibelievethatsheisanattomeyandl'vealwaysadmired students and faculty in attendance at the meetings. At the Holden. If given the proper attention and focus (by both her thinking''), President Bill Clinton ("influential in every March 8th gathering, the only other students there were sides), thesearedependableinstrumentsforcreatingchange way, would attract donors and other leaders"), Colin Powell attached to a specific committee (Dean of Students search, GENDER COMPOSITION or airing grievances. They are direct channels, immune to ("well respected person of color who could probably gener Dean of Faculty search) and therefore had an "operational the virus of bureaucracy that plagues most administrative at~ a lot of interest in and money for the college"). Along function" (arguably so did I- gathering data for this piece). ~ endeavors. male 1£" - ,-:, ~- :· - ..- 1 23 wtth General Powell's recommendation came a proviso: Many of the members and faculty with whom I spoke Those are the basic workings as I understand them, but that he "be interested and involved in the 'Pitzer' type of wanted me to clearly state that "the meetings are open to why not let the members, themselves, tell you what their education." students, and that [we have] committees on which students female I ll 1983 roles are? I prepared asurveyandsentit to all of the trustees: Other questions were designed to "flesh out" the trust are actively participating." I can't help but feel, though, that 35 or so active trustees, and the life members, who do not ees. I asked, "what other boards or similar functions have ~will largely be ignored, just as the student government enjoy a vote but are historicalJy importanl Some stressed you participated on?'' Here, the responses were particularly ~ffice, ~tudent senate: and other avenues are also ignored the business/financial responsibilities: "The board of direc varied: the Music Center, Museum of Contemporary Art, (mcluding the school s newspaper, the so called "voice of male . 31 tors is responsible for policy direction and fiscal soundness. and the Philharmonic, the Grifith Park Observatory Board, the student body," which has not received a letter with only It chooses the CEO of the organization, monitors perfor Human Options (a shelter for battered women in Orange one more issue to go). Oearly, the bulk of the student mance, and determines financial direction." Another com Co~nty.),DesigningWomen (themainsupportgroupforthe pop~~tion _remains separ~te and apart from any form of female 18 mented that, "The most important thing is to raise money, 1992 art mstitute of Southern California), two editorial review administrative contact. It 15 therefore legitimate to wonder then set policies and oversee the finances." At the tail end of boards for professional journals, a federal advisory board, how the students can truly understand the intricacies of a that statement came, interestingly, " .. .and be a sounding
T HE O THER St DE 9 APRIL 7, 1993 8 THE O T HER SIDE problem or how the administration How has the press coverage changed, you might can feel the intensity and desire of Ditstribution 1992 ~~,'~~:~th~~~:= student thoughts, if there is no inter given impressions which cannot be The ask, between the two Rodney King cases? N othing action between the two. 16 verified {because they are not there to see it happen) and which may, in ever stands still, in this culture, and those of us who Justasimportantas "who ismiss 14 ing," is the question of, "what is be fact, be wrong. If this is the case, follow the media have noted a variety of changes in ing said?" What are the impressions then I would find it both dangerous that the board members are getting, and terribly frustrating to make Media's the past year: some of them possibly good, and and are they accurate? I happened to policy under these conditions. be sitting in on a special meeting, So, we have witnessed prob others pretty definitely bad. Let's start by distin where the members were dispersed lems of "lack of in rut" and of "mis guishing the three daily media-print, radio, and among students and faculty. An 4 representation." I propose a few Swing event had been organized, where changes. At the moment, the board TV - because people have a tendency to lump new faculty members would meet 0 system operates under the a~ the trustees and discuss their im them all together, and that tends to obscure some 0-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-?0+ tion that communication ought to pressions of the school, what sub L------...J go through the President and not Between crucial distinctions. In its coverage of the issues jects they teach, and so on. The directly to the board. I feel that professor at my table made the interesting remark that, direct channels are vitally important, and at least one should surrounding the trial of the officers who were going in, she had been warned of "an ethos of Pitzer as a be created. One already mentioned, the student life commit videotaped in the act of beating Rodney King, I'd placeofindividuality." Wewerediscussingstudent-teacher tee, should receive more attention. I have heard complaints the Two interaction and communication. I asked her how she found of "not enough student involvement" and "trustees not say that over the past year, the print media are now student participation in the classroom, specifically classes being there frequently enough.'' Both problems, it seems, with over thirty people. She stated that, contrary to the can be easily repaired. I don't believe that the number of doing a better job. warning, students were very involved and she was quite meetings should be reduced, and I would like to see more happy with the amount of interaction. It was sometimes members on the various committees (even on a part time King Look, for instance, at the way the Rodney King" and we were told re necessary to break the class into small groups, but on the basis). Both the DeanofStudentssearchand Dean of Faculty racial aspects of the arson and looting peatedly that he had probably been whole ideas came forth pretty easily. Both she and the search committees lack board members. The trustees and were covered in theearlydaysof April under the influence of "angel dust"? members at my table agreed that student involvement was the students must become more active, and work in concert a s e s 1992, as opposed to the way that they Thanks largely to the fact that the pros not a major concern. through the various means available {i.e. through tradi C are covered now. Immediately follow- ecution in the present federal case put My experiences here leave me dubious to that impres tional mechanisms and others emanating from within the King himself on the stand, and let him sion, and an incident later that week reinforced my suspi student community). tell his own story, readers around the cions. Just before spring break, I entered my class which Perhaps the greatest positive change needs to occur in world have a much clearer image of the should include fifty other people ( about 37 are Pitzer board meeting attendance. This is a critical time for the touchingly vulnerable human being students). When everyone is in attendance there are not trustees. At the moment that this is being written, two Preparation for ~~~[ whom we've all watched too many enough seats to go around, but that day (as was the case for members have left. A search is in progress now for ten new to coverthe times in the videotaped beating. 90% of the semester) half of the seats were empty. The members, and there is a keen emphasis on selecting persons In the same year that has elapsed professor handed back papers which he felt were really sub from marginalized groups. A chance for a new direction is since the first verdict, however, the standard. He felt that our effort had been poor, the instruc here, if the system is used to its potential. The formulation quality of TV news has gotten notice tions had not been followed, and that the probable cause and creation of policy can be affected, as the five college King Verdicts fl~~·:4 ably worse. TV enjoys two inexhaust was a failure to show up to class. Although he stated that policy on sexual offenses is attempting to demonstrate. At the past ible powers to captivate our attention, those who needed to hear that the the very least, though, these meet both of which are denied to print: the most were probably absent, heasked ings can be a valuable source of power of moving pictures with sound; us what had gone wrong and how NUMBER OF TRUSTEES information. Byattendingonemeet and the power to show us something things could be changed. When no ing, I gained a betterunderstanding "live," as it happens. These are great one responded, he simply dismissed of: the total operating expenses of Gains Urgency ~~~~ virtues, of course, which we rightly us after only ten minutes. the college {almost $22 million, Angelen os' value - but they can be abused in Obviously, in this instance, the while our surplus is $5,625), the I . ethnic vari- order to capture our attention. What's interaction described at my table at breakdown of the combined facul ety. The print coverage now tends to happened with 1V news in the past the meeting did not exist. I don't ties of the Oaremont Colleges (42% make note of the issues as they affect year - as anyone knows who' s been know whether or not the Pitzer stu of the professors teach humanities, our Latino and Asian-American citi- watching- is that we are getting more dent body is too "individualistic." I but 55% of the students get their zenry, as well as the African-American and more freeway chases aired live am concerned that the board mem degrees in the social sciences and and Anglo angles. This can only be from pursuing helicopters. bers, and perhaps the administra are supported by only 32% of the considered an improvement over the These chases grab viewers because tion, are proceeding through false total faculty), and how our system initial falsifying simplification. oftheiractuality,andbecausetheyhave assumption. They may be hearing compares with others around the Secondly, the p rint press has the compelling visual quality of a fa one thing, while in actuality, an en nation {we have almost as many learned during the past year to portray miliar video game. But they are com tirely different situation exists and language instructors as Princeton, Rodney King asa human being-or,at pletely devoid of any information, of this can be true of many aspects be yet Princeton offers their students least, they've made notable progress in course, and they put the viewer in the yond class participation and student courses in 36 languages). I saw that direction. Doyourememberwhen police perspective of pursue and arrest involvement. The students are not (Continual on page 29) _&~M he was referred to only as "motorist without any sense of what or why. In
A P RI L 7, 1993 10 THE O THER S IDE I I THE O THER StDE
equivalent of a steady diet of road kill. print. Radio is also in the over in slow motion. we allow the weeds to ~~ Ifyou'redrivingdown the free And it's gotten worse in the past year, middle in the sense that, Under the current ratings I've been arguing, in a number of grow rank, or do we because the 1V news environment has since the first Rodney ~ • nationalpublicationsandonpublictele- take a hand in en- r •_, way and there's been an acci gottenevenmorecompetitive. Moreof IGngtrial,asamedium ~~ driven regime_, the media and vision, that slow motion radically dis- couragingwhat '-J thelocalstations- KCAL,KCOP,and it has neither im- the press are obliged to show torts our experience of any filmed or we care C.. dent on the other side_, it's c taped event, and that it is one of the about, and ""'-. KTLA among others - are devoting proved nor de Q natural for you to slowdown to moretimetonewsbroadcastsnowthan dined in the people the worst· that human primary ways in which the Simi Valley doing . ~ our best take a look. But if you're asked they were a year ago, and they're also quality of its go ity has to offir. Another of the jury was misled. The theoretical un- to get lt~ rid of having to compete with more cable coverage. § derpinnings of this argument are ex- C-.V what threat- what's important to you in life, services, and more videotapes! Every- Ra- • dio cynical but perhaps still accu tensive, but they have to do with the ';:) ens it? body wants you to watch, and so the f u r- ~ t h e r rateslogansabout current news fact that the temporal dimension - ~ Under its you're not going to say that it's 1V news gets more and more sens APRIL 7, I 99 3 12 THE O THER SIDE I 3 THE OTHER SIDE • Monkey Man Speaks A M by Alfie Alschuler by Joanna Garfein movie where the characters are watch I am a well trained monkey. thinks I communicate well, I am very ing a movie. I don' t think that this well matched with the position offered, movie would be a hit at even a dry I am wearing the right clothes, I am confident, and sincere. He be cleaning convention. The only high my shoes are polished, my ~tl lieves that I am a great person for the Sometimes in life we are thrown light of the film is KeJlie Martin (life handshake is firm and there are job. He doesn't know how wrong he is. an unexpected curve. In "Rich Goes On), and it's unfortunate that she I did communicate well, but the mes isn't more visible on the big screen and no boogers hanging from my sage had nothing to do with what 1 felt. in Love" there is no apparent beyond the television drama series. nose or other signs of poor per " ···( / That makes me a liar and a sell-out. distinction between reality and And as for the Academy Awards, ~ ' "l~,' all I have to say for "Unforgiven" and sonal hygiene. I smile and tell l Who wants someone like that for an the movies. An appropriate \,' employee? He certainly doesn't. Oint Eastwood is. . .5YMPA THYVCYfE! him that I am very glad to be Suppose I had chosen to be honest phrase here would be "You just Anyone who hasn't seen 'The Crying here and I'm happy he has taken and forthcoming with my real thoughts never know." Game" or doesn't know the big secret should still definitely go to see it. Rent the time to see me. He looks me and personality. I would have lost the #7 . ~·J job before the interview began. First "My Cousin Vinny'' and enjoy Marisa over. He runs down the mental l off, I would havewornsweatpantsand "Rich in Love" is simply a heart Tomei's comedic performance for checklist. I am well groomed, a tee-shirt. I would have questioned warming tale of family and relation which she received a Best Supporting his questions and explained to him that ships, interwoven with the usual twists Actress Oscar. Or simply venture out have a good handshake, good it was my strength and weakness to in plot. For any of you who have seen of Oaremont insearch of "Passion FISh" taste in ties, but my shoes are lend a critical eye to everything. He "Man On The Moon," this is strikingly or ''Love Field." boring, at least there are no would have left the interview in shock, similar at close glance. From the cre dismayed at my gall and inappropri ators of "Driving Miss Daisy," this film boogers. Five out of six isn't ateness. It would not occur to him that is full of charm and nostalgia, as well as bad. I was an individual with integrity and a strong dose ofsentimentality. It could honesty. A person who was willing to easily be labeled a family film, as "Rich He asks, "Why do you want this for breakfast. 'Why should we hire stand up for what he believes in. in Love" explores the experiences and job?'' Immediately I am confronted you for this job, as opposed toone of the On the other hand, he may not disappointmentsofloveacross the gen with a moral dilemma. I can either other 900 qualified applicants?'' I real wantsuchamoralindividual. Perhaps erations of one family. But this is done answer honestly and maintain my in ize that someone else is probably more the interview process is indeed effec in an effective fashion, and I found tegrity and immediately blow my qualified than I am and also more de tive. It allows him to establish who is myself curious about the outcome of chances for getting the job, or give him serving of the position. They probably the best ass-kisser. This may be the the characters' interaction with each film, as Erbe' s boyfriend. "Rich in Love" theanswerhewantstohear. Toanswer shouldn't hire me because I'm not very quality that will lead to success in the other. Quite often I find that movies handles sexual relations with taste, and honestly seems silly. Why would I tell excited about the job. I answer with world of business. lack relationship development, and this leaves a lot to the imagination, which is him how I really feel if I know that conviction,''lhaveuniquequalitiesthat Either way I question the endeavor filmsuccessfullyportraysthetrialsand a nice change for the film industry. would be the end of his consideration 1 can offer this institution. My ability I am undertaking. A successful job tribulations of love in a realistic man Kathryn Erbe's character kept me of me as the candidate of choice? I to... blah blah blah." hunt will result in the loss of what I ner, evident through believable char wondering, and her fluttering emotions decide to go along with the game and After I finish talking, my confidence value more than anything else in my acters. and reactions allowed for a watchable give him the answer he wants,and in so level has increased. I feel good about self. Performing a good interview and Veteran actors Albert Finney and film. This is not a "chick film," nor is it doing sacrifice my integrity. how my response sounded. His nods securing a job means denying my own Jill Clayburgh are the separated par a tearjerker, but it makes you feel good I think to myself that I don't really of agreement and apparent pleasure integrity and honesty. As a result I ents of Kathryn Erbe, a newcomer to and will probably stir something in want this job, it sounds stressful and buoy my confidence. At the same time have decided to be honest in my inter the screen who gives an accurate and side of you and make you think. I the company is in the city (1 don't want a hole in my stomach has developed. I views. This conviction has already re convincing performance as the con wouldn't recommend '"~Uch in Love" if So until next time. .. in the infamous to live in the city). I do want the job haveallowed myself to distort the truth. sulted inthelossofachanceforonejob. fused and hormonal daughter. "Twin you're looking for an exciting experi wordsof my favorite women and yours, because I am qualified and therefore I I have molded myself into the cookie At the end ofMay I could be jobless, but Peaks" actor Kyle MacLachlan is the ence at the movies. It is a romantic the Indigo Girls: when you're looking can get it. This means a paycheck, cutter dimensions of the perfect appli I'll have my integrity and self-esteem. smooth, emotionally ambivalent hus drama with a fresh perspective about back at your life in retrospect, have a health insurance and stability. I reply, cant. My integrity and self-esteem have Everyone will face these choices band to Suzy Amis, the irritable older life and love, and a touching story filled good laugh. Don' t let the weight of the 'The opportunities this job offers dove been forced down to places which 1can eventually. They may not realize they sibling. Alfre Woodard ("Grand Can with sentiment and reality. world be in your hands. Your actions tail perfectly with my interests and ex only reach whenitakethestupid tieoff have a choice, but they do. I'm not yon" and "Passion Fish") provides a Ify ou want to know the truth, I was will follow you full circle round. Plant perience. I am very excited about the that I'm wearing. advocating blunt honesty over selling liveliness to the film in her smaJl part as going to also review the movie "Mati a seed and watch it grow. Oh, and treat prospect of working here. Blah blah He sees a well polished perfor ofthe soul, the issues and situations are a friend of the family, as does Piper nee." However, it was, at it's best mo yourself to someBen & Jerry's ice cream. blah." mance, a mastery of all the unspoken never that clear. I just hope that people Laurie, Finney's new interest. And ments, not high quality entertainment. Have a slumber party. Fmd a room of His next question is about as sur rules and mores of an interview. His survive the ordeal with some self-re Ethan Hawke("Alive ") gives a refresh I saw it at a drive-in with some friends your own and write fiction (it worked prising as the dining hall being open mental checklist has been running. He spect. I have certainly struggled. 0 ingly familiar teen awkwardness to the to add to the novelty of watching a for Virginia Woolf). ::l TH E OTHER S I D E 15 APRIL 7, I 99 3 14 THE OTHER StDE I I SPORTS by David Stoiber AfanoftheS'\.vastika,MargeSchott fitted with a pair of glasses a new team term deals)? Cincinatti Reds owner) demanded jus- (the Yankees) and a guarantee that he TheNBARookieWatch:Thequest tice when her poor, helpless dog was will hit over .300. I would think twice for the Rookie of the Year Award is a unfairily banned from the Cincinnati before doubting a man who hit .345 two man race. It's the Shaq, and his Reds' ballpark. Although it was a noble over 10 seasons and won five batting moments of domination mixed in with effort, Ms. Schott's behavior indicates titles. spurts of recklessness vs. the steady, to me that her regard and compassion The big questions entering the composed play of Mr. Mourning in toward her dog far exceeds that of her 1993 Baseball Season Charlotte. These monsters both are The Arts Special Sports fellowman. Which team will finish second, af putting up huge, MVP t y p e This is an odd numbered year ter the Atlanta Braves run away and numbers, but there is . (1993). This is great news to Kansas hide from the rest of the pack in the Meg Rowntree Events Saturday, April 1 0 Oty Royal hurler Brett Saberhagen, National League West? Aprill9-23 Women's Water Polo vs CMS 9am who is 74-30 in odd-numbered years Do Dave Stewart and Paul Molitor and vs UC San Diego 1 2 noon since 1985. Bet the farm; Saberhagen have anything left in their tanks or will Reception for the Artist Friday, April 9 and vs UC Redlands 4:30 pm will once again have a big, odd year. the Blue Jays' off season facelift prove Tuesday, April20, 7-lOpm Balch Auditorium Softball! vs Christ College 12 noon Comeback Kids: Fernando "the unproductive? Claremont Gaduate School, Grande" Valenzuela is back. Hischeeks Friday at Noon Sunday, April 11 Will a fast start by the New York East Gallery look a bit puffier, the paceon his pitches Yankees keep "the Boss" from tamper Music of Brahms, Pasatieri, Men's Tennis vs Emory 2pm may have slowed slightly, but Fernando ing and tinkering with his ball dub, or Nin, and Ginastera Tuesday, April 13 has found a home on the Baltimore does GeorgeSteinbrenner'sarrival sim Arleen Chikami Softball vs Pt. Lorna 2pm ply indicate the Bronx Zoo is again "veiled flesh" alive and kicking in the Big Apple. Saturday, Aprill7 April26-30 Wednesday, April 14 Will Eric Davis and Darryl Straw Bridges Auditorium Women's Tennis vs Cal Lu. 2pm berry fmd baseball enjoyable again in Reception for the Artist The Claremont Chamber Dodger Blue? Consequently, will Tuesday, April27,7-10pm Friday, April 16 Tommy Lasorda be able to ride off into Orchestra, The Concert Choir, Track invitational lOam the Dodger Blue sunset after this year a Claremont Garduate School, Pomona College Choir, and happy thin man instead of a sad fat East Gallery community choirs Saturday, April 17 man? Hayden "The Creation" Baseball vs Occidental 11am Will Bert Blyleven manage to catch Darryl Strtncberry un11 bt key to fM Men's Tennis vs LaVerne 9:30am Dodgu's sucuss. Marc Pally onto another dub and get his 300th Softball vs CMS 12 noon victory? Diptychs 1985-1992 Friday, April 30 Will the balls actually fly higher only one "Shaq." With all that's riding Aprill2-16 Balch Auditorium Wednesday, April 21 and farther in Colorado's new, airy on him, the NBA would be brain dead Reception for the Artist Women's Tennis vs Cal Tech 2pm ballpark? to give the a ward to anyone other than Fridays at Noon WiU Bo be Bo again? O'Neal, especially with the departure Tuesday, April13, 7-lOpm Ftnutndo Val~la finds a homt with Music of Beethoven Friday, April 23 tltt Baltimort Orioles Will "Doc" Gooden be "Doc" ofbothBirdandMagic. M.J.maybethe Claremont Graduate School Gooden again? NBA now, but nobody lives forever. ... and Debussy Baseball vs LaVerne 3pm Oriole pitching staff, after running off Will the usually thrifty Houston The Shaq is the future in the NBA and Rachel Learn Saturday, April 24 14 scoreless innings this spring. After Astros make their surprising, off sea deservedly so. Hopefully, the aura of Friday, April30 hitting machine Wade Boggs hit 86 son acquisitions and invesbnents pay the Shaq will not detract from the qual J Paintings & Ceramics Softball vs Redlands 1 2 noon Balch Auditorium points below his career batting average dividends this season (they signed ity playof other youngsters like Mourn AprilS-10 Women's Tennis vs Alumni 1pm last season in Bean town, he knew dras- pitchers Doug Drabek and Greg ing, Tom Gugliotta, Christian Laettner Graduate Recital Salathe Gallery ticmeasureswerenecessary. Themost Swindell and re-signed Craig Biggio, and Clarence Weatherspoon. 0 Angela Brand, conductor Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25 superstitious player in baseball is now Steve Finley and Ken Caminiti to long- Women's Waterpolo Tournament with members of the R. Emmett Suess Claremont Chamber Orchestra Sunday, April 25 Grassworhs Music of Copland and Baseball vs Alumni 12 noon April 5-9 Stravinsky Wednesday, April 28 Claremont Gaduate School, Women's Tennis vs CMS 2pm SHORTS West Gallery APRIL 7, 1993 16 THE OTH E R StD E 17 THE OTHER SIDE Jose Calderon and all other professors who supported the struggle. Amy Champ writes, I had your victory in mind when I ''Being in Zimbabwe has Tales of an American lost in Cameroon attended a talk by 1992 Nobel laureate sparked the poetic beast in Rigoberta Menchu at the University of me." She wishes us all by John Bracken_ is currenlty Costa Rica. I was reminded of how the struggle for diversity and justice on ''bonne chance" on the rest David Sperry studying in Costa Rica. He took campus is part and parcel ofRigoberta's of the semester and asked some time out to drop us a line and heroism in Guatemala. The difference that we include one of her II why they were so violent. I being the degrees of repression that the Asiego,'' I replied to the give us his impression of the coun poems. Thanks for the letter young woman who greeted me. disagreed with him immedi strugglesface.limagined whatitwould ately. I tried to explain to him try. Thanks fohn. be like if Rigoberta were to appear in Amy. As she slyly chuckled, however, I remembered the tonal nature that when African-Americans Oaremont, how theschools would milk of the village language. I imag are violent, it's usually in self I've been most surprised by the her appearance (and her struggle) for Township Night mu Zimbabwe ined horrendous accent chang defense, or it's a result of op degree of of what might be called "cul all it's worth. For example, pictures of Insular pajamas tural imperialism." I mean, I've seen ing the meaning of my friendly pressive soci~nomic power her would probably appear in all ad secure heat structures. I don't think I ever more Bulls hat here than I do in Chi greeting to the gravest of insults missions material for years. Surely the trapped by iron-barred windows convincedhim,butlhaveafeel- cago. Television is dominated by bad or a highly inappropriate sexual administration would be much quicker bolted to keep out dogs gesture. Luckily, I remembered - ing he's still thinking about it. programming from the states, such as barking. to embrace her and her internationally that my white skin identified my We spent many more hours Beverly Hills 90210, Cops, Rescue 911, acclaimed movement than they are to Rhumba music gyrates' and, yes, Saved By The BelL I tell the as a foreigner and therefore an debating over women's rights, acknowledge issues of diversity and despotically women's natures, women's ca brothers in my host family that I've justice in their own backyard. back to Zaire; idiot. I was excused. During my study abroad in pabilities,etc.,etc. Again, I won never seen a high school as squeaky a lone cricket's green chirping Cameroonduring the fall of 1991, dered at how quickly I took a clean as the ones they see on T.V. They Some more noteson what going on intensifies. don't seem to care- I gues it's nice to experiences like these were far fighting stance on issues which, here. Those of us in San Jose are lucky too common to have their sig in America, I would consider idolize someplace. Ofcourse, "cultural Printed like living room decor enough to have the opportunity to at nificance recognized. Perhaps myself an ignorant source at imperialism" does have it benefits-like in Taos, New Mexico, tend the Fifth International Interdisci l've just been lazy, but I've fi best, misinformed at worst. I the weekly NBA games. However, plinary Women's Congress. This, of cotton trousers nallydecided to write something rarely entered fierce debates in Encino Man is the hottest thing in the course,bringsmetothemachoismhere. cling to clammy kneecaps, up about my time because it's theStates,butfrom the first time movie theatres now. as Costa Rica advertises itself a country fillitn wiht schweet neat's nature been brewing in my head for so long. cans than he was, so I'd try to get him he argued that men are superior be I mean, forcing US culture on the of peace, without an army, few wars, fluid Third World is one thing, but do they From the beginning, I must say that I talking, and then dispel myths when I causeof their physical strength, I found etc Although, this is do to historic a river of sugar can lies describe in this article my own experi noticed them. myself in the thick of it. It was also a have to send so much crap? My seven that won't shut up circumstances, such as the fact that the ences in Cameroon and my own inter There were a lot of myths. Many of running joke that even ifbasingsuperi teen year old host brother, Christian, through my white skin. Spaniards didn't colonize here as bru pretations of those experiences. I will the images of African-Americans that ority on physical abilities was appro loves Guns n' Roses, but isn't familiar tally as they did much the rest of the not venture to assume the opinions of reach Cameroon are romanticized one priate, this man was very short and with James Brown, Bob Dylan, or the region. But, of course, as a local activist Creeks climbing Blues. My other brother, Fabian, while other travelers there, and I will espe wayor the other, thanks to the wonder very scrawny, assuredly marking him reminded our Women's Studies class up from last year's drought quench cially not say I understand how ful worldwide prominence of Ameri as a deficient member of the human listening to one of my tapes last night, yesterday, peace begins at home. thristy maize was astonished to find a Kid Frost song Cameroonians think. I might have, in can television and film. On the one species. I never leveled this argument Womenherearesubjecttoviolence in Matabeleland. some sense, a more enriched perspec hand, there's the very popular Cosby at him; I didn't think he would have in which there was Spanish. He lis when walking down the street, as well Women steal bucketfuls tened to it over and over again. tive than someone who hasn' t been to Show, which, although it shows many found it as funny. as in the home (just as in the States, of of end-times' days Whenever you're trying to under I'mgoing to Nicaragua soon. Hope Cameroon, but I won't venture to say I of the positive aspects of a successful course). Yesterday we visited a low to drown fiery death. know how Americans think, so I'll never African-American family, doesn't deal stand anyone, you've got to remember fully, the US presence won't be as bad income housing project in San Jose that there. Not yet, anyway, or at least in a take that liberty with Cameroonians. much with issues of racism that Afri that all people have biases in informing was initiated and built mostly by The river rises My most frequent conversational can-Americans experience every day. you about themselves. For the first different form. I'm pretty sure they women. In the course of their struggle, with newly spilled rain don't have any statues of US president partner was my homestay father in the On the other extreme, there are Holly month of my stay in Cameroon, I was the women were continuouslydiscour from clean sun dried gourds cityofDschang. Wespentrnanyhours wood films which often portray Afri living with a single Cameroonian man, in Managua, like the one of JFK that aged by the government (who wanted hanging through the sky. they have here in San Jose. ingood-natured, heatedargurnentona can-Americans as criminals and as and I didn't discover until I talked with to make a profit on the undeveloped Ancestors paint variety of issues, especially dealing with generally violent people. Even when many more Cameroonian women that land by turning it into middle-income silhouettes of forgotten fathers I was thrilled to hear of the victori African-Americans and the llnature" of quality television and film are taken the views he offered me on Cameroon housing). To secure the land for their on their smooth, round sides. women. In the many conversations I out of their American context, their were of a distinctly male flavor (along ous protest in Oaremont at the begin homes, they had to resort to a series of ning of February. Congratulations to would have with my homestay father messages are taken to extremes, and with his cooking, which quickly en hunger strikes. The women were told Oouds engulf the Southern Cross in Dschang, he constantly demanded the resulting image evolves that all couraged me to eat out). One of his all of you! And thank you to all the by the government that there was no illuminating robbers students: your participation and sup the inside story on African-Americans African-Americans either enjoy rich favorite subjects was polygamy: men water in the area, so they couldn't live stirring gravel lawns, and their views, attitudes, etc. This lives in the suburbs or kill each other on havingmultiplewives. Hedidofferan port, your struggle and risks, no mater there. So the women started to dig jumping fences armed with broken the level of individual participation or made me uncomfortable at first, be the street. My homestay father had a interesting explanation ofthe economic around. Low and behold, someone glass. cause I am not a direct authority on the theory that African-Americans had arrangements in polygamous families, degree of risk involved benefits all of struck oneof the city's main water pipes. Death deters not us who were not able to join you. I African-Americanexperiencebynature many frustrations and problems be although in his theories, the men still I guess most of us have learned that the determined. of my European-American descent. In cause they were taken from their home played the most important economic think thanks should also be given to you can't always trust authority, huh? Lourdes Arguelles, R.W. Gilmore, and many cases, however, I was certainly land and their history was stolen from role. When I asked him if wives in All power to the people -Amy Champ more infonned about African-Amen- them. I agreed with him. He said that's polygamous marriages had relation- APRIL 7, 1993 18 THE OTH E R SIDE 19 ~,\).dent", THE OTHER SIDE ------~ ~ ~ ships outside the folktale I heard, I offered a tale of my just because I'm a man? I can say that ~ ., marriages,hevehe- own in return, either one that I had in America and have some people ac ~ .q,0 mentlydeniedil In learned in Cameroon or an American cept it. I don't think many people I met <>'0 ~ fact, when I asked one. The facilitation of understanding in Cameroon, men or women, would his fiancee, in his is necessarily a reciprocal process: you accept it. They'd think I was a coward. .· presence, whether wives in polyga must give of yourself to yourself re Thesame type ofexperience could have ichelle mous marriages had boyfriends, she ceive. happened tome in America, but I don't also denied it When I asked the same I learned valuable lessons listening think it would have held the same s By Pat Dolan question to a group of several women notonlytopeople,butalsotothemean weight in my mind. When you're out on the street, however, they said "Of ings behind my own experiences. The ofyour native context, yourself-defini course they have boyfriends." It is not group of American students I was with tions become remarkably free-floating, 9-{ "Call me later" she says, "Once you get honor enveloped in forms of grace that tran as important to determine who is the in Cameroon was lopsided in its gen and you find yourself thinking things out of class." A smile on her face and she scended the blade's purpose. This world could most reliable source on the subject of der; there were nineteen women and about yourself that you never would opens the door and walks away. He walks not fit all that, but he wanted it to. He put his polygamy as it is to recognize that all six men. Our sectioned groups in the have expected. The more foreign the back upstairs, glances back and catches her walkrnan on and left her and smoked another. sources have their own interests, their cities often were all-female or included context, the more wild the thoughts. solemn eyes, herself wanting to look one last Her rusty brown tan, her hazel eyes, her long own images to protect. a lone male. One night while in Many of the women in our group 0 time. black curly hair and strong, short body no My first day in the village during Bamenda, a medium-sized city in experienced the same phenomenon. I He walked all over Cairo the last day longer spoke to him. He heard something, he my independent study, I walked to the NorthwesternCameroon,justthathap saw a different type of feminism in without Dave. He finished morning class, thought the phone, and turned his tape offafter market to get a bottle of water. When I pened. I was alone with nine women Cameroon. Although there were many grabbed lunch and walked. He ended in the the last ring. Missed it and he smirked. reached the market, I was ambushed out for dinner. African cities, like all Cameroonian women active in the po library and walked home. He noticed the Later he called. She wasn't there. She left by a horde of children shouting cities, can be very dangerous at night, litical processes, the driving question sound of horseshoes on pavement and the for the airport. Too late. She waited for these "Tangan! Tangan!" I knew French especially if you're an obvious target. seemed to be "How can we be better sharp night shadows of the streetlights on the last few days; insomnia, sickness. Dave's com pretty well by this point, but I knew It's pretty hard to be an inconspicuous wives and mothers?" They were well window arcs of old Victorian Embassies. ing. There's nothing you can do. Dave's com this was a word in the village language, group of ten Americans in Central Af awareof the patriarchal socioeconomic Where was he now, he wondered. It all ing. Here, to Egypt. We can' t change this. Ongoum. On returning to the house, I rica, especially when you're all white, structures that often complicated the looked strangely new, all that which he saw Please sit here study with me. Let's share this asked my homestay brother what which we were. As we were walking lives of women, but they weren't as every day. He walked slowly up the ten drink. Dave's coming. He's coming, call me Tanganmeant. Hesaiditmeant"White down the street, a drunken horde of concerned with changing the traditional flights of stairs. Past small piles of trash in the tonight, after class, O.K. Nick? Man". I said yeah, I guessit would, and men carne tearing up to our group, feminine roles as they were with per comers and windows staring at the dark, Those last two hours at the library, like felt really stupid. Immediately, how shouting at me that it wasn't fair that I fanning those roles better. Again, I hollow center of the building. He got to the two hours on stage, like two hours suspended ever, I asked what the word was for had so many women, and that I would speak here of my own experiences and apartment and went for the phone. He felt up high in a plane talking to the stranger next "Small Black Child". He said it was have to share them. They began grab conversations with Cameroonians. My nervous, he did not know what to say. to you about fiber optics or some shit. Some "Tzindi". The next day, when I went to bing the women in our group and try relative status as a male undoubtedly "Call me later," Michelle explains in thing neither knows anything about but you get my water, the same horde of chil ing to pull them away. Many things shaped much of the information I re her cab ride home amid the trumpets of chaos talk and then leave the plane and ask yourself dren ran up and continued the fun of were flashing through my mind at this ceived through conversation. One of of all those black little cabs that dart through what the hell just happened. calling me "Tangan". Every time they moment. Was it my duty to try to the first questions asked by I their city streets. "I did not know why I said ·~ou're leaving now?" she asks. said it, though, I returned at one of protect these female friends inmy group Cameroonian women to American this. I came out... I feel like... I need to yell "Yeah, I got some more reading to do... them "Tzindi! Tzindi!" They looked because I was male? I am not a success women was "How many children do something to him but I don't know what." upstairs and I need to return this book. puzzled for a moment, and then wan fully violent person. The last fight I got you have?" or "How many do you He cooked some dry eggs and lit a Her eyes widen and then she looks down, dered off and consulted among them in was in the seventh grade when my want to have?" I was rarely asked this cigarette. Every time he brought it to his face "I'm leaving soon to meet a friend. I guess you c he caught a glimpse of his dirty, reeking won't see me... fora whileanyway . She pauses. selves. They would come up every older brother hit me with a shoe. I used question. A few of the American once in awhile and call me Tangan to play basketball in high school, but I women said they didn't want any, and hands and he looked down at his dirty, faded "I11 be busy with Dave." again just to hear me mispronounce didn't think setting a pick on them were met with stares of shock and dis jeans and stained T -shirt. His feet stuck to "O.K., I'll stay for another fifteen min their language so they could laugh at would do much good. I did manage to belief. Children are seen as wealth and something odd and rubbery underneath him. utes. So where are you going, then?". me, but now I would laugh with them. peel a few of them off, but luckily, one a blessing, so a woman not taking ad He sweat more so ripped his shirt off and "I'm just going to the gate to meet Heather, We were now involved in a conversa of the women managed to hail a cab vantage of her reproductive abilities is threwiton the bed whereithungon the frame then to her place. She needs to borrow a dress." tion instead ofan American freak show. which we stuffed all ten of us into to in many ways seen as a traitor to her forsomedaysafter. Hestuckhisheadoutthe "So I guess I'll just go to the gate." This incident was important to me make a hasty retreat. Luckily, no one family and country. One of the worst I window and listened to the bagpipes of the '1: guess," she says, bored, as she studies because it changed the way I saw those was hurt; we wereall just pretty freaked fates a Cameroonian woman can have police marching band that played nightly her paper. children by changing the way they saw out. is to be sterile. A man can often get underneath his window and echoed through They talk; the strange teenage deaths in me. I couldn't hope to learn the lan That experience had me thinking away with being sterile because the the concrete valley made on the shores of the her town, drunk driving accidents and weird guage of Ongoum in the three weeks fordaysaboutwhatmyroleasamanin defining features of his gender are not 0 Nilenearby. Alllitbyweakandoldbulbsthat illnesses. He winces and shakes. ''It reminds that I spent in the village. What I let Cameroon was, and then about my role reproductive abilities. Sterility is a revealed others with their heads arched to me of my mortality- fear," he says. those children know was that I was as a man back in America. I think my blemish on male sexuality, but men can gaze and smoke. "My Mom tells me that health is every capable of learning it. I wasn't locked masculinity was noticed a lot more in often shed this stigma by blaming the He followed her no more. He lost her. thing. If you have good health you have every up in the world of my Americanness to Cameroon. It mattered more. I'm sure sterility on his wife, which works until 9\£ He felt honest, that it came from inside him, thing" . She mocked her Mom. the extent that I couldn't :>peak with I'd fight to protect anyone I love, re the wife leaves him and has children and he felt conviction. He rifled his thoughts "Yeah, what am I worried about. I got them and establish some communica gardless of their gender, but putting with another man. I heard a few scan into the air until his pale room echoed with my health, things aren' t so bad." tion. When I conducted my study of my life on the line for someone merely dalous tales that followed this line. their laughter and their cries. No longer alone "You're young, healthy, smart(her eyes oral literature in the village, I consid because I'm male and she's female? I U ke any valuable intellectual exer he thought. Tired and dazed he felt like lit up) you got direction in your life so far, ered it very important that for every don't know. Should I have to do that (continued on page 29) fencing like he once used to; a dashing man of you're. ." APRIL 7 , 1993 20 THE O THER SID E 21 c~ T H E 0 T H E R 5 I D E ,~------~ "I'm a good lookin' guy," he sandals whenever possible. ''I'm so "ReaJly?" she takes time to an a line and at the end of the alley a chuckles. "You've seen the Sure flattered you noticed my feet, its one of swer in monotones. metal detector you walked through Thing?" the good things about this old body'' He does it again, almost sarcas that picked up metallic strips on books. Tlb.ouglb.ts of an Otlb.eli' "No, wait, oh, no. Is there any she belts out with her raspy, sloshy tic, "In 1987, Bush ate steak at The Nick stood close to Michelle but re relevance?" and she paused and added, voice that sounds like a shaken drink Temaya down the street." mained very quiet, but fidgeted with '~ick?" mixer and slaps her thigh, ''It's the "Huh," as she reads. his pen in his mouth and stared back "Well this down and out college arch. It's a beautiful curve." And say '1n 1936. .... " up the steps. He was taller than she by Douglas A. Fidaleo guy goes to this bar. He gets drunk, ing all this is like saying that all Elvis "Oh," she drawls out irritated, was, so she just looked up at him with and starts feeling sorry for himself. He had was his voice. "Do you really have to read the History nervous and inquisitive eyes. says, over and over, 'I'm a good lookin' "Call me later, I'll already be Review section of each paper? I mean, It was their turn. Her bag got The sky opens and one falls in. more though. They're all dark now. guy' and the more he I just don't care," and checked first and she walked through Black ones come through every once in says it the more he slurs. then she laughs and the detector to the door. She turned The flames are burningdarker these a while, but not too often. For the most And he goes to this moves closer to Nick. and waited. He gave the man his bag days. Redder and deeper. He says it's part they're crimson, a deep dark crim drunk old guy with a "OK, fine," he says and the search began. because of the living ones. He says son. We have very little light here now. cowboy hat on and tells pretending to be hurt. " The man's eyes caught some they're changing. I can't really ten All we get is a &)rt ofdim artificial glow him he's a good lookin' There's a sale at that shoe thing and he almost stuck his head in what's happening, but our world is hovering above our homes. guy and they all get store." the bag and then pulled out a book. changing. Even though they're contaminat drunk together. There'd -~· "Great, great," she "This book," hesaid, "Thisbook must I talked to one of them the other ing us, I can't rightly hate them. They be relevance if you saw ...'I says tired but happy. be returned upstairs. To the Reserve. day, one of the living. She told me that don't have any idea of what they're the movie. I think. I .l And she looksat his face. It is late." no one cared anymore, that they all just doing. It's they're &)ciety. .. too self hope." He smiles and r r All he had left was Michelle frowned and pleaded seemed like a uniform bunch of self centered. pleads in his voice to her the smell on his wrist of with the man. Nick turned red on his centered children. I suppose I had to I walked to the sea of souls last that he is right . her perfume when they face and in his eyes. He stood there in agree with her. They aren't the same. week.lbat'swheretheycomeand wait Later they got up, traded watches and she line with a book; he couldn't leave to grow. It's sort of the primordial &)up and they said good-bye. wore his and he wore and return it later; he couldn't retum The sky opens and another faJls in. of the dead. It has changed aoo. He forgot to return his hers. I like it she told it to the front desk he leaned his ann I can remember when I was a kid I book. He had to go back him. I like the whole set on right next to him. They wouldn't I wish they'd stop. .. either dying or would go there on picnics with my upstairs to the Reserve. up, and pointed to his let him. People waited behind him to living. It's not that I don't want anyone family. We would find a spot that was They wouldn't let him glasses. By dinner the move. Michelle stood there on the else here, I mean, we have plenty of shaded by the surrounding walls of the out. Henevermadeitto perfume wore off. other side of the metal detector. He unused space. It's just that they're cliffs. Only in thoseshaded placescould the gate. Whenever he couldn't do a thing. It shouldn't be a changing and I'd rather not have them we watch the dead swim in pools of He annoyed her, talked to her he smiled; big deal he just wouldn't walk to the come through. light I even got to swim with them teased her, played with while he spoke, while he gate. Michelle and Nick stared at each You see, they all come here once once, but my mom got mad and I had to her until shesat tired and listened. His voice quiv other through the metal detector. theydie.Regardlessoftheirnaturethey go home. confused. Hetookanap ered like a youngviolin's, Their faces were emotionless; then just drip in from the sky. U ttle droplets Now it's too dark to see anything. and hoped that she ifthatcouldhappen. His they both shrugged their shoulders. of fluid light. It used to be pretty. Half lifeless red waves lap up onto the adored him now that he vocal cords the bow, his They waved to each other,as she faced a century ago we had a shower of them, shores and against the rocks. The place Jay dormant and un body its body. Her eyes him as she walked backwards to the duringoneoftheirbattles.Goodpeople I used to go with my family is still there, aware. He told jokes, would widen. She would door. They smiled and said bye in came across then. We all came out of but you can' t see the fonns swimming told her about himself. lean forward, rest her cheery voices. ''I'm &)rry," Nick said. our walls to watch them come, to hear anymore. Not enough light coming "A month will go head on heroutstretched She told him to call her. their voices as they fell. from within. _ by. I'mafraidhowmuch arm while he babbled. Nick turned and walked past It seems funny that I once mar I went to His dwelling yesterday. you'll all change." She It was time to go; the people waiting in line. he felt velled over their dramatic entrances. We talked long about the fate of the spoke naively like Dor time to go to the gate. strange; his teeth tapped each other They're dying on their side then com livingones and ours. He says they can't othy in the Wizard of They talked and she was lightly and he looked down at his ing to grow on ours. It seems a little... go on living in their state ofmind. They Oz. ''I'll miss you guys. Thehbrary, the home by then. Call me later." He did late. The gate was outside the library hands and they felt numb and shaky. insensitive, I suppose would be the are destroying themselves and each first party where you met me." and she wasn't there. and across the street. They got up from He walked up the steps to return the word they would choose, that I can't other with feeble desires. ''I've been thinking the same thing He did everything that day to get the desk and walked downstairs to book and halfway up he turned in sympathize with their losses. It's only too." His voice deepened and he felt her attention. Anything, while she leave the library. For &)me rea&)n Nick hope ofglimpsing Michelle one more because they don' t know though. They The Time is coming He says. Soon. awkwardandhebecamestiffasaboard, workedatherdeskcovered with news had troubles; he kept tripping over the time, through the tinted glass doors. don't know about us and our world. " .. .about you, actually." papers that overfilled the space made steps and dropping pencils. There she stood, amidst crowds of The moment when the falling im 'What do you mean?" she asks by the partitions that divide such li They walked to the small alley brightly clad students chatting be Two more fall from an opening in ages will cease to tame our darkness. looking away from her paper for a sec brary desks into halves. She cut and cut created by two lined up desks where a tween classes, about to tum the cor the sky. When our own trivial pleasure will be ond. articles leaving trails of scrap hanging man checked for books in all the book ner, watching him with round &)lemn wrenched from our grasps. The Time "What you just said, how much off the edge and her fingers darkened bags. The man was old and kind and eyes as he went upward. It used to be fun to watch them when their existence is equated with you'll beaway. I'll neversee you, alone. from ink. He sat next to her, hunkered always wore light blue. Short white He dropped the book in the slot come in, but that was when they were our darkness. When we will exist only You'll be doing other things." over the desk with nothing else to do. hair on the sides, and the library lights and slumped into a seat. He closed different. Their light kept our world lit in a precipita.tion of desire for what ''I know," she says,"' know." "'n 1907, it says here that Ibrahim glared from his bald head. It was cloudy his eyes until dusk arrived and then with a golden aura. There always used could have been. They talked about her feet She Pasha went to Turkey'' he reads aloud outside, one could tell even through he walked home. 0 to be &)meone coming through who was always proud of them. She wore in attention getting high breaths. the tinted windows. There was always would keep the light shining. Not any Oh what Time will bring. APRIL 7, t 99 3 22 THE O T H E R SIDE 23 THE OTHER SIDE ~ opinion, it's a slight departure for them, platinum debut, Vivid. After peaking gating and soul searching. In the tracks ever, the highlight of Stain is actually perhaps in the way Soul Cages was for at number two on the charts, Time's Up "Mind Your Own Business," "Go its mellowest track. Recorded at four Sting. And if you've never heard this - took a swift pi unge as the record failed Away," and the up-beat single, '1..eave o'clock in the morning with Mr. Glover hothouse flOWers band you really ought to. Pick up to wield a hit single. Almost a year after It Alone," the group confronts their singing into a satellite disc rigged with fiUJfiUIIC:~ -I:IUIV\t:rLC: either of their first two albums, which I the release of Time's Up, living Colour own frustrations and anti-social emo a microphone, the eighth track on the simply can't be enthusiastic enough put out a six song EP which included tions. However, there still is plenty of CD, ''Nothingness," captures the feel about without sounding cliche. It's not interpretativecoversof}a.mes Brown's, political commentary leftover for tunes ing and intensity of the band without The Hothouse Flowers easy to claim, with all the different "Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothing," such as the highly melodic, "Bi," a light the help of the group's hard-rocking musical sounds around today, that this and Jimi Hendrix's, "Burning Of The hearted and humorous look at bisexu and frantic signature sound. Songs From the Rain band's sound is unique, but the way in Midnight Lamp." Unfortunately, the ality and" A \islander'' (German for the The tunes on Stain flow more Polygram which this band combines their differ EP titled, Biscuits, was even less appre word foreigner), which is a reaction to smoothlythan onliving Colour' sother entmusical and lyrical influences makes ciated than Time's Up. the wave of xenophobia which has en releases and this is an essential element It's hard to describe Hothouse for some damn good music. Muzzy parted soon after living gulfed Germany. to the effectiveness of the album. The Flowers, especially now after they've -Seth Winnick Colourcompleted playing to fans across The thirteen track LP kicks off with tracks on Stain are tough, and living just come out with their newest album, the nation as one of the prime draws of the ferociously hard-roged uGo A way," Colour does a fantastic job of flaunting Songs From the Rain. This Irish band's the inaugural Lollapalooza tour. Sur and the band's thrash and burn inten it. It may take a few listens before the eagerly awaited first album (Rolling prisingly, Living Colour was not sity never lets up. Tunes such as "This strongest aspects of Stain leak out, but Stone once called them the "best un greeted with a great deal ofenthusiasm Little Pig" and ''Postman" have the when Stain sinks in it leaves an indel signed band in the world") People came by the "alternative" Lollapalooza potentialtoripyououtofyourseatand ible mark. out in 1988, and their second album crowds who considered the band to be kick your ass all over the room. How- - Jordan Kurland Home in 1990 (their first single was too "mainstream." Fortunately, these produced by Bono under U2's Mother obstacles did not phase Living Colour, Records). These albums had a pop/ looking into a room full of strangers/ abandwhohasalwaysbeenmorecom rock sound with a soul influence and But now you recognize one face/It's a mitted to breaking down the barriers of Irish flair that often climaxed in ram reflection on the water/It's the word popular music and redefining hard rock paging intensity. A good example from that's in the street/Say it now is the than they are concerned with satisfy People is their song '1'm Sorry." They time to listen/Take the time to meet/ ing the masses. Stain is no exception to start off with rhythms, back-ups, and a Yoursoul/This is it /This is your soul." this rule. chorus of pure soul, and build to gos Thesong writing for Songs From the Living Colour's success lies in the pel-like level In "It'll Be Easier In The Rain shows the influence of their col band's willingness to experiment and Morning," lead singer Uam O'Maonlai laborative efforts with lyricist Will its refusal to fall victim to the cliches cuts loose with his deep rich voice and Jennings and the Eurythmics' Dave Living Colour which make most heavy metal so pre it just blows you away. However, if Stewart. Their base tracks were re Stain dictable. The four member outfit con anything has remained unchanged corded mostly live in studio under pro sists of drummer Will Calhoun, a sincetheirdebut,it's that they'rea band ducer Stewart Levine, who's worked Epic graduate of Berklee School Of Music witha message. Behind both their light previously with artists such as Simply who relies on unorthodox beats and Living Colour has grown up. The hearted songs and more serious mate Red and BB King. What they seem to furious drum rolls, the newly added New York based quartet has returned rial is an obvious message of belief, have lost is some of the spontaneity, Wimbish who plucks and slaps his way with an album filled with an unprec faith, and hope. In this new album, some of the wildness and ability to just through Sfilin, frontman Corey Glover edented amount of aggression, anger, Hothouse Flowers has '1et inspiration cut loose. Even though you might feel whose highly melodic and emotional be their sole concern." Says singer the first two albums were a bit preachy and vengeance. Living Colour ap voice is the perfect compliment to the proaches its music with unrelenting O'Maonlai, '1 think any music that is as well, it was foot stomping, hand group's frenzied style of play, and fi integrity and intensity which makes writlen from inspiration, rather than clapping jump up and shout gospel nally, quicksilver guitar virtuoso their third full length LP ti tied, Stain, as design, lasts." preachy. These may be more meaning Vernon Reid, who can shred with the hard as it is satisfying. The band may have done a bit too ful ballads, but they've lost some of the best that music has to offer. By combin Working with new producer, Ron much soul searching since their last al energy. They don't seem to be giving ing elements of rock, jazz, blues, house, St. Germain (Buffalo Tom, bum. While they've been writing up themselvesenoughroom. Therhythms metal, funk, thrash, hip-hop and any Soundgarden), and new bassist, Doug beat,entertainingmusicthrough which are at times simple and at other times other brand of music imaginable, the Wimbish (formerly of Tackhead), the their message was adequately commu can be very clever, but with less oppor four members of living Colour have band has channeled their energy to nicated, Songs From the Rain seems to be tunity for lead singer O'Maonlai to let successfully created their own genre of wards a new and more effective hard an attempt to cut straight to the mean loose and wail as he was able in his first music. hitting sound. After bassist Muzz ing. While according to Polygram, the two albums. Heapproachesthatinten But do not think that Living band was going after "simple, un sity in "Thing of Beauty," but it still Skillings left the band due to "musical Colour's masterful mix of sounds is the adorned " songs that reach "deep lacks the wild tempo that allows him to differences" it was difficult to predict only positive attribute to the group' s which path Living Colour would take. down," it unfortunately comes out reach his capabilities. song writing prowess. Their tunes are sounding too obvious, like the way For all this I have to admit that the Time's Up, the outfit's sophomore LP, informative and educational The lyr self-reflection is spelled out to us in album, like the first two, is growing on was critically acclaimed but did not ics which Living Colour produce are "This Is It (Your Soul)." "When your me. It would've been impossible for fare quite as well with the fans. Many more intuitive and effective than your world falls down around you/Not the this album to blow me away like I ex people considered Time's Up to be a average sociology text book. With Stain most comfortable place/You've been pected it to do from day one. In my disappointing follow-up to the band's the band has become more self-investi- APRIL 7, 1993 24 TH E O THE R SID E 25 THE OTHER SIDE one may ask? Well, it is the positive and "One Too Many Times," are per fort was his attempt to come up harder Hammerbox ~ social commentary that the band offers fect examples of his refreshing and in then ever. In earlier albums, he was Numb to the African-American community. telligent approach to music. However, hard as hell, and never talked much "Give a man a fish/He'll eat for a dayI as with any musician who displays a about it Also, throughout the whole A&MRecords Teach a man to fish/He'll eat forever," knack for experimentation, not all of censorship media-hype circus sur is an example of the brilliant the songs on Kowanko work. "Tum Me rounding Cop Killer (which, inciden There is a fine line between commentating lyrics that the band sings Down," and the first single released, tally wasn't rap, it was hard core), T success and failure when a band brings about Examined simply, the lyrics are "Grey Crayon," simply do not fit into came off as an artist who just wanted to a poppy approach to a fusion of metal catchy but it carries a very important the greater musical scheme of the com gethismessageout. OnHomelnvasion, and punk. Hammerbox's major label underlying tone. Take for example pact disc. though, T continuously jocks himself debut, Numb, walks, rather sprints someone out in the streets who asks for Kowanko is an album one can un as a hard ass O.G. mutha fukah, who along this line. Numb is a consistently aquarter. Aninnocentpasserbyhands wind to, but the music is far from bor gets props for fighting the system. So, powerful album. him a ten dollar bill which seems like a ing. OuisKowanko proves that mellow basically he tries to create this image of The band plays with a large generous contribution to the person music does not have to be depressing a self-styled, rap-guru who has gone degree of feeling and fury, however, at down on his or her luck. That person and reminds us that a song does not deep underground to drop this shit. points Hammerbox seems to hold spends the money frugally, buyingfood havetobeloud inordertobepowerlul. He even goes as far as to say that only something back. Onanumberoftunes, for a week. But after a week, the food is - Joidan Kurland his REAL fans will understand why Hammerbox can not quite finish off the Arrested Development consumed and the money is gone. In Chris Kowanko Home Invasion came out the way it did, rage which they have uleashed. It ap Unplugged stead of supporting someone in such a Kowanko and that other listeners don't matter; pears as if the band is afraid of falling manner, as the song suggests, one after all, according to T, somebody and subsequently plunging into unde Chrysalis should teach this person a skill in order Morgan Creek white's gonna criticize it anyway. sirable territory on the wrong side of for that person to support himself/ Well, I'm white, and I ain't buyin' the line which they dare to balance Speech, the lead singer of Arrested herself and get another opportunity to As popular music has moved to it, so I guess he's right, cause I think upon. Development, sings about "raining render the fruits of his labor. It is a wards a much harder and aggressive most of the shit on this album is well The Seattle based outfit (no, revolution." In fact, it is raining. It's lasting offer rather than a momentary sound over the last few years, people below the level of what T's capable of they do not sound like Nirvana) in raining praise and acclaim for the mu solution to a problem. havelostsightoftheideaoflisteningto producing. T proves it with the few dulges in a distinct brand of music sic that has transcended hip-hop into Arrested Development strays from music as a form ofrelaxation. In today' s dope tracks that really bump. What which has helped them to attract a wide the mainstream top 40. Whether or not the current trend of smoking blunts grunge-dominated music industry, bugs me is that T hasn't evolved as an and diversified range of listeners. The that is positive for the band's reputa and killing cops. Rather, they are more Chris Kowanko's debut album titled, artist There are only five or six tracks charge is led by lead vocalist, Carrie tion is a marginal issue. Their music is concerned about the civil rights of the Kowanko, is a breath of fresh air. For thatreallygetyourhead nodding. But, Akre who sounds a bit like Pat Benator a social commentary for the issues that 90's. Itoffers the listener an alternative those individuals who do not feel that hey, I'm biased. I like more bass then or the Divinyls' Christina Amphlett. pervade our culture. Social liberation to our current trend in hip-hop. They distortion and power chordsare neceY just bass drum, and I crave jazz or funk The rest of the band consists of bassist and environmental consciousness are carry good beats, good lyrics, and posi sary for music to be inspirational, Chris to keep the flow goin'. I'm just not James Atkins, flexible guitarist Harris prevelent themes in their songs. Re tive vibes. Unplugged, to many listen Kowanko's album is for you. down for any more new old-school Thurmond, and drummerI singerDave spect for one another and the elements ers of acoustic sets, offers a different Chris Kowanko is an honest and Ice-T style gangsta' rhymes; if that' s what Bosch. are aspects that the band prides itself sound to the ultra digitally engineered your into, and your one ofT's REAL Hamrnerbox maintains a col communicative musician. With a lyri Home Invasion on. effects of the studio. Therefore, it is a cal presentation reminiscent of both fans, then this album's for you. The lective approach by collaborating on The album Unplugged is an adden slightly different sound to the songs in David Byrne and Gordon Gano (of the Rhyme Syndicate Records tracks that really deserve a good listen each tune. The four musicians thrive of dum to the previous release titled "3 their previous album. Interesting and Violent Femmes), Kowanko's music is are the ones with that funk flavor that I each other and display a great deal of Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life entertaining, relaxing at the same time as deep as it is heartfelt. Producer savor. If you buy the album listen to tightness. The sixth track on the CD, of... " The disc Unplugged was a prod thought provoking, Arrested Develop Lenny Kaye (Suzanne Vega and Soul Ice-T's always gotten props for his tracks eight through twelve, and pre 'When 3 Is 2," is a perfect example of uct of a gig that they did on MTV's ment is bound to remain popular to its Asylum) has assisted Kowankoincom off-kilter, lyrical presentation. He him tend that Home Invasion is really just a the group's approach. The tune fluctu unplugged show. It was a definite newly found listeners. pletinga deceptively simpleyet unique self likens his lyrical style to poetry. maxi-single. ates between heavy metal and mellow experience to see the band live. The All in all, Unplugged is a good al album. However, on T's new album, Home In -Zach Taub rock while still being able to maintain episode had a lot of energy and had the bum. What matters though, is that the With an extensive background in vasion, he finally stretches that style too fresh and poppy overtones. crowd jumping to the beat supported listener gets introduced to the music of art, Chris Kowanko is not afraid to far. On many of his cuts he gets offbeat Lead vocalist, Akre, belts out by the drummer, conga players, and Arrested Development. Whether or experimenteither 1 yrically or musically. or pushes past the end of a phrase. The lyrics concerning her own experiences the mixmaster in the house. What a not a listener purchases the original Despite his limited vocal range, resulting effect is that it's hard to get and observations throughout Numb. sight! The entire band took over the album or the Unplugged version is be Kowanko'smusicpossessesagreatdeal into the rhyme flow. When I first lis The cuts, "Hole," and "Trip," are about stage and the studio. They carry many side the point. The main issue is that of flavor and vitality. By incorporating tened to Home Invasion, I was hit by inspiration and independence. How members including dancers and an old the band plays good music. Either the violin, cello, viola, and even the BASS: this album was definitely made ever, as Akre admits, some of the tunes man who provides wisdom and life discs would definitely be a good pur Egyptian fiddle into his songs, to bump in someone'strunk. The prob confront more simplistic subjects: uOur experience to the band. He generates chase and well worth the money paid Kowanko brings a different approach lem is that the first six tracks all sound song, 'Blur'," says Akre,"isaboutsome an abundance of positive energy for for it. to each track. the same, and they all sound like other one getting fucked-up, making an ass thewholestageperformance. 11Usman - Orangellough The Australian born musician re shit he's done, the only difference is the of herself and knowing it." Drummer plays no musical instruments. Rather, fers to his music as "quasi-spiritual bass. I was surprised by T's lack of Dave Bosch has a chance to demon he is a symbolic figure that is a definite personal politics." The songs on the originality, given that songs like "Col strate his singing ability in a duet (sort positive addition to the band and its album deal with a variety of themes ors" help put rap on the map for the of) break during, "God." The song, message. including homelessness, God, and majority of America's youth. which is about feeling emotionally What is so different about this band, death. "Modem Daze," 'Wallflower," One of the things that hurt T's ef- alienated from loved ones, is probably APRIL 7, 1993 26 THE OTHER SIDE 27 51 TH E O T H E R S I D E ~est on the disc. wah peddle. '"'F Sharp" sounds like a Cameroon was a place of discov Hammerbox's Numb is solid Smashing Pumpkins song on steroids. Board nl I rtt..,ll'l'"' .\merican in Cameroon ery which expanded my horizons on and with a little more experimentation, Nudeswirl is undoubtedly a Miscellaneous issues such as multiculturalism,. femi it could be an excellent work. talented outfit. The LP does contain a (continwd from page 10) (continued from page 20) nismand diversity, but my travels were Hammerbox is a gifted band with the few flashes of splendor. "Gordon's Debris more importantly an inner discovery of how those issues played roles in my potentia] to be great. The talent which Comer," and "Now Nothing," are cise, my experiences in Cameroon fi Harnmerbox displays on Numb will strongtrackswhichhighlighttheband's concrete models for increasing minor life and how they make up my person ity faculty recruitment for tenure track nally left me with more questions than ality. These inner and outer journeys impress even the most ambivalent lis positive qualities: intensity, unity, and Loll~pa-huga: How much of appointments; one was based on a sys answers. Although I would have de are inevitably and effectively inter tener. even some degree of creativity. The a production has LolJapalooza be tem at the Amherst consortium where nied it at the time, I went to Cameroon twined. In a geographically and cul - ]oidan Kudand group is able to pull off drastic speed come? Just take a lookatthisyear's with the hope that I would gaina world 80% of the participants, teaching one turally foreign context, I found what and tempo changes while retaining co predicted line-up which includes class while working on their thesis, wide perspective on the true nature of my essential physical, emotional and herenceatvarious pointsonNudeswirl, Alice In Chains, Primus, Arrested went on to achieve the desired, perma people of African descent, and some social needs were to survive. A neces a feat normally reserved for more rec Development, and Rage Against nent position. I understand that show objective understanding of African and sary and complementary contradiction ognized artists. The Machine .,. Here Come The African-American cultures. The most ing up to a board meeting, or at the was born while I was in Cameroon. With a voice resembling Ozzy Bastards: Primus' s fourth full important answer I obtained in student government office for that Although I was forced to make com Osbourne, lead singer Shane M. Green legnth LP, will be in Pork Soda, matter, doesn't guarantee a tangible Cameroon, however, was that my ques promises in order to function socially adds an interesting dimension to the stores April 20. The album, which policy development. However, I firmly tion was faulty to begin with. People and learn academically, those issues on album but Nudeswirllosesa great deal bass playing God Les Oaypool believe that it does create an environ that claim they have an objective un which I would not compromisebecame ofground in their standard heavy metal claims will "bury" the Bay-area derstanding of any culture are bound cliche choruses. Nudeswirl has been ment for contact and expression, and dear as the essential values of my per trio, contains tracks titled, '~y to find themseJves in some serious con mak:ingwavesin the underground New Name Is Mud," "DMV," and "Hail that is the point where ideas begin. sonality. Personal adaptability is the tradictions if they make any effort to key to effecting change in the world, Brunswick scene since they began in Santa" ... Easy Success: Faith No apply their theories to the people they because before you can change others, 1989, and I am sure that they display a More has received heavy airplay involve. Objective concepts, where great deal more power and aggression I would like to thank Sharon Kaatmann, you must be willing to change from over 90 top forty stations Vi eke Selk,Sandra Reeves, and Marilyn culture is concerned, are worthless, yoUISelf.O on stage. As for the album Nudeswirl, it across the country with theiidead Massey for their assistance in gather because they can only be applied in merely fizzles into mediocrity. 0 pan cover of the Commodore's, ing data for this article. 0 objective circumstances, which do not -Jordan KuiLand '~' . .. Check Your Calender: exist. Reliable information has the fla The Beastie Boys are back in the vors of opinion and accountability, the studio recording a folJow-up to last markings of its source. Nudeswirl year'smasterpiece, Check Your Head Nude swirl .. . Jane's Prediction: Is there any Megaforce doubt that Porno For Pyros' debut Upcomming Events album will be enormous? Perry Begin with a generous portion Farrell, who left Jane's Addiction of churning feedback, add a twist of at the Claremont because of their increasing popu heavy metaJ, a dash of acid-rock, a larity, has recently finished record The news blasted through my ears and into my sheesha while it gargled by my puffing, smidgen of frantic rhythms, and a heap Colleges ing an album with Pornos and the of distortion. The end resuJt is New heavily anticipated LP will be re cherry-brown tea. Ally was knocked down by a flying red leather shoe. He spilled all over leased within the next couple of Jersey' s answer to innovation the table and my hand got wet, so I threw it into the square to walk into a taxi while I waved Nudeswirl. Unfortunately, there is one NOT APPEARING months ... Rising Star: Pitzer's own Matt Nathanson has com significant problem with this seemingly Toad the Wet Sprocket to my Mother who clung to the ceiling with the cats screaming "I told you so, I told you so." delectablerecipe-someonemusthave pleted the recording of his album left it in the oven for too long. Thursday, April 8 and plans to release it in early May Her hair stood on end while she pleaded. Nudeswirl's self-titled debut ... Gigs At A Glance: 4/1~L7 aJbumisanobleattempttomergemany Sunsplash Saturday with Love Battery and Seven Year My bare bulb grabbed my jacket and yelled to me that if we weren't doing anything here, powerful and prevalent genres of mu Bitch at Fairfax HighSchool Audi sic together, however the compact disc Reggae Band, Crucial Speak torium, 4/14-Soul Asylum at we might as well be back there, talking to the Sphinx while Andy throws cheap wine at the Ventura Concert Theatre, 4/16- fallsshortofreachingitsgoal. Notonly Volleyball tournament and Pyramids. is the album too overproduced, it lacks softball The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at originaJity. Many of the tunes closely the Ro:xy,4/17-Jeny Garcia Band I took my coat back but it burned my hands so I found my wallet but it slipped and fell resemble, almost shadow, tracks from Saturday, AprillO, 1-Spm at UCLA's Pauly Pavillion, 4/24 the Smashing Pumpkin's debut album, Pitzer's Field &.25-Fugazi atThe Hollywood Pal into James T. KirlC s so frantically I reached for the phone but it helplessly turned to clear Gish. For example, take the second ladium, 4/29-King Missle at the track of the album, '"'F Sharp." This Coach House in San Juan gelatin. Amazed I hoped it bounced so I threw it against the wall to get it off my fingers song would be impressive had I never Holly Near w/ john Bucchino Capistrano, 5/4,5,7-9-Sti.ng at the heard, '1 Am One," by the Pumpkins. Friday, April30, 8pm Greek Theatre,S/7-Living Colour where it spread and started playing M.A.S.H. reruns. Where the Pumpkins use the bass and Bridges Auditorium with Bad Brains atThe Hollywood drums to create a twirling and circular Palladium. -Pat Dolan effect, Nudeswirl substitutes the wah- APRIL 7, I 99 3 28 THE O THER SID E 29 ... THE OTHER SIDE t e stro gest on the disc. wah peddle. "F Sharp" sounds like a Cameroon was a place of discov Hammerbox's Numb is solid Smashing Pumpkins song on steroids. Board ol I ru .., tcc-.. . \me ricu1 in ( a me nHHl ery which expanded my horizons on and with a little more experimentation, Nudeswirl is undoubtedly a Miscellaneous issues such as multiculturalism, femi it could be an excellent work. talented outfit. The LP does contain a (continw··d from page 10) (continued from page 20) nismand diversity, but my travels were Hammerbox is a gifted band with the few flashes of splendor. "Gordon's Debris more importantly an inner discovery potential to be great. The talent which Corner," and "Now Nothing," are of how those issues played roles in my concrete models for increasing minor cise, my experiences in Cameroon fi life and how they make up my person Hammerbox displays on Numb will strong tracks which highlight the band's nally left me with more questions than impress even the most ambivalent lis positive qualities: intensity, unity, and Lolla-pa-huga: How much of ity faculty recruitment for tenure track ality. These inner and outer journeys appointments; one was based on a sys answers. Although I would have de are inevitably and effectively inter tener. even some degree of creativity. The a production has Lollapalooza be nied it at the time, I went to Cameroon tem at the Amherst consortium where twined. In a geographically and cul -Jordan Kurland group is able to pull off drastic speed come? Justtakealookatthisyear's with the hope that I would gain a world 80% of the participants, teaching one turally foreign context, I found what and tempo changes while retaining co predicted line-up which includes class while working on their thesis, wide perspective on the true nature of my essential physical, emotional and herenceatvariouspointsonNudeswirl, Alice In 0\ains, Primus, Arrested people of African descent, and some went on to achieve the desired, perma social needs were to survive. A neces a feat normally reserved for more rec Development, and Rage Against nent position. I understand that show objective understanding of African and sary and complementarycontradiction ognized artists. The Machine .~. Here Come The ing up to a board meeting, or at the African-American cultures. The most was born while I was in Cameroon. With a voice resembling Ozzy Bastards: Primus's fourth full important answer I obtained in student government office for that Although I was forced to make com Osbourne, lead singer Shane M. Green legnth LP, will be in Pork Soda, matter, doesn't guarantee a tangible Cameroon, however, was that my ques promises in order to function socially adds an interesting dimension to the stores April20. The album, which policy development. However, I firmly tion was faulty to begin with. People and learn academically, those issues on album but Nudeswirllosesa great deal bass playing God Les Claypool believe that it does create an environ that claim they have an objective un which I would not compromise became ofground in their standard heavy metal claims will "bury" the Bay-area ment for contact and expression, and derstanding of any culture are bound dear as the essential values of my per cliche choruses. Nudeswirl has been trio, contains tracks titled, "My to find themselves in some serious con making waves in the underground New NameIs Mud," "DMV," and ''Hail that is the point where ideas begin. sonality. Personal adaptability is the tradictions if they make any effort to key to effecting change in the world, Brunswick scene since they began in Santa" ... Easy Success: Faith No apply their theories to the people they because before you can change others, 1989, and I am sure that they display a More has received heavy airplay I would liketothankSharonKaatmann, involve. Objective concepts, where you must be willing to change great deal more power and aggression from over 90 top forty stations culture is concerned, are worthless, VickeSelk,Sandra Reeves, and Marilyn yourself.O on stage. As for the album Nudeswirl, it across the country with their dead because they can only be applied in merely fizzles into mediocrity. 0 Massey for their assistance in gather pan cover of the Commodore's, ing data for this article. 0 objective circumstances, which do not -Jordan Kurland "Easy" ... Check Your Calender: exist. Reliable information has the fla The Beastie Boys are back in the vors of opinion and accountability, the studio recording a follow-up to last markings of its source. Nudeswirl year'smasterpiece, Check Your Hetld Nudeswirl ... Jane's Prediction: Is there any Megaforce doubt that Porno For Pyros' debut Upcomming Events album will be enormous? Perry Begin with a generous portion Farrell, who left Jane's Addiction of churning feedback, add a twist of at the Claremont because of their increasing popu heavy metal, a dash of acid-rock, a larity, has recently finished record The news blasted through my ears and into my sheesha while it gargled by my puffing, smidgen of frantic rhythms, and a heap Colleges ing an album with Pomos and the of distortion. The end result is New heavily anticipated LP will be re cherry-brown tea Ally was knocked down by a flying red leather shoe. He spilled all over leased within the next couple of Jersey's answer to innovation the table and my hand got wet, so I threw it into the square to walk into a taxi while I waved Nudeswirl. Unfortunately, there is one NOT APPEARING months ... Rising Star. Pitzer's significant problem with this seemingly own Matt Nathanson has com Toad the Wet Sprocket to my Mother who clung to the ceiling with the cats screaming '1 told you 501 I told you so." delectable recipe-someone must have pleted the recording of his album left it in the oven for too long. Thursday, AprilS and plans to release it in early May Her hair stood on end while she pleaded. Nudeswirl's self-titled debut ... Gigs At A Glance: 4/10-L7 albumisanobleattempttomergemany Sunsplash Saturday with Love Battery and Seven Year My bare bulb grabbed my jacket and yelled to me that if we weren't doing anything here, powerful and prevalent genres of mu Bitch at Fairfax HighSchool Audi sic together, however the compact disc Reggae Band, Crucial Speak torium, 4/14-Soul Asylum at we might as well be back there, talking to the Sphinx while Andy throws cheap wine at the Ventura Concert Theatre, 4/16- falls short ofreaching its goal. Not only Volleyball tournament and Pyramids. is the album too overproduced, it lacks softball The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at originality. Many of the tunes closely the Roxy,4/17-Jeny Garcia Band I took my coat back but it burned my hands so I found my wallet but it slipped and fell resemble, almost shadow, tracks from Saturday, AprillO, 1-Spm at UCLA's Pauly Pavillion, 4/24 the Smashing Pumpkin's debut album, Pitzer's Field &25-Fuga.ziatTheHollywood Pal into James T. Kir~ s so frantically I reached for the phone but it helplessly turned to clear Gish. For example, take the second ladium, 4/29-King Missle at the track of the album, "F Sharp." This Coach House in San Juan gelatin. Amazed I hoped it bounced so I threw it against the wall to get it off my fingers song would be impressive had I never Holly Near w/ john Bucchino Capistrano, 5/4,5,7-9-Sting at the heard, '1 Am One," by the Pumpkins. Friday, April 30, 8pm GreekTheatre,S/7-LivingColour where it spread and started playing M.A.S.H. reruns. Where the Pumpkins use the bass and Bridges Auditorium withBadBrainsatTheHollywood. drums to create a twirling and circular Palladium. -Pat Dolan effect, Nudeswirl substitutes the wah- APRIL 7, 1993 28 T HE O T HE R SIDE '29 THE OTHER SIDE I have lived too long to be this young, Looking Back they saw When my parents And white folks still whisper nigger and bite their tongue. plantations looked back 18 or 80 I'm just a boy, When my ancestors separation they saw Half white half black I'm under fierce attack. looked back anguish desegregation Put a noose to my neck and hang me from a tree, they saw Black Power It better be more than that if you would like to stop me. green hills When my great grand Revolution Feathers and tar, hit by a car, wild elephants parents Shot by a gun, or castrated for fun. pyramids rising from the looked back I look forward Don't stop there because you still haven't won. desert they say to looking back That glass dick was a good trick, Reconstruction and seeing But I'm far too smart to take a lick. When the children of my Black Codes greenhills Don't be surprised to realize, that through your lies, ancestors the Klu Klux Klan wild elephants I have kept my eyes on the prize. looked back pyramids rising from the - Peter Harper they saw When my grandparents desert the coast of Africa looked back - Yusef Omowale mourning relatives they saw To Batya, Happy Birthday sharks trailing the ship migration segregation Continuous fences of rhyming and reason When my forebears in mis-education Are barbed with trendy conventions of season this country To differ from those who are forging the rules looked back Is to typecast yourself as a villian or fool Remember to tell those who show you "the way'" You're feeling a little bit different today My roomate had this fishtank set on the ledge next to the window. We used Encourage those others to wander astray to get lots of direct light through those windows. It could get hotter than hell in that To say what they feel and act as they may room. I used to sit there anyway; you couldn't do anything but sit and watch the tank. -Tobin Steers There was nothing better to do. The fish tank used to chronically grow huge spots of green-brown algae on the glass. We told him the water was too hot; that's why the flowers algae always grew. Advanced photosynthesis in my room. Maybe one day the Yeti would crawl out. We told him to move the tank. He said algae was a healthy sign. They smell so sweet, but why Things were growing. It got so bad you barely saw inside the damn thing. buy flowers for a someone His Hsh started dying. They were pretty exotic looking fish, so he dried them you've never met before? on top of the tank when they died and kept them. Maybe it's an exotic fish equivalent There is no pleasure in the to a Viking funeral. Maybe he wanted a necklace. He still wouldn't move the tank. sure hues-- they are pretty He was probably infamous in the fish world; Neo-biblical fish hater. but not for me. I prefer My friend walked in one day and saw a fish that was all dingy and dark and it you. Lustful lush, those liquor-drenched didn't move much. I think it wanted to sweat. A Sea Horse dangled from a weed by words you spill about me round, silk its tail. and thin. They fall like petals "Once the fish get dark, I get out,'" I told her. from your lips to tumble -Pat Dolan stickily across your tongue. Close your eyes, flowers smell sinful. Nothing should ever be so evil as perfumed dark. - Cati Payne APRIL 7, 1993 30 THE OTHER SIDE 31