Oct. '11: Latino Heritage Celebration by The BLACK ACE Magazine

POLITICS CULTURE FEATURE MUSIC SPORTS OPINION CREATIVE WRITING

TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORS’ NOTE 3

STAFF Co-Editors in Chief Kwasi Agyeman Maya Frazier thenewace@gmail.com

A LATINO EXPERIENCE

POLITICS 4

LATINOS ON THE HILL

Assistant Editor in Chief Sydney Green sydxg@gwmail.gwu.edu

CULTURE 5

LONG LIVE THE SALAD BOWL (THE MELTING POT IS DEAD) HELPING THE HOMELESS FIGHT HYPOTHERMIA

Politics

FEATURE 7

Business

2011 LHC SABER ES PODER: THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE 2011 LATINO HERITAGE CELEBRATION ΣΛΥ SEÑORITAS CELEBRATE 2011 RAÍCES WEEK AND LHC LHC’S COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT: FIESTA DC CASA BLANCA

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Culture

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Music

Malcolm Bouzi mbouzi@gwmail.gwu.edu

MUSIC 12

CAFE CON LECHE

Fashion

SPORTS 13

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FOR THE LOVE OF FUTBOL: PLAYING FOR THE IMF

OPINION 14

LHC 2010: CAN WE AFFORD TO WAIT FOR SUPERMAN FOREVER?

CREATIVE WRITING 15

A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING JOSEPHINE BAKER

LHC 2010: Movimientos

A celebration that covered the RHYTHMIC movements of latin music and the social movements that are led by passionate latinos.

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EDITORS’ NOTE The Captain

The Visionary

The Next Generation

This past October has been a great journey for me, especially at my time working for the IMF. The IMF (International Monetary Fund) has one of the biggest cultural melting pots in D.C. From my first day at work, I heard at least three different languages and that was just in my office. My boss was from Peru, my supervisors were from Brazil and Russia. In fact, most of the other interns were Chinese. Working there was not only a great opportunity; it allowed me to truly experience cultural diversity. The IMF is a place where people did not shy aware from their cultural heritage. It is place where different groups of people, all came together to celebrate being different. Of course they were times when the Europeans sat together at lunch and the Asians sat in their own group as well. But I can also say there were times when Frenchspeaking Africans sat with Frenchspeaking Europeans. Through it all, I still saw the connections of different cultures being celebrated together.

In our last issue “True Life I’m a Cool Kid at GW,” we took an in-depth look at what it means to be “cool” here at GW. We had the privilege of featuring a literary hero, Toni Morrison. Readers were also exposed to the differing views of the Occupy Wall Street movement. We hope that you enjoyed reading last month’s issue.

As an African-American woman, I’ve always been around other minority groups and therefore have always been able to relate and get along with people of other cultures. Working at American Apparel over the summer and during this school year has only broadened my experience by meeting and helping people of various cultures. One group of people in particular that I’ve become fairly acquainted with is upper-class Spanish and Latina women. (I’ve learned through personal experiences to always differentiate between the two because Spanish women can’t stand being called Latina and vice versa.) I see them regularly, armed with bags of merchandise purchased in Georgetown that would put my entire wardrobe to shame. They are usually the daughters and wives of wealthy Spanish and Latin businessmen who visit Washington, D.C. and perhaps vacation here but live in mansions throughout Spain and Latin America. Despite their wealth, I’ve noticed that at the end of the they still identify with me and treat me as one of their own rather than the American Apparel sales associate who happens to ring up their purchases. It is this connection of being a minority that makes it possible for people throughout Latin America to connect with each other. I fortunate that connection was shared with me.

Kwasi Agyeman

Last Issue

In all honesty, I think it has do with two things; cultural diversity and soccer. Simple and plain, the sport of soccer is something that is allreaching. No matter the religion, race or political beliefs, most people raised outside the United States play soccer. This was very evident at the IMF. No matter the nationality, all everyone spoke about was the Annual IMF soccer tournament.

Maya Frazier

This month’s issue is all about Latino heritage! In this issue you’ll find event recaps from this year’s Latino Heritage Celebration:Saber es Poder, editorials, which examine the lack of Hispanics in government positions and a piece that highlights the prevalence of homelessness in DC and some of the initiatives being put in place to limit it. As you flip through the pages, reflect not only on Latino culture but also on your own heritage. Think about what aspects of your culture you take pride in and why? Latino Heritage celebration this year was an opportunity for me to learn more about a culture other than my own, but also gave me a chance to reflect on why I love my personal heritage so much.

Sydney Green

With this is mind, creating, editing, and developing this LHC issue has been a blast and we hope you can take away a little bit of the Latin culture as you read on.

The Ace Magazine Mission

The Ace Magazine is a publication that connects the multicultural community to the university at large with contributions from student writers and faculty members. Going into its fourth year as the premier magazine of The George Washington University, The Ace Magazine continues to spark discussion between campus groups furthering our belief that “we all have similar issues no matter our color.”

Want to write/work at the Ace Magazine? email: thenewace@gmail.com www.acemagazine.org

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LATINOS ON THE HILL By Tyler Lackey

ispanics make up nearly one-sixth of the U.S. population; astonishingly however, the number of Latinos that are represented on the Hill in high-level staff positions is somewhere around one-thirtieth. There is a growing concern among the Latino population that policies being enforced today are not representative of a big part of this country’s population. The few staffers, and representatives on the Hill are beginning to feel the pressure as they try to represent a fast growing constituency. In an interview with GW sophomore, Marcela Torres-Cervantes, she says that there is an intellectual divide amongst the Latino population. “[We] know that there is a lack of misrepresentation surrounding policies, but there is also a lack of educating [the public] on the subject.” A suggested stem of this problem, is that offices on the Hill are hiring fewer Latinos at higher-level positions than they should be. There is at least one staffer employed in every office, but it is usually a low-level and low-paying job. The idea of the glass ceiling that has been applied to many minorities is now a growing concern for many Latinos. Marcela concerns are centered around the way Latinos try to assimilate into American culture. Even though there are plenty of Latinos to change the makeup of the federal agencies, there are language barriers, voting eligibility issues that get in the way of Latinos voting for more policy changers. There have been pushes to get more Latino representation on the Hill, but many of these strategies can be seen as generic efforts to diversify the government’s racial makeup. Also, with the election of our nation’s first black president, the push to diversify the Capitol has since been muffled. Also compared to the initiatives that have been made to get other minorities ( African American and Asian American) in

federal agencies, efforts for Latinos seem minimal. Coming out of the 1960’s, there were huge initiatives in federal agencies for the recruitment of African American. This strategy reflected the time period of the turn of the civil rights movement. As African Americans, what we can do is to push our own representatives. We have to make sure that they are taking this as a serious issue, and that they are consciously taking initiatives to fill their offices with more diverse employees. We should push for making sure that our Latino brothers and sisters are exercising their rights to vote. In past years, between 30 and 35 percent of Latino citizens voted, compared to 50 percent of white, non-Hispanic citizens voted, and around 45 percent of Blacks, non-Hispanic citizens voted. By making sure that we don’t take the ability to vote in this country lightly, we can help initiate the change we want to see.

“There is almost at least one [Hispanic] staffer employed in every office, but that is usually at a very low-level..”

For many organizations like the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association, The presence of minorities in the Capitol is very important. The government is supposed to be representative of this country’s very diverse make-up. When we look pass the importance of each demographic, each minority in our country’s decision making, we lose equality, we lose freedom, and we lose a voice.

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LONG LIVE THE SALAD BOWL (THE MELTING POT IS DEAD) By Sheri Reid

First generation: Native language. Second generation: Bilingual. Third generation: Language of dominant culture.

he above model as noted by sociologists as the process of immigrants’ language acquistion into the U.S. and every race and ethnic group appears to verify and confirm the accuracy of this model except for one ethnic group: Latinos. Studies have shown that descendents of Spanish-speaking countries are known to have proficiency in their family’s native tongue even into the third generation, shattering the commonly held mold. Whether this phenomenon has its roots in practicality or cultural ties is debated amongst sociologists, however third-generation Latinos are communicating with both their grandparents and peers. The cultural pride found in many third-generation Latinos is evident in how they identify. “I’m proud that I can communicate with grandparents, but still be counted as an American. [Being Latino] is part of my identity and is important to me,” stated Stefano Bassinini-Torres, a sophomore whose family comes from Ecuador. “I’m half Ecuadorian and half Italian,” continued Bassinini-Torres. According to the Pew Hispanic Center’s National Survey of Latinos in 2009, two-thirds of those who identify as Latino youths are not immigrants, yet “more than half (52%) of Latinos ages 16 to 25 identify themselves first by their family’s country of origin…only about one-in-four (24%) generally use the term ‘American’ first”. This pluralism, the retaining of both cultural values and a place within the dominant culture, becomes more evident as America’s tolerance for racial and cultural diversity augments.

“I’m proud that I can communicate with my grandparents...[Being Hispanic] is a part of my identity and is important to me will continue to inspire those to come.”

Young Latinos are faced with a unique set of challenges in terms of finding a place in US society. It can be argued that Latinos’ brown skin makes assimilation difficult, but it can conversely be argued that assimilation is not what is best for

people of any other culture; different ways of life can only serve to further enrich the US, spread knowledge, and help dispel the racism that is still prominent. It is in this unique respect that Latinos are particularly advantaged, especially in this new era of immigration. As ignorance and a general xenophobia plague the US, third generation Latinos are in a prime position to recognize both the US cultural norms and the values held by their families and those that come from their home country, thus given the ability to facilitate and mediate the immigration discourse and all that it entails. The retention of both culture and language should not come as a shock, however; with familial ties inherently involved in Latino culture, it can almost be assumed that third generation youth would make an emphasis to remain different. This creates a sort of “salad bowl” model of America rather than the traditional “melting pot.” Though part of a larger picture, Latinos remain a distinct and flavorful part of the common culture.

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HELPING THE HOMELESS FIGHT HYPOTHERMIA By Ayanna Alleyne

he hypothermia season begins on November 1st and ends on March 31st. Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature passes below 95 F (35 C). When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work correctly. Left untreated, hypothermia can eventually lead to complete failure of your heart and respiratory system and to death. Hypothermia services begin whenever the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. The District of Columbia is hoping to take a stronger stand on combating hypothermia this winter. On October 20th, the District of Columbia’s Committee on Human Services held a roundtable meeting, where Amber W. Harding, Legal Clinic for the Homeless, spent hours testifying before the Director of Human Services, members of the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, members of People for Fairness Coalition, and Ward residents on what Harding called the “life-threatening condition” and how to improve the district’s winter plan.

“If a family calls in, a parent may hear from a Hotline worker that ‘we don’t help families.’”

The winter plan was developed by the Interagency Council on Homelessness to protect the lives of those who are homeless, especially during hypothermia season. This plan states that through agencies and various partners, the district will provide enough shelters for homeless people, and if more shelters are needed, the district will open additional facilities. “Exposure to wet and cold conditions can cause hypothermia,” said Harding to councilmen during the hearing. “For far too many years, D.C. has failed to administer this right to shelter equally and justly when it comes to D.C. families, placing their lives at risk.” The system has its problems because there is no overflow commitment in the plan for families, meaning under the winter plan, individuals are able to obtain a bed to sleep on, but families are often turned away and sent to D.C. General, which is a family shelter that often reaches capacity. When this occurs, many families resort to sleeping in their cars, vacant building, or hospital lobbies.

The district makes an attempt to reach out to many individuals on the street to encourage them to find a shelter to spend the night, even asking them to call the Hypothermia Hotlines to pick up adults that need shelter. However, this treatment is not given to families. In fact, the opposite occurs. Families are often discouraged to apply and enter shelters. “If a family calls in, a parent may hear from a Hotline worker that ‘we don’t help families,” said Harding. “ And then must scramble, unaided and in frigid conditions, to find transportation to D.C. General, or

else face another night in an unsafe or unhealthy situation.” But D.C. General is neither always accommodating nor reliable for families. In March of 2010, D.C. General was so overcrowded that mothers and children had to sleep in hallway floors, said an article in the Washington City Paper. “At one point, the shelter reached 200 families and the Department of Human Services began moving families into housing units after it faced the threat of a lawsuit by the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.” Harding currently proposes that the district needs to create a backup plan for families if they are unable to spend nights in D.C. General once it fills up. She said there needs to be an agreement with hotels and motels to reserve rooms, and hold the Hotline to a higher standard to bring families to shelters as soon as they need them. Harding also said that Human Services needs to reach out to all families that may experience housing crises and encourage them to go to a shelter if they have no other place to go. Harding said that the Hotline needs to be better equipped to facilitate transportation, and shelters need to reduce their number of unlawful denials. “They need to exempt DC General from the residency requirements of the Homeless Services Reform Act.” She added that severe weather shelters that operate as low barrier shelters are exempted from the requirements of the statute, but since D.C. General is not a low barrier shelter.

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2011 LATINO HERITAGE CELEBRATION SABER ES PODER: THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE By Nathalie Vera

he Multicultural Student Services Center (MSSC) and the 2011 Latino Heritage Celebration (LHC) Committee were proud to organize a complete itinerary to honor Latino Heritage Month at The George Washington University. The nationally recognized Latino Heritage Month goes on from September 15 through Ocotber 15, and in collaboration with six different student organizations, we were able to blend tradition with new and innovative events to celebrate our culture.

This year’s theme, Saber es Poder: The Power of Knowledge, emphasizes how knowledge of the Latino Community’s rich and diverse heritage has become increasingly important, especially with the growing influence of the Latino Community in America. It focuses on expanding our own knowledge of Latino history, culture and the empowering role of education in meeting the needs of this emerging community. The events, which spoke to this theme, were related to the growing political presence and social capital of the U.S. Latino community. Uniting us is the universal immigrant experience and the critical role that education plays in advancing the needs of the entire Latino community. To kick off the festivities, in collaboration with the University’s WID Program and the Alumni Association, we had the privilege of bringing actor, director and community activist, Tony Plana, to campus. Keynote speakers are selected by the Latino Heritage Celebration Committee every year, which include representatives from various student organizations, faculty and staff. This year’s speaker, Tony Plana, starred in the ABC hit show, “Ugly Betty”, as Ignacio Suarez, Betty’s father. Plana also starred as the widowed, Mexican-American patriarch, Roberto Santiago, in Showtime’s landmark, groundbreaking hit series “Resurrection Boulevard” for which he has received 2001 & 2002 ALMA award nominations for best actor. It is the first English speaking weekly series in the history of television to be produced, written, directed and starring Latinos. We were excited to bring new programming to campus through events such as First in Line: New Frontiers for First Generation College Students. This event, which collaborated with Teach for America, sparked a thought-provoking discussion on being the first to leave home, interacting with other cultures, and finding the proper resources to get first generation students though college. Other events gave students the opportunity to volunteer at the 40th Anniversary of the annual Fiesta DC Latino Festival in Columbia Heights, laugh at the Latino Comedy Chaos comedy show, and attend a semi-formal cultural banquet, La Fiesta, during Colonials Weekend.

The MSSC and LHC Committee are excited to begin planning for next year’s celebration, in hopes of continuing to raise the bar in cultural programming. Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the month of festivities, and especially to the Multicultural Student Services Center, the 2011 Latino Heritage Celebration Committee, and all of the student organizations that collaborated with programming.

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2011 LATINO HERITAGE CELEBRATION

Comedy Chaos - Sept 30th

Parade of Flags - Oct 1st

Fiestasa - Oct 15th

Socasize - Oct 5th

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ΣΛΥ SEÑORITAS CELEBRATE 2011 RAÍCES WEEK AND LHC By Amelia Concepción

he George Washington University kicked off the annual Latino Heritage Celebration (LHC) on September 15th, as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month. This year’s theme was Saber es Poder: The Power of Knowledge. Student orgs such as the Organization of Latino American Students, Por Colombia, and the Caribbean Students Association – amongst many others – joined the Multicultural Student Services Center to produce a multitude of both traditional and brand new events. One aspect of LHC is Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.’s national Raíces (Roots) Week, which takes place annually during the last week of September. As a Latina-based but not Latina-exclusive sorority, SLU finds great importance in examining Latino traditions but also exploring how those traditions evolve and diffuse with other cultures in modern times. This lens on culture and traditions was included along with the topic of gender roles with this year’s theme “The Power of Marianismo: Redefining the Female Role.” Hermana ( Sister) Amanda Nazario explained the term marianismo at events throughout the week. Amanda said, “Marianismo comes from the Virgin Mary (or “Maria”). It is the supposed ideal of true femininity that women are supposed to live up to – i.e. being modest, virtuous, and sexually abstinent until marriage and then being faithful and subordinate to their husbands. In essence, marianismo is the female counterpart to machismo, and as such, probably originated during the time of the Spanish conquest.” SLU celebrated Raíces Week and discussed the marianismo theme over a wide range of events. First, was partnering with Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. in hosting the 9th Annual Hispanic Women of Excellence on Monday. In which a panel of successful Latinas discussed their career, educational, and personal choices that helped them achieve their goals and also offered their tips for success. The next event was another LHC staple: urban word poetry tradition and the eloquence of expression at Café con Leche hosted with OLAS on Tuesday. Students showed off their numerous talents in front of a full house at West Hall’s Blackbox Theatre. The audience was treated to original poems, spoken word pieces, raps and musical performances as they witnessed the power of words and performance art at this open mic night. On Thursday, SLU joined Metro TeenAIDS and the

LGBT Resource Center in a service event – making safe sex kits and discussing the powerful and ever-emergent role of women in relationships. SLU Señoritas introduced a very new event to Raíces Week this year: Latino Comedy Chaos featuring performances from comedians Eric Patrick, Jose Sanchez, Tyler Richardson, Courtney Fearrington, Mike James and GW’s own improv groups receSs and [insert here]. A portion of proceeds from the program were designated to the Sigma Lambda LADYS (Leadership, Advancement, and Development of our Young Sisters) Mentoring program. LADYS is geared toward young women ages 14 to 18 and promotes sisterhood, cultural pride, academic excellence and service to the community within its participants, with an emphasis on college and career preparation. Raíces Week closed on Sunday with the Informal Tea, an opportunity for all interested women to learn more about the sorority’s event, its philanthropy and the Hermandad (sisterhood). LHC continued through October 15th, when it concluded with the 16th Annual La Fiestasa, featuring dancing, Latin cuisine, a live DJ and band!

For updates on Latino Heritage Celebration, follow @GW_LHC and for upcoming events and more information on Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., follow @SLU_AlphaGamma and visit the chapter’s website https://sites.google.com/site/alphagammaslu/.

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LHC’S COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT: FIESTA DC By Saira Thadani

n Sunday, September 25th, a group of about 20 students from GW volunteered at the 40th Annual Fiesta DC festival in Columbia Heights.

Fiesta DC was chosen as the venue for this year’s Latino Heritage Celebration community service event. Rather than volunteer near campus, we decided to find a local cultural venue in the city. It was exciting to find that Fiesta DC needed volunteers. “We are very excited to have students being willing to come all the way to Columbia Heights. It was a great opportunity for the kids to have fun”said Maria Patricia Corrales, this year’s volunteer coordinator.

“It was a wonderful experience to interact with the families, especially the kids who were so excited to be in a place full of their culture.”

The annual festival took place during Hispanic Heritage Month on Mount Pleasant Street in NW Washington, from noon to 7pm. This year, the festival featured five stages with theater, folklore and music. The parade had more than a hundred dancers from 30 groups from Latin America, Spain, and the Caribbean. The event also included a science fair, a community-based organization information fair, a Diplomatic Pavilion for embassies, sections for arts and crafts, international cuisine and a children’s festival. The children’s festival was where the group mainly volunteered at. Upon arrival, everyone got volunteer t-shirts and were told to find the Children’s Park. Walking through the parade and the tents took a while because of the crowds. There were such diverse groups of people there, from local DC residents to families visiting their relatives from Maryland and Virginia. The Children’s Park consisted of activity tents that we would be working at. We split up into three groups: face painting, card-making and bracelet-making. From the time we arrived to the time we left, there was a constant flow of kids in the tents. We painted tons of butterflies, flowers and Spider-men. A ton of kids and adults also wanted the flags of their countries painted on them as well.

It was a wonderful experience to interact with the families, especially the kids who were so excited to be in a place full of their culture. They really enjoyed getting painted and so did their parents. We had great conversations about their favorite parts of the festival and got to see a part of the DC community that we don’t usually have the opportunity to interact with. Overall, our community service trip was a success and we were grateful to be able to enjoy a wonderful cultural festival while serving our community.

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CASA BLANCA

By Gerson Molina and Jeannette Oliva-Perez

s a brand new addition to the George Washington University community this year, Casa Blanca seeks to diversify the living options on campus. Casa Blanca is currently GW’s only on-campus affinity-housing group for any students interested in the Latino culture regardless of race, ethnicity, or nationality supported by the Organization of Latino American Students. It is located on the 5th floor of Ivory Tower and currently houses 17 students: seven seniors, three juniors, and seven sophomores. The goals of creating an affinity-housing group around the idea of Latino culture are to provide students with a safe environment in which to express their ideas while at the same time learning more and immersing themselves in the Latino culture. The organization is not Latino exclusive; it promotes awareness of the Latino culture but is receptive to all cultures, especially those of its nearby residents. This year Casa Blanca hosted the Latin American Film Series, as a part of the 2011 Latino Heritage Celebration. Featuring a movie screening of “Sin Nombre”, a movie about a Honduran immigrant’s struggle to come to the US against security and economic challenges. The immigration struggle is an all too familiar issue for Latino families especially here in the DMV area where the Central American population is the largest

“The organization is not Latino exclusive; it promotes awareness of the Latino culture but is receptive to all cultures..”

and still growing. Many people, even some Latino students, are unaware of the dangers people face when they immigrate into the United States. Casa Blanca hopes to continue the film series in the spring semester as well as in the upcoming years by screening movies that help to enrich the GW community about prevalent Latino issues. In order to introduce Casa Blanca to the GW community, the residents are organizing an official kickoff event: “Cocina Latina: A Taste Of Home.” The event is a home-style, Latino themed “Thanksgiving dinner,” with each member of Casa Blanca contributing a menu item that they enjoy at home on Thanksgiving. The purposes of this event is to celebrate the Latino culture of the affinity-housing group on campus and reach out to other Latino organizations. Casa Blanca residents see each other not as neighbors, but as one big family. One of its objectives was to first create a close-knit community within the floor and then open its doors to the GW community as a whole. Casa Blanca has succeeded in creating a family and is now ready to work with other organizations to increase Latino cultural awareness. The founding Casa Blanca residents hope that the affinityhousing group will continue to grow. Casa Blanca residents know that this growth will not happen by itself; residents have taken on additional responsibility in order to make sure that Casa Blanca continues to move forward and to establish a legacy. “We are hoping to formalize a living space that will facilitate an environment of academic and social success, and extending this goal to the coming years by creating a permanent Latino house on campus” expressed Casa Blanca’s MSSC advisor Eric Gutierrez.

For more information about Casa Blanca email gwcasablanca@gmail.com or stop by Ivory Tower 5th floor.

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CAFE CON LECHE By Malcolm Bouzi & Arielle Ford

afe Con Leche has always been a Latino Heritage Celebration event to look forward to, unearthing oncampus talent and giving students the opportunity to express themselves to the student body. This year was no different. The rain and traffic did not stop the GW community from making it up to the Mount Vernon campus to see their classmates share personal pieces on stage. It was a night filled with surprises, laughs, and even tears. Such is the power of spoken word, a tool many use to liberate some of their most concealed feelings. It takes courage to step to the mic and convey personal emotions through spoken word. Yet, at this year’s Café Con Leche, the theater was filled with courage and honesty from each performer. As the event was about to begin and guests started to trickle into the intimate blackbox theatre, event organizers began to worry that they would not reach their desired turnout. However, soon enough seats were filled as the audience prepared for a night full of entertainment. The host, Tamia Burkett, kicked off the night with a piece about her black skin, a popular subject in spoken word that always resonates and strikes a chord with the audience. The first few poets’pieces touched on the loss of culture ethnic identity. Many in the audience felt a personal connection with this subject, especially since the audience members covered a wide range of ethnicities.

“It was good to see that Café Con Leche had such a great impact on our community.”

Poetry was not the only art on display that night, as a couple of performers sang their way to the admiration of the crowd. Sophomores Tylah Johnson and Tyler Lackey’s rendition of Lauryn Hill’s “Killing Me Softly” had the crowd singing along. It was a great performance of a timeless song that the two definitely did justice to. The audience loved Danielle Moore who performed an original song with a gospel/R&B vibe with the aid of a guitar player, Sheldon Wilmot. These two performances provided a great interlude of sorts from the spoken word portion of the night and did well to add a different flavor to the event. Special guest, Messiah, took the stage with a few pieces that he had recently written. The Howard graduate has won numerous spoken word competitions, and performed with artists such as Lupe Fiasco. His prestige as a spoken word poet was evident through the quality of his performances. GW graduates Amanda Nazario and Sam Collins also graced the stage that night. The two are Cafe Con Leche veterans and felt right at home on the mic. It was good to see that Café Con Leche had such a great impact on our community. It was also great that people come back for more every year even those that have graduated. The night was filled with performers of varying experiences and levels, but all of the works were met with applause. There is still an abundance of on-campus talent here at GW, and a great show was put on even without the presence of GW spoken word legend Liz Acevedo. Hopefully those that did not make it to the stage will be bold enough to step to that mic at Cafe Con Leche next year. So get a pen, pad and start writing for next year.

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FOR THE LOVE OF FUTBOL: PLAYING FOR THE IMF By Kwasi Agyeman

“I

’ve been waiting the whole year for this soccer game,” said Yuri Starostine, an IMF employee, in a light Russian accent. As Yuri sped off from the corner of 20th and Pennsylvania, Raissa Mendes, a GW senior, wondered what was in store. She had been interning at the International Monetary Fund since the summer and all everyone talked about was the soccer tournament. “They asked me all the important interview questions and then asked if I played soccer, of course I said yes,” said Raissa, a native Brazilian. Though the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is known as a guardian of global finance and economics, the Annual IMF Soccer Tournament is one of its largest events during the year. Departments scout, recruit and practice all year around for the fall tourney. “I mean world economics matter, but our department did horribly last year and this time we have to win,” said Yuri. Winning was the plan, as Raissa got into a packed car full of employees. In an hour or so, they had reached their destination, Bretton Woods Country Club. A decadent country club near Germantown, MD, that fields over 280 acres of land. The club was built in 1968 by the IMF as a tranquil sanctuary for its employees. The country club features a historic clubhouse and a wide range of sporting facilities, such as an 18-hole course, outdoor swimming pools, indoor and outdoor sport fields/ courts. She knew at the moment she had arrived at a special place, “It was like a dream, everything was so beautiful outside,” said Raissa. Yuri pointed everyone towards a large tractor and one by one, the team got in for a haystack ride to the main field. As Raissa rode through the emerald fields, the sky was dotted with golden flakes as brown and red leaves fluttered all over. Slowly she arrived to the park to the loud sounds of her teammates yelling “Banderas, Banderas!!” She got off the truck and walked to the field and the whole venue was packed with several teams practicing and warming up. There was a team from the Africa Department, the Communications Department and even the IMF maintenance service had a team. Everyone was ready to play and so was Raissa. She picked up her team gear, an IMF soccer t-shirt, an IMF soccer jersey, team socks and team shorts. As she put on her silver “Banderas” emblazoned gear and looked around the different teams with various colors and logos, she jokingly said, “Its crazy how much money is spent for all this, I thought the [IMF] managed the world’s money.” And then the game started, with each team required to have one female player, she knew it was going be a challenge. “I hadn’t played in a while and it

took some time to get a feel of the game especially playing with men.” Her team had never won a game in recent history and all of a sudden they won their first game, 4-0. Then they won the next game and then the next after. The sidelines were ecstatic. Her teammates constantly screamed “Raa Raa Banderas, Raa Raa Banderas” think Ra Ra Ra similar to Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance. Team Banderas was on cloud nine as they pushed forward to the quarterfinals. However futbol, similar to the team’s chant can be a bad romance in itself. And after leading up by 1 goal, Team Banderas let in a goal in the last 5 mins, leading to a tie and then penalties. After intense pressure watching the penalties, her team lost when the last kick was caught by the opposing goalkeeper. The sidelines were quiet as the opposing team supporters rushed onto the field. She picked up her items and slowly walked to the tractor to head out the soccer fields. “It was such a hard loss, but the whole day was great and we played a good game.”

“They asked me all the important interview questions and then asked if I played soccer, of course I said yes.”

MUSIC

FASHION

CREATIVE WRITING

POLITICS CULTURE FEATURE MUSIC SPORTS OPINION CREATIVE WRITING

CAN WE AFFORD TO WAIT FOR SUPERMAN LHC 2010 - CAN WE AFFORD TO WAIT FOR FOREVER? FOREVER SUPERMAN By Amanda Nazario By Amanda Nazario

eorge Washington University students are constantly told that a bachelor’s degree represents what a high school diploma once was. If that is the case I truly fear for the 88% of DC eight grade students who are not reading at thier apppropriate grade level. The competitive nature of education as it relates to prospective jobs amongst university students is a reflection of higher education as the norm. Yet, I cannot help but think of a quote from H. L. Bergson’s Laughter, “Each member [of society] must be ever attentive to his social surroundings - he must avoid shutting himself up in his own peculiar character as a philosopher in his ivory tower.” The documentary currently setting the education world afire, “Waiting for Superman” was a heart wrenching reminder of how fortunate we are within the Foggy Bottom community. Unfortunately, here in DC, the nation’s capital rests one of the worse public education systems in the country. I sat in the E Street cinema watching the film as engaged. I thought about the many individuals I know who are or were Teach For America Corp members. I thought about the debates my roommates and I have about whether we would send our children to public or private school. I thought about my own personal motivations for switching from public school to prep school when I was younger. But mostly, I thought about the high school students I had just left only an hour prior to buying my movie ticket.

It is my sincerest hope that when it comes to issues such as education, as a nation or simply as the GW community we stop waiting for the “muscle and miracle” of superman and become proactive in the community. I was asked to partake in two Caesar Chavez Public Charter School’s Hispanic Heritage Month Assemblies during the month of October. On both occasions, I shared spoken word poetry with the teenagers and extended invitations to tour GW. I told the students to not be discouraged by the tuition costs of universities and shared my knowledge about

scholarship opportunities. The young men and women were so energetic, enthusiastic, and most importantly optimistic. One young African-American boy stood before his peers describing a service trip to a rural Latin American town he had participated in. He fought back tears as he pleaded with his fellow peers to support his fundraising initiatives. The same young man is part of a coalition building initiative to bridge the African-American/ Latino divide that exists amongst DC youth. It would not require any leap of the imagination to picture these students sitting on the Latino Heritage Celebration Committee three years from now. Chavez is part of the burgeoning trend toward charter schools that “Waiting for Superman” highlights. These young individuals represent a small minority of students on course to graduate high school and yet indicators of ever present challenges exist. Many students who attended Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority Inc’s Black and Gold event, were surprised to hear King Mission, a representative of the Latin King and Queen Nation a known Latino street gang, portray the nation, not as different from what we see on campus but emblematic of some of the same desires. -At the end of the day, the youth want to find a place to belong and to be empowered. I share far more in common with Anthony, the DC fifth grader depicted in “Waiting for Superman”, than with the majority of students on campus. Statistically, I grew up with every indicator that I would not graduate high school much less, go to college. My saving grace and what I hope will also be Anthony’s was a chance encounter with opportunity that led me to a better school. This year’s LHC theme, Movimientos, indicates both social consciousness about our community and most importantly action. As Mission indicated, our social consciousness needs to be programmed to be proactive rather than reactive. It is my sincerest hope that when it comes to issues such as education, as a nation or simply as the GW community we stop waiting for the “muscle and miracle” of superman and become proactive in the community.

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creative writing A Slight Misunderstanding Brooke Oki

Waking up on the eve of her 20th birthday she thought about three things. First, that she was content, but certainly not happy. Second, that although this shifty satisfaction blanketed her with thoughts of bigger and better things, she was blocked by an ambiguous wall of doubt in her potential. This doubt lead to a sick and ominous feeling of which she feared she might never rid herself of. And thirdly, after seeing a quite inspiriting summer film, she was on the hunt for a moderately priced Van Gough that she would hang in her room and admire like arty Lower East Side yuppies do. Turning 20, instead of making her happy, was worrying her more than any previous birthday. After contemplating this, she named her condition a sort of mid-youth crisis, as she was the writer type and always felt the need to title things. Evening fell and as her birthday grew closer, she strode from her apartment for a walk, still content but not happy. Rounding a corner she noticed “20” walloping behind her, obnoxious and ostentatious, obscure and ordinary as it had been for the last month. It was behaving as it always had, in a confused but exciting way, wrought with innovation and romantic desires. It harped on her career choice, questioned her independence and ended by criticizing her style. As the day ended, anxiety flowed in her gut. The Van Gough had yet to be purchased, the rattling groan of the F train rumbled below, and “20” continued on complicated and uncertain as it was supposed to be.

Josephine Baker Clarise Brown

My brown feet stand upon Paris Streets. They are meant for the fields; Yet, I am here. I am lightWrapped in brown skin, Wrapped in life. See the pearls upon my neck, The way they drape to my waist, which Men’s hands have dared to grasp; yet, Feared to hold. I am soul. Arms outstretched as I Reach for success, Firmly clasping it to my breast With hands the color of dark gold. As though, Painted by Apollo’s own brush stroke. I am sex I walk as though gold mines lie between my thighs, Because men’s serenades of seduction are my nightly lullabies. I am entertained. My laughter rises with their every verse. As their eyes embrace my every curve, I accept the adoration that I KNOW I deserve. Because after all, I am the arm of the slave That reached toward the skies. Hands bound and shackled to the plough, I am their fingertips extended toward the clouds, and their feet that walk the streets of Paris. I AM Josephine Baker.

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