by Alissa Davis
Staff Writer
Frontier Fiesta 1997 has yet to begin, but many students are already choosing sides in anticipation of controversy. Some student groups have claimed that Frontier Fiesta is based on a history rich in racism, a charge Fiesta organizers have denied.
Members of such groups as Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán and The Latina Coalition have asserted that the Fiesta is grounded in genocide and the thievery of land, a celebration of racism and sexism that exists solely for the enjoyment of Anglo fraternities, sororities and alumni.
Its supporters defend Frontier Fiesta as a once-a-year party of entertainment, food and beer, as well as one of the few University of Houston events that involves the entire student body.
"This one event is something that UH needs so desperately to unite everyone on campus," said Giovanni Garibay, vice president of the Hispanic Business Students Association. "Every single student group can get together once a year and do something together."
Opposing student groups stress that their difficulty is with Frontier Fiesta's underlying theme, not with past problems encountered while attending the event. "Women were represented as prostitutes in saloons. How can we celebrate our own exploitation?" asked National Organization for Women President Demetria Shabazz.
As a response to an event they claim is mired in genocide, MEChA and the Latina Coalition will hold a candlelight vigil with Pan-Afrikan People for Progressive Action and NOW to commemorate victims of genocide April 18, the second night of Frontier Fiesta. Some Fiesta organizers said they didn't see the connection.
"Zeta and Pike are doing a Western tribute to John Travolta," said Jeff Arcidiacono, Delta Upsilon vice president of loss prevention. "What that has to do with genocide, I don't know."
Frontier Fiesta began in 1940 and gained popularity in the 1950s. The 1955 Houstonian yearbook devoted 23 pages to the event. That year, students started construction on their modern-day Wild West town a full two months before Frontier Fiesta was set to begin. In contrast, students planned to have construction for this year's Fiesta completed within one week.
At the height of its popularity in 1959, Frontier Fiesta was discontinued due to disruption of classes and questionable variety-show content. It was revived in 1992, but many among UH's ethnically diverse student body had difficulties with the event's "Old West" theme.
The conflict began at 1993's Frontier Fiesta when a confederate flag was raised and the Pan-Hellenic Council subsequently walked out on the event. In the following years, minority organizations have complained about undesirable locations, booing and heckling during their sponsored performances and a general feeling of being unwanted at the event.
Funding is another source of controversy. Some student groups have complained that the UH administration puts too much money into Frontier Fiesta, money they say could be used for more educational purposes.
"Frontier Fiesta's funding is almost as big as the Campus Activities budget, and each student group has to compete for these funds," Shabazz said.
"I am a proponent of education, but you just can't throw out an issue," said Amaury Nora, president of the UH Graduate School of Social Work's Hispanic Student Association. "They have to say what plans they have for the money, say what the programs are that the money could go to."
So why are some Latino students actively involved in this year's Frontier Fiesta, while others plan instead to attend the candlelight vigil?
"Some people are willing to work with the system, the patriarchal system of the United States," said MEChA Treasurer Leticia Manzano. "We don't want to work within the system
Shabazz said participating in the event does not help her cause. "We continue to participate within the dominant culture as minorities. [But] this has proven not to be the best tactic because people will not recognize you unless you stand as the powerful person you are."
Some, however, say choosing not to fight is not the same as going along with the crowd.
"As a graduate student, I guess I see it on another level," Nora said. "We have enough papers. We have enough issues. There also is a time to relax. Frontier Fiesta is our time to relax."