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Montclarion #MSUStudentVoice Since 1928 Thursday, October 27, 2016
Volume XXVII, Issue 7
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University Responds to ‘Aida’ Protests Deanna Rosa, Editor in Chief Awije Bahrami, Entertainment Editor Emma Cimo, Sports Editor
In response to accusations of blackface in the recent student production of “Aida,” Montclair State’s Department of Theatre and Dance plans to host a series of discussion forums to promote open conversation about inclusion and the arts. “I am glad that the department engages in plays and musicals that inspire meaningful discussion,” Randy Mugleston, chairperson of the theatre and dance department, said in the wake of student protests outside Memorial Hall. “When students find topics they are passionate about, it allows us the opportunity to reflect on the issues brought up by the plays including design choices.” The theatre department initially decried the protest, insisting they were only em-
Montclair State students were outside Thursday and Friday night protesting the alleged use of blackface in “Aida.”
Emma Cimo | The Montclarion
ploying standard use of stage makeup. “This is not about stage makeup,” said student Dania Felix, who spearheaded the protests. “This is about darkening yourself for a person of color role.” Felix explained, “I was on the show, and I had to remove myself because I just felt really uncomfortable with it and with what was going on in it. I talked to the head of the department, and they just kind of dismissed me and said that I didn’t know what I was talking about in terms of stage makeup. “Aida” is a musical set in Egypt, where an Ethiopian princess—after whom the play is named—is brought after being captured. A plotline of love and tragedy unfolds in the original opera by
Daniella Heminghaus | The Montclarion
Guiseppe Verdi. The Montclair State production, directed by assistant Professor Gary John La Rosa, opened last night and star Virginia Vass, an AfricanAmerican student, as Aida. However, the use of makeup to darken the bare-chested students playing Egyptian soldiers sparked some controversy. While some have labeled it blackfacing—the practice of painting an actor’s face to portray a character of a different race—others have deemed it a routine part of acting in theatre. “The students playing soldiers who are bare-chested and who are out in the sun— as far as their characters go— are toning their skin to give them a little bit of a shade, but it’s not to make them look African-American or
black or any other nationality other than who they are,” said Michael Allen, associate professor of theater and dance. “I mean, we don’t put wigs on them. We’re not putting afro wigs on them and making them look like they’re African. They’re playing who they are as characters.” According to Felix, she is the reason the wigs were nixed. She explained that, in the earlier stages of the show, actors were using dyed mops as wigs in order to portray their characters—a situation she said was “really offensive.” “I’m trying to have a good discussion and no one wanted to have a discussion with me prior to the protest,” Felix said. “This was my last option. I wasn’t trying to get here. I Aida Protests continued on Page 4
Even the Rain Couldn’t Stop the Red Hawks “Homecoming is a great time for such a big school like ours to come together and appreciate the many organizations and events we actually have here on campus.” - Jennifer Roll, senior film major and member of Delta Phi Epsilon
Theta Xi and Phi Sigma Sigma celebrate after their homecoming showcase performance.
NEWS
FEATURE
p. 3 Canvas Painting Puts the ‘Art in
p. 9 Montclair State Greeks visit Nursing Home
Alex Gamboa | The Montclarion
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
p. 13 Why We’re with Her
p. 16 Let’s Do the Time Warp Again!
Homecoming continued on Page 3
SPORTS
p. Men’s Ice Hockey Claims Homecoming Weekend