State University of New York at Fredonia The Issue No. 6, Volume XXV LeaderWednesday October 9, 2013 birdhaus gallery exhibits Visiting Artists student photography and Program welcomes sculpture Guy Laramee b-2 b-2 Anti-gay law does Drag not stop study Show abroad JOSEPH DRAKE gone Special to The Leader Next June, students from SUNY Fredonia will journey to Russia, where a powerful anti-gay law was recently created. The trip is a part of the Russian wild History and Culture course, run by Professor Anton Agafonov and Dr. Jack Croxton. Next June will be SUNY Fredonia’s sixth study abroad program in Russia but the first since Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, began a wave of Andrea Adinolfe / Special to The Leader discrimination. The persecution Alumn of Fredonia, Tequila Mockingbird returns for this fall's drag show. of homosexuals and other sexual minorities stems largely from one REBECCA HALE transformed into a showroom complete with a offered dollar bills to tip the kings and queens. particular piece of legislation. Special to The Leader runway, DJ and a full lighting system. Students Some performers went wild, taking the bills with According to the Huffington began to form a line outside of the MPR as their mouths, dancing with audience members Post, Putin signed the bill in ques- Hundreds of screaming student fans crowded early as 7 p.m. to snatch a front-row view, but and even pulling a few onstage with them. tion on June 30. The bill illegalizes around a glitzy and colorful runway on Friday doors didn’t open until 7:30. “The crowd craved it,” said Waistline. the distribution of information night to watch in awe and to cheer on this This year, three queens and six kings “It was extravagant, amazing. You love it and regarding the LGBTQ community year’s drag kings and queens as they danced, competed for the titles of Mister and Miss Gay want to see something new, eclectic, different.” to youth. It also forbids public lip-synched and strutted their stuff. The event Fredonia 2013. Three alumni drag judges also Senior Brittany Fischer, who has attended demonstrations meant to rally turned out to be a huge hit, between the charis- performed, along with professional drag queen every drag show in the past five years, said support for the oppressed group. matic hostess, the choreographed routines and and hostess of the event, Anita Waistline. Each simply, “It was awesome.” “They’re trying to react to the jaw-dropping attire. contestant performed a dance and lip-synced In between acts, different members what they think is threatening the All of this contributed to a very diverse to a song or mash-up that they had prepared. of Pride Alliance took turns entertaining and children,” Agafonov explained. and energetic crowd who eagerly awaited the They also participated in a runway walk. bringing students up on stage to show their stuff. “You’re not supposed to kiss in moment when Kimmi Moore and Ben Eaton The crowd was alive with energy as students Students danced, strutted, and many twerked. public — especially if you’re a would be crowned Miss and Mister Gay Fredonia. danced and interacted with the performers as gay person.” The event took place inside Williams much as possible. They reached out to touch the Continued on page B-1 “You can get arrested for so Center Multi-Purpose Room, which had been performers as if they were famous, and some much as wearing a rainbow pin on your shirt,” said Kenneth Olsen, president of the Fredonia Pride Alliance. Adjunct Spotlight The upcoming study abroad program will take place from June 1 to June 18 of 2014 with an emphasis Davis brings practical approach to the classroom on experiencing Russian culture. Students will visit important sites CARL LAM bachelor’s was at [the] Chautauqua Institution State Behrend doing public relations and in the cities of St. Petersburg Staff Writer as an assistant editor/writer for their commu- marketing work. When this offer came up, I and Moscow, such as include the nications office,” Davis said. “I was able to just jumped at it. This was the opportunity I Catherine Palace and the Kremlin. It’s a building we’ve all walked past to go combine what I had gone to school for with was looking for,” Davis said. “I always hoped This trip will also provide downtown. It’s right at the corner of that traffic my love for theater and the arts.” that I would be able to get back to combining an opportunity for interaction light that never seems to be in sync with the A couple years later, Davis made the move what I had gone to school for with my passion between Russian students and next one at Main Street. The Fredonia Opera to the corporate world. During that time, he for the arts and culture.” participants in the study abroad House has been a local landmark since 1891, went back to earn his MBA from Wingate Davis always had an appreciation for the program. This allows Fredonia’s and the executive director, Rick Davis, still University. Additionally, Davis was also arts and he was able to trace it back to the days students to experience another finds the time to teach as an adjunct profes- teaching courses at the University of North of high school. culture firsthand. sor at SUNY Fredonia in the Department of Carolina at Charlotte in public relations and “I was always a drama club geek in high “With those students, when Theater and Dance. public speaking. school; I was a member of the show choir, was they ask questions, they actually Davis graduated from Utica College with Ironically enough, Davis had an interesting in the chorus, I sat at the band table for lunch get answers from the culture, from a bachelor’s degree in public relations and and rare decision to make. Two options with and that continued through college,” he said. the people,” said Agafanov. journalism. He recalls getting his first job in two very different lifestyles; the decision, for Chautauqua County at a prominent and well- Davis, was a simple one. known location. “A week before I was offered the opera Continued on page A-2 Continued on page A-2 “My first job after graduating with my house job, I had accepted a position at Penn A-2A-2 TheThe LeaderLeader,, WednesdayWednesday AprilOctober 11,2 20129, 2013 Adjunct Spotlight: Continued from page A-1 As the executive director of The 1891 tion to your bottom line, you’re not going to tance of the class Davis Fredonia Opera House, Davis is always survive,” he said. “That’s really the approach teaches. promoting upcoming shows, writing news that I try to take with the class that I’m “I personally think releases, negotiating contracts and community teaching. I tell the students that I’m going to that the economy and the outreach. He’s also responsible for financial teach this class from a practical perspective. direction of careers in transactions at the facility and said his busi- I tell them that they need to operate like a the arts are going is that ness degree has served him well. business and be attentive to your bottom students have to learn “I think having the business degree line and finances.” how to create their own and business background absolutely help. In The class that Davis teaches is so practi- work and market their today’s economic environment, you almost cal that students do something in 15 weeks own work. I think tak- really have to operate an arts organization that could normally take nearly six months ing that course and the as though it were a business,” Davis said. or more. service of that course, to “I think that the business degree and the “In the course that I teach, the biggest the department, is more practical experience that I gained over the part of the student’s grade comes from one important than it ever course of my career of managing projects and semester-long project. They create their used to be,” Loughlin promoting events helped me in this position.” own theater or art company. We spend a lot said. “Without a good However, when Davis accepted this of time early in the semester talking about idea of how to start a position, he gave the idea a considerable finding your niche,” Davis said. business, you’re going amount of thought. The opera house has been an iconic to start your career and “After I had been [in Fredonia] for a few landmark in Fredonia and Davis said he’s you’ll be floundering. So years, Steve Rees, former department chair, glad to be part of the place he calls home. that course is something asked if I would be interested in teaching a “Fredonia’s a wonderful community. I think is a tremendous theater management course, which is what People are very supportive of one another service to the depart- I was doing every day. I was very interested and of the opera house. I feel fortunate to ment.” because I had missed that interaction with be working in this community and interact- L oug h l i n h a s the students,” Davis said. ing with that type of people,” Davis said. worked with Davis on The choice wasn’t easy, especially con- “Personally, I love the pace of Chautauqua a couple projects at sidering that the opera house is much more County; there’s a little bit of a relaxed pace the opera house and is than just a full-time job.