Move toward a less offensive, more inclusive frontier

Todd Epp

So Friday evening, it was off to the temporary tent city on

Calhoun Road.

I came.

I saw.

I was ignored.

After reading for weeks in the Cougar the ongoing debate about Frontier Fiesta, I wanted to see for myself if it was a racist celebration of American colonialism, a big college party, or just what.

My biggest conclusion, based on a visit Friday evening, is, "or just what."

After entering the gates of the "city," I discovered I needed "Fiesta Bucks" to purchase food and entertainment. So, off to the "bank" to exchange my Yankee greenbacks for the oversized UH script.

Then I looked for ways to spend my script. And looked. And looked some more.

I saw tents with delicious barbecue. I saw tents with beer. I saw people eating. But they were all in their own tents with their own groups in their own private parties. After standing in line at a couple of these places and waiting to purchase food and receiving polite but confused rebuffs, I moved on and continued to search for a place to spend my food "money." (OK, I did find the beer booths!)

Finally, I found a commercial establishment where I purchased a lukewarm dinner. Obviously, the action was back at the various groups' private parties. Unfortunately, my group, the Dorky White Guys from the Dakotas, didn't have a tent, smoker or private party.

Frankly, though I was inside the Fiesta, I felt very much the outsider.

Spending my entertainment "money" was easier. There were several venues where the sororities and fraternities were putting on shows. I stopped at one, had a nice chat with the friendly fraternity president, and watched a very cute and entertaining musical about an older couple reflecting on their courtship at a previous Frontier Fiestas. There was nothing political about it - just a bunch of kids singing country love songs, dancing and having fun. I liked that very much.

I realize staging Frontier Fiesta is a huge undertaking. I congratulate the participants for their hard work and trying to bring a major event to campus. But I'd like to suggest some changes to make it more inclusive.

First, change the name. It seems to offend a sizable portion of the university community. No one may intend for it to offend, but it does. Perhaps "Cougar Fiesta" or "UH Spring Celebration" or "The Cougar Fling" would be more inclusive and not offend people who see the event as a celebration of Anglo domination of the Texas frontier and its indigenous people.

Second, change the theme to "Cougars coming together" or something similar. Not just some Cougars, but all Cougars. We could revel in our "Cougarness." There is an incredible amount of diversity at this university.

I'd like to suggest a model: When I worked on the South Dakota State University campus, "International Day" became the biggest single event next to homecoming. Nearly every student group participated in one location with booths, food and music. More importantly, everyone mingled. Whether you were an aggie, a Chinese exchange student or someone from the community, everyone on that day was an SDSU Jackrabbit learning about his or her friends, neighbors and guests.

Third, reconsider the private parties. While I can understand group members and alumni wanting to get together to eat, chat, drink beer and smoke cigars, it is disheartening to walk around a "public" event and see so much of it closed off to the general public.

UH needs more events that bring students, faculty, alumni and the community together. The Frontier Fiesta has been a step in that direction. But such a celebration needs to bring everyone together. Perhaps if the university and the various groups work together and find common ground, like a big party at which everyone is welcome, that hope can become a reality. Party on, Coogs!

Epp is a UH graduate law student.