By Juan Montoya
It was featured as the screening of Hispanic film director Hector Galan's documentary "The Big Squeeze" to be held at the UTB-TSC student center.
Former winners of the Big Squeeze competition would be featured, including 2007 winner Juan Longoria, of Brownsville, as well as 2009 winner Heriberto Rodriguez, from Edcouch-Elsa.
And so at about 7 p.m. Saturday, people starting arriving to see show. Gloria Cantu and the conjunto from San Benito High School warmed up the crowd before the screening. Other groups followed. Cantu herself was a Big Squeeze finalist in previous years.
But instead of the norteno crowd and working-class Mexican-Americans showing
up at the far eastern end of the campus, it was a decidedly academic middle-age group and some students manning (personning?) the stands of drinks and souvenirs of the event for their respective school organizations.
And so at about 7 p.m. Saturday, people starting arriving to see show. Gloria Cantu and the conjunto from San Benito High School warmed up the crowd before the screening. Other groups followed. Cantu herself was a Big Squeeze finalist in previous years.
But instead of the norteno crowd and working-class Mexican-Americans showing
up at the far eastern end of the campus, it was a decidedly academic middle-age group and some students manning (personning?) the stands of drinks and souvenirs of the event for their respective school organizations.The event was not held at the student union per se, but rather, in the street in front of the building. A sound and light system was operated by the organizers and use of the mobile stage was donated by the city of Brownsville.
In fact, the city's presence was prominent at the event. Commissioner Edward Camarillo welcomed the crowd while commissioner Ricardo Longoria helped out with the sound system. Apparently, the sound sytem belonged to "Los Potrillos," a group associated with the Longorias.
In fact, the city's presence was prominent at the event. Commissioner Edward Camarillo welcomed the crowd while commissioner Ricardo Longoria helped out with the sound system. Apparently, the sound sytem belonged to "Los Potrillos," a group associated with the Longorias.
The screening itself was held on an inflatable screen next to the stage and, as was to be expected, was a polished, high-class production as could be expected from Galan, one of the foremost Hispanic film producers.
In a sense, this time UTB-TSC reached out to the barrio, instead of the other way around. In the past, the outcome had been lopsidedly in the university's favor since it involved moving the Workforce Center from the Southmost area to the Amigoland Mall and paying a cool $1 million in rent to the university-college. The unemployed in the area were left high and dry until a transportation component was introduced as a result of the outcry.
In a sense, this time UTB-TSC reached out to the barrio, instead of the other way around. In the past, the outcome had been lopsidedly in the university's favor since it involved moving the Workforce Center from the Southmost area to the Amigoland Mall and paying a cool $1 million in rent to the university-college. The unemployed in the area were left high and dry until a transportation component was introduced as a result of the outcry.
Longoria's brother – 2007 Big Squeeze winner Juan – is from the Southmost area. He also played and helped out with the sound and light system.
A visitor remarked that this was the first time that, apart from the annual Charro Day extravaganza, UTB-TSC had ever held an event that celebrated the cultural character of the majority of the people in its service area.
A visitor remarked that this was the first time that, apart from the annual Charro Day extravaganza, UTB-TSC had ever held an event that celebrated the cultural character of the majority of the people in its service area.
Politically, with Camarillo, Longoria, and Rose Gowen, a university instructor, on the city commission, UTB-TSC can count on a majority of supporters for funding for any of its projects before the commission. And all it took was providing a venue on a campus street for the event.
Visitors had to walk for more than a city block from the parking area to the stage, leading one wit to observe that perhaps this was a ruse by Gowen to include a health and fitness component into the event.
Local residents have been used to read about classical guitar players, wind ensembles, and other haute couture performances. But this may be the first time that the performers mirrored the nature of the local population. After all, how many harpsichord and cello virtuosos live in the barrios of Brownsville?
If UTB-TSC gets political clout in the city commission as a quid pro quo of this event, it'll be a small price to pay for finally getting the university-college to acknowledge local culture.
Visitors had to walk for more than a city block from the parking area to the stage, leading one wit to observe that perhaps this was a ruse by Gowen to include a health and fitness component into the event.
Local residents have been used to read about classical guitar players, wind ensembles, and other haute couture performances. But this may be the first time that the performers mirrored the nature of the local population. After all, how many harpsichord and cello virtuosos live in the barrios of Brownsville?
If UTB-TSC gets political clout in the city commission as a quid pro quo of this event, it'll be a small price to pay for finally getting the university-college to acknowledge local culture.
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