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NEWS
| October 13, 2004
Faculty
Fiesta
Social Work staff serves up Mexican
cuisine at mixer
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| The Shorthorn: Andrew Campbell |
| Social work professor Rebecca Hegar
and Social Work Dean Santos Hernandez await to serve students
rice and beans during the Faculty Fiesta in the social
work courtyard Tuesday afternoon. |
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By Jessica
Smith
The Shorthorn Staff
Rebecca Hegar said the social work faculty
used to have an event called the Faculty Flipper, but they decided
a change of pace was needed this year.
“We got tired of flipping burgers,” the social work
professor said.
It also happened to be Hispanic Heritage Month, so the faculty decided
to switch from serving burgers and hot dogs to refried beans and
enchiladas at the fiesta held Tuesday in the Social Work Complex
courtyard. They wanted to celebrate Hispanic culture because recognizing
different cultures is an important part of social work, said Larry
Watson, a social work assistant dean.
Faculty members danced to the Latin music that blasted the courtyard
while a mix of faculty and students enjoyed the Spanish rice, refried
beans and other staples of Tex-Mex cuisine. The flag of Puerto Rico
and an Aztec calendar print swayed from a tree as the wind made
the red, green and white alternating tablecloths billow as well.
About 100 students and faculty attended the event, which included
salsa and tortilla chips on every table.
Rachel Stabile, a social work graduate student, was one of the students
who enjoyed the switch primarily because Mexican food is her favorite.
However, she is very particular about what type of Mexican cuisine
she likes.
“I prefer real Mexican food to Tex-Mex,” she said.
A film festival was held for all students as well. The films selected
“depict various aspects of Hispanic life, not just in Mexico
but in America as well,” said Joan Rycraft, a social work
associate dean. The movies shown were Like Water for Chocolate,
a love story about two people who love each other but are not allowed
to marry because of family tradition, and My Family, Mi Familia,
which chronicles the trials and tribulations of a family consisting
of the parents, three sons and two daughters as they grow up in
east Los Angeles. Frida, the biopic showing the life of world-famous
artist Frida Kahlo, aired in the evening.
Some students and faculty appreciated the chance to see each other
in a different setting at the fiesta, something social work senior
Dorothy Jones can agree with.
“I thought it’d be a good time to see who all’s
here and have a good meal,” she said.
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