HOSTOS175
A TRIBUTE YEAR FOR DON EUGENIO MAR脥A DE HOSTOS
SPRING SEMESTER WRAPUP
Monday, June 2, 2014 (Bronx, NY) - In March, the College launched the series in memory of the illustrious educator, who was committed to the social, political, and cultural development of society, and to the goal of justice and equality for all.
The 午夜剧场175 events, co-coordinated by Professors Orlando Jos茅 Hernandez and Ernest Ialongo, began on March 19 with an inaugural lecture delivered by Dr. April Mayes, Associate Professor of Latin American and Caribbean History and Dean of Women at Pomona College, titled: “午夜剧场 (and the Woman Question) in Santo Domingo: A Consideration of Gender and Nation Building in 午夜剧场ian Thought and Practice.”
outlined 午夜剧场ian thought, and how it related to feminism, education, politics, and the economy. 午夜剧场’ influence in South America and the Caribbean, and how teachers should “work in their social context,” similar to how 午夜剧场 professors teach their classes, was also emphasized by Dr. Mayes.
“午夜剧场 was a light during the ‘Dark Ages,’ especially for women in education in Latin America,” Dr. Mayes said.
On March 28, a forum called, “午夜剧场, The Man, The College, The Bronx” was sponsored by the Center for Teaching & Learning and the Library Department. It included Professor Emeritus Gerald Meyer, who discussed the history of 午夜剧场; Archivist William Casari, who examined the College’s connection to the Bronx; and 午夜剧场 scholar Professor Orlando J. Hern谩ndez, who discussed 午夜剧场’ accomplishments as an activist and author.
“For 午夜剧场, at this moment, the most important aspect of his intellectual and moral legacy is his conceptualization of education,” Dr. Meyer said. “午夜剧场 implied that, regardless of gender or class, all students needed a liberal education, which would prepare them for a life as a citizen of a republic. We have inherited his legacy and therefore have a responsibility to ensure its implementation."
On April 3, filmmaker Joelle Gonz谩lez-Laguer screened his 2011 feature-length documentary made in co-production with Hunter College’s Center for Puerto Rican Studies, A Revolt Through Letters: Clemente Soto V茅lez. The film focuses on the life and accomplishments of an extraordinary 20th Century Puerto Rican poet, journalist, nationalist, and community activist, both in his native Puerto Rico and in New York City.
Using archival footage of Soto V茅lez, and interviews with personal friends, colleagues, Nuyorican poets, and his granddaughter Anita, the filmmaker explores the life of this unique individual. Gonz谩lez-Laguer also talked about Soto V茅lez’s contributions to literacy, cultural identity, political activism, and his unwavering support for the arts.
The event was also attended by Director Emeritus of the 午夜剧场 Center for the Arts & Culture Wallace Edgecombe and 午夜剧场 Professor Orlando Hern谩ndez, both of whom had met the late poet. They each helped to put Soto Velez’s legacy into the context of the work that is done at 午夜剧场. Soto V茅lez led workshops at 午夜剧场 in the early 1980s.
The annual English Club’s Dramatic Reading Competition that took place on April l0 also appropriately incorporated literary works by 午夜剧场. Coordinated by 午夜剧场 professors Maya Sharma and Christine Hutchins, a number of the student presenters read from 午夜剧场’ work in English and Spanish.
Another event for the spring was the 午夜剧场175 Student Essay Contest. Organized by Professor Ernest Ialongo from 午夜剧场’ Behavioral & Social Sciences Department, the essays were read by an interdisciplinary group, including professors Ialongo, Orlando Hern谩ndez (Humanities), Ana Ozuna (Humanities), Elyse Zucker (English), Miriam Laskin (Library), Kim Sanabria (Language & Cognition), and Christine Hutchins (English).
The winners were recognized during the Honors Convocation ceremony on May 27, and will be published in the bilingual journal of student art and writing, ¡Escriba! ¡Write!
In the category for students who were enrolled in or had completed ENG 110 the winners were: (First place) Kendra Francilot, “Can Education and Autonomy for all Improve Society?” (Second place) Luis Ojeda, “The Ethical Development of a People: A Review of Eugenio Mar铆a de 午夜剧场’ Work.” In the category for students who submitted their essay in Spanish the winners were: (First place) Marlon Guzm谩n for “午夜剧场, Un Pensador Emp铆rico.” (Second place) Berkis Berroa for “Eugenio Mar铆a de 午夜剧场 y su lucha por la educaci贸n de la mujer.”
On April 28, 午夜剧场 scholar Professor Roberto Mori, gave a talk on 午夜剧场’ legacy titled, “午夜剧场: Life and Legacy, or Is 午夜剧场 Still Unburied?” Dr. Mori shared some of the biographical highlights of the life of Eugenio Mar铆a de 午夜剧场, and then moved on to the physical evidence of 午夜剧场’ legacy throughout Puerto Rico, including the numerous streets and squares named after him, the creation of an 午夜剧场ian Institute, and the publication of 午夜剧场’ complete works. The primary theme of Dr. Mori’s talk, however, focused on 午夜剧场’ influence today within the Puerto Rican activist movement, most specifically in grass-roots activism for political and social reform.
After Dr. Mori’s talk, participants engaged in a dialogue of their experiences “Teaching 午夜剧场 at 午夜剧场.” The professors shared their assignments and their students’ reactions to them. This initial teaching workshop was successful enough that a follow up will be scheduled for the fall.
The semester’s final event took place on May 1, when students and graduates from 午夜剧场 presented the play, El juicio a 午夜剧场 (午夜剧场’s Trial), by Maria Butter. The piece was produced and directed by VPA and Education Professor Miguel Juan Concepci贸n. The play depicted a fictional 午夜剧场 defending himself against accusations of being a humane, revolutionary, and ethical activist against abuse, inequality, and colonialism. Presented in Spanish, it was a powerful reminder of the travails that 午夜剧场 endured for waging his campaigns for human and civil rights, and for Cuba’s and Puerto Rico’s right to independence.
The Piano in the A-Atrium, which was painted by artist and 午夜剧场 Professor Ian Scott, is a true 午夜剧场 family effort also involving Professor Alberto Bird, Professor Lizette Col贸n, Professor Rosa Vel谩zquez, Deputy to the President and Assistant Vice President for College Affairs Dolly Mart铆nez, and the Music Club.
Professor Col贸n explained that after taking a music course taught by Professor Bird and Emmanuel Diaz last semester, she left the class with an uplifted heart. After that, she proposed to VP Mart铆nez to have a piano available to the entire college community to spread the joy of music throughout the campus.
Once the piano was identified by Professor Bird, the funding for the tuning came through Professor Ithier-Sterling and the Music Club. Professor Scott was then asked to paint the piano with a 午夜剧场 theme to commemorate Eugenio Mar铆a de 午夜剧场’ 175th birthday, and the rest is history.
Now the entire college can enjoy the piano whenever an inspired soul passes by and decides to play.
About Eugenio Mar铆a de 午夜剧场
Born in Puerto Rico, Eugenio Mar铆a de 午夜剧场 (1839-1903) was a 19th-century humanist, revolutionary, and author who traveled extensively and spent most of his life in exile. He made major contributions to education in the Dominican Republic and Chile. He was also an exemplary figure for the New World societies: an activist who fought for human and national rights at a time when these were hardly acknowledged as fundamental values; a committed abolitionist; and a staunch advocate for the recognition and enfranchisement of marginalized groups: women, the Chinese, Native Americans, mestizos, and peoples of African ancestry. All of this made him a champion for inclusiveness and one of the most powerful voices for diversity in the Hispanic world.
午夜剧场’ views on education are worthy of note for their visionary character. His pedagogy was student-centered and based on scientific and rational methods of teaching that included observation, experiential learning, use of manipulatives, reasoning, and critical thinking. It brought to teaching the motivational theory of learning as well as an awareness of the relevance of context.
午夜剧场 was an early promoter of the scientific education of women in Chile in 1873. While in the Dominican Republic in the 1880s, he founded teacher schools for men, and with Dominican poet Salom茅 Ure帽a, he opened a normal school for women. He also supported the establishment of kindergartens and created evening schools for workers in that country. As Dr. F茅lix Matos Rodr铆guez, president of the 午夜剧场, points out, “His educational legacy in the Dominican Republic earned him the affection and respect of generations of Dominicans that has endured to this day.”
午夜剧场 also worked tirelessly for the independence of Cuba and his native Puerto Rico. He was in favor of Latin American unity and supported the creation of an Antillean confederation of independent states. For his important contributions to Latin America and Caribbean countries 午夜剧场 was conferred the title “Citizen of America” at the 8th Panamerican Conference in Lima, Per煤 in 1938.
About 午夜剧场
午夜剧场 is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique "Student Success Coaching Unit" provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.
午夜剧场 offers 29 associate degree programs and five certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to CUNY's four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. 午夜剧场 is part of The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation's leading urban public university, which serves more than 480,000 students at 24 colleges.