Program Review: Freshmen for Dummies

This week, I had my second program “Freshmen for Dummies”. The purpose of the program was to create a sense of brotherhood and unity among upper and underclassmen. The program’s purpose was also to address common concerns Freshmen often have about college regarding academics, social scenes, and organizations on campus. Because of this, I chose to select upperclassmen who I knew were involved one way or another with campus activities and organizations: Ryan Henry (CASA) , Owaiian Jones (SGA Senate), and Travis Randle (SGA President).

Overall, the program was a success. I had a bit of an issue with attendance (most of the residents trickled in towards the middle-end of the program). What I’ve noticed is that in order to put on a successful program with a large turnout I have to create a scene in the area of which the program is being held. The turnout was due to the Freshmen being curious as to why so many people were in the lounge.

The two programs I’ve thrown this week have taught me a number of things about throwing a successful program and I look to apply those lessons for future programming.

Program Review: Quemar Las Naves

This past Monday, September 27, 2010, I had my very first program in Dubois Hall. I decided to show a movie as my first program because it was an activity that didn’t require a great deal of thought on the part of the residents. The only thing they were required to do was sit, watch the movie, and give a brief review of the movie at the conclusion of the program.

I soon found out that this was easier said than done.

The film I decided to show to the residents was “Quemar Las Naves”. The movie itself deals with a whole range of issues. Everything from homosexuality to incest to freedom to personal individuality and expression:

Francisco Franco’s “Quemar Las Naves” looks at a family of three: Eugenia (Claudette Maille), the mother, a former pop singer dying of cancer, Helena (Irene Azuela), her 19 year old daughter who wants to travel the world and become a singer like her mother and Sebastian (Angel Onesimo Nevares) who studies and plays classical music and has the desire to do little more than to move to the beach. The three are stuck somewhere between desire, death and dreams of the future.
Sebastian and Helena develop a special love for each other as they care for their dying mother yet Sebastian also feels sexually drawn to a boy at school. There is tension as well between brother and sister since Helena stays at home caring for her mother while Sebastian can go where he wants and even find a human connection away from home. In this case it is with Juan, the new boy at school. Helena becomes jealous and things at home explode after the death of Eugenia and the future of the family house becomes uncertain.
Into the picture comes Ismael with his repressed desire for Sebastian and Aurora who rents a room in the house. We are given a look at the strange nature of the family as well as the powerful position held by the youngest male and his yen for freedom in a place that is devoutly Catholic. (http://www.amazon.com/Quemar-Las-Naves-Burn-Bridges/dp/B001IYURJ6)

Unfortunately, many of the residents struggled to grasp the real intent of the movie. Instead, they focused more on the main character’s sexuality and his incestuous relationship with his sister (at times screaming out “fag” and other epithets).

What the review of the movie showed me is that we have a larger problem here in Dubois Hall: a general intolerance to anything foreign. This is ironic given the theme of the hall itself (The International House).

I’ve already planned out my next 5 programs, but I’m considering modifying that and instead gearing a program towards the issue of intolerance I witnessed Monday night.

The intent of programming is educational benefit, right?

Community Development: Late Night Waffle House

Late Night Waffle House

Date: September 30, 2010

Time: 9PM-11PM

Goal: Participating residents: Cedrick, Kaelan, Tre’Von, Reggie.

Community Development: Dubois Hall Fitness Club - Morehouse Run/ Weightroom

Dubois Hall Fitness Club -  Morehouse Run/ Weightroom

Date: September 25, 2010

Time: 11AM-1PM

Goal: A continuation of the Dubois Hall Fitness Club.Myself and a few residents (Vidura, Korde, Theodore, Carl) ran around Morehouse campus in the early morning.

Community Development: Trip to Sprint

Trip to Sprint

Date: September 23, 2010

Time: 7:00PM

Goal: Drove Resident Robert Moore to Camp Creek in order to pick up his new phone. During this time, I was able to learn a few things about him and another resident, Tonee Jones, who accompanied us on the ride.