Tuesday

February 3, 1998

Justice and Glover speak in memorial at the Memorial

By CHRISTINA GATTAN
HORNET STAFF WRITER

Education and inspiration come in many forms, and they came to the Sacramento community last Monday in the forms of actors Danny Glover and Felix Justice, who presented "An Evening with Langston and Martin."

Glover, whose movies include, "Grand Canyon," "Lethal Weapon" and "Gone Fishing," recited several poems by Langston Hughes, an African American poet who lived during the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights movement. Glover came out on stage in a gray pinstriped suit and began by asking that the house lights be turned up because he wanted to see the audience.

Glover related Hughes' history, noting that at age 15, young Langston was already the "class poet," and that he turned to books in part to escape loneliness.

"Listen to me, young people ... books," Glover said to the student portion of the audience.

Glover said Hughes had an understanding and depth that made his poetry accessible, and that he was aware of two important keys to life: having dreams and passion.

"You can't get anywhere in life without passion," Glover said.

A few of Hughes' notable poems read by Glover were "I Too Sing Of America" and Hughes' signature poem written when he was only 18, "The Negro Speaks Of A River."

Several young men in the audience could be heard quietly reciting along with Glover, "My soul has grown deep like the rivers."

Justice, a stage actor for more than 30 years, portrayed the Rev. Martin Luther King. He took the audience "back to Memphis," to the congregation where King spoke out against violence, racism, worker exploitation and the Vietnam War.

The material covered in the speech, first given by King the night before his assassination in 1968, could have been the topic of a speech given today. Twenty years later, many of the issues mentioned continue to confound society.

The small audience responded well to Justice throughout his interpretation of King.

Audience members were especially interactive after phrases such as "we shall overcome," by responding with "amen," allowing the audience to experience Justice as if he were King speaking to his assembly.

Although "there have been some bumps in the road, we need to focus on the gains King made," Justice said.

At the end of the performance, Justice and Glover participated in a question-and-answer session, but not before the audience gave them both a standing ovation.

One CSUS theater arts student expressed her dismay at the low turnout for the performance, saying that Glover and Justice are both good role models, there to talk about important issues, and that the auditorium should have been be packed.

Immediately after the performance, Glover had to catch a plane and Justice was off to do a solo performance, both meeting up in New Jersey to continue their tour, which is in its fourth year.

Glover and Justice encouraged the audience to continue to work together in addressing universal oppression through the dreams and transformation that King and Hughes initiated with their words years ago.

"Begin the dialogue right now," they said.

"An Evening with Langston and Martin," held at Memorial Auditorium, was presented by the Multi-Cultural Center in commemoration of CSUS' 50th anniversary and Black History Month in February.

Idea House provides inspiration for would-be interior designers

Have you ever walked into a room where the burnt orange and mustard seed color of a shag carpet screams 1973, forcing a Peter Frampton melody into your head? Maybe it is a friend's or grandmother's house or, worse, this style haunts your parents' house -- and you are still living there.

How dreadful -- the mere thought of surrounding oneself in the design trends of that decade.

Save yourself the torment of visiting this person's 70s-design rut dwelling by pushing him into the new millennium and taking him to an afternoon at Idea House.

Idea House, the fantastic innovation of interior designer and Home & Garden Television host Joe Ruggiero, is making its second annual appearance at the San Francisco Design Center.

Idea House will absolutely awe those who enjoy visiting model homes or designer showcases to see what is new in design trends and concepts.

A section of the fourth floor in the Galleria Design Center has been converted into three separate and completely furnished residences, which make up Idea House. Visitors do not actually walk into an entry of a house. From inside the "residence," however, visitors could not know they were not in an actual house.

Unlike a model home or a showhouse, visitors to Idea House are invited to turn knobs and pull out drawers. The shower can be turned on and buttons on the computer can be punched. In fact, if every drawer and cabinet is not checked out, something might be missed.

For instance, the kitchen in the residence that is imaginatively located on Napa Valley Lane, has refrigeration drawers, by Viking, that are completely camouflaged under the counter top, inside antique, reproduction chests.

Many different design concepts are used within the three residences on display. The concept for the countertops in the Silicon Valley Drive kitchen, silicon chips and keys right from the keyboard, are embedded like fossils in polished concrete. The design was inspired by the fictitious owner, Garrett, an entrepreneur who began his own Internet start-up company.

Imagine being on a tropical island, bathing in the midst of a soothing waterfall, surrounded by the greenery of the island's exotic landscape. A little imagination and the waterfall shower by Kohler, with earth tone slate flooring and glass tiles by Ann Sacks Tile & Stone, makes this possible every morning.

Imagination -- and inspiration -- is what Idea House is all about.

Idea House is open to the public free of charge, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and it will run through September 1998. for more information about Idea House, contact the San Francisco Design Center at (415) 490-5800.

MOVIE REVIEW

Audience expectations can not be too great for this film

By ERIN WATT
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR

"Great Expectations," based on Charles Dickens' classic novel, will undoubtedly take the average audience and turn them into lovers of art and believers in fate.

Finn Bell, played by Ethan Hawke, tells the story of his childhood and the unusual assortment of people that shape and ultimately control the route of his life.

Raised by his older sister Maggie and "Uncle" Joe in a fishing community on Florida's Gulf Coast, Finn is surrounded by a world of harsh reality and near poverty. While his young life is filled with reflections on his abandonment and crude reminders of his lower-class standing in society, Finn is inspired by the colors of the nature about him, which he records in drawings and abstract paintings.

When Finn is accosted and threatened by an escaped convict, played by Robert De Niro, his life is forever changed. Finn is harshly fazed by the abrupt encounter, but he helps De Niro escape so that he may never need see him again -- or so he thinks.

While unable to digest the events from the previous day, Finn moves on with his life. At the instruction of Ms. Dinsmoor, played by Anne Bancroft, a rich recluse who lives in a dilapidated, overgrown mansion on the Gulf, Finn visits and paints her and her eleven-year-old niece, Estella.

Bancroft comes alive in the bizarre gowns, dated wigs, mask of make-up and insane persona of Ms. Dinsmoor. Bancroft effectively portrays the aching bitterness of Ms. Dinsmoor, who spent her life grieving for the lost love of her life.

Saturday visits with the eccentric Ms. Dinsmoor and her enticingly-angelic niece, Estella, give Finn a reason to paint. His unrequited love for Estella, whether he knows it or not, gives him a reason to live.

Estella's character, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is the definition of the term "heartless seductress" etching herself into the mind of this tortured young artist.

De Niro plays the role of the mofia convict-turn savior in a convincing manner, changing his mannerisms from brutal to fatherly.

Paltrow's presence in "Great Expectations," is that of pure sensuality and beauty. The couple's raw passion smoulders on the screen whether they are in or out of their clothes. Paltrow's cerulean stare and svelte physique intensify the process of portraiture and capture the uncommonly thin figure of this female form.

At times, Alfonso Cuaron's directing was difficult to distinguish from the paintings the composition of the scenes were comparable to framable artwork. Cuaron's lighting, perspective and color theme greatly contributed to the plot's overall painterly effect.

The mood of Great Expectations is rather dark and depressing, yet it sheds a light of truth on life and fate. It is definitely based on the old adage: "What goes around, comes around." When young Finn saves the life of De Niro, he is in turn financially and professionally rescued later in life.

Renaissance Society to begin new season

Now that student class schedules are finally starting to solidify, the Renaissance Society has announced its spring schedule of weekly seminars for senior citizens. Starting Feb. 13, every Friday from 1 to 2:45 p.m., club members choose a group of seminars in which they can learn about anything from how to play bridge to how to do dream interpretation or how to do basic watercolor work.

In addition to the weekly seminars, the $25 enrollment fee for the semester also provides for mini-seminars at 10 a.m., Tai Chi classes at 11 a.m. and special community speakers at 3 p.m. each Friday.

According to Marjorie Links, office manager for the Renaissance Society, "[The society] exists to help senior citizens learn on their own. It is officially called a Learning In Retirement organization."

"Ours is run strictly by the membership. They think up their own topics and lead the groups," she continued.

On Friday, the Renaissance Society will hold a special orientation day that will serve to fully introduce members to the society and the seminar topics for the upcoming semester.

Potential participants will be invited to meet coordinators, pick up information and sign up for their Friday seminar.

Actual seminars and forums begin on Feb. 13 and run until May 8.

Mini-seminar topics include "South India, A Remarkable Alternative," "Dog-Sledding at 80," "What About Those Drugs You Take?" and "Learning to 'Landlord'" and will generally take place in Library Room 1533. According to Links, the Renaissance Society was born in 1986 and is composed of about 500 Sacramento seniors who take part in the club's weekly activities.

Although sponsored by the university, there are no academic requirements for the membership other than senior status and an inquiring mind. Anyone interested in participating in this new semester of seminars should contact the office at 278-7834 or go to Orientation Day on Friday in the University Union's Redwood Room.

Fashion Fascists

There is an epidemic on our campus. It plagues mostly the younger crowd, like freshmen and sophomores, but it is still painful to watch.

This is just school, yet some women dress like they are going out to clubs. They wear the polyester, hip-huggin', navel exposin', "I-just- got-my-belly-pierced-in-a-back-room-in-a-downtown-dive-by-a greasy-guy-named-Roach," bell bottom, crotch-clutching black pants, with a cleavage-creatin', peek-a-boo, "take me home tonight" tank top.

They do not seem to be aware of the fact that they could die from frostbite on their uncovered, unmentionable body parts.

Metallic make-up and fuchsia-lined lips with a shade of lip gloss three shades lighter is another problem. Or it could be the black, Spice Girls platforms in which they toddle around the campus.

One of these pieces alone is acceptable for school, but add them all together and you've got the formula for a fashion disaster.

Erica says these girls dress this way for school because they have nowhere else to wear these flirty fashions. The girls who wear these clothes are often too young to get into any decent clubs. When they are old enough, they may understand it's not necessary to attract men. After a couple of broken hearts and STDs they will realize it's not that hard to pick up a man. The difficult part is catching a good one. Good guys are not necessarily attracted by a ho who hangs it all out for the world to see at school. Does she go naked when she steps it up for a night on the town? We just don't understand this fashion phenomenon.

We realize that some people go to work right from school, so their dress must accommodate their lifestyle. There are work places where an employee can dress this way. We don't think we want to know exactly where, if they show everything but the nipple. And for extra hoochie zing, these women add a big, blasphemous cross, which swings like a pendulum between their exposed breasts.

Some might say we're jealous because we are not as well-endowed as our seam-splitting sisters, but our problems aren't anything a good Wonderbra can't fix.

Don't let us drown you in negativity, because there are some students with fashion savvy on this campus. We are sometimes fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a well-dressed, fashion-conscious individual with the knowledge of when and where to display the goods. Erica and Erin have both been known to dress the part of the techno-whore, but as we said before, there is a time and place for everything.

CD SHOWCASE

Great Expectations

By ERIN WATT
ASSISSTANT FEATURES EDITOR

With the release of the soundtrack to the remake of Dickens' "Great Expectations," Atlantic Records has produced an album that delivers both pure intrigue and unforgettable performances from musical masters like Tori Amos, Chris Cornell, The Verve Pipe and The Grateful Dead.

"Siren," by Amos, fits in with the surreal setting and somber plot of the film, giving the soundtrack an ethereal quality similar to her solo albums.

Cornell's contribution, "Sunshower," takes precedence over the entire album. The lyrics alone require conscious consideration and send the listener into a daze. Opening with a solo acoustic guitar supporting Cornell's impassioned vocals, the song soon transforms into a textured, multi-faceted gem.

The Verve Pipe's song, "Her Ornament," is another favorite off of the album. Each song contributes to the desperately dark and passionate plot and should make "Great Expectations" a priority on anyone's music list.

Sevendust

By JOSH DIEHL
FEATURES EDITOR

Sevendust's self-titled debut shows what a garage version of Faith No More might sound like.

Rap, thrash metal, funk and soul influences can be heard on tracks like "Terminator," "Too Close To Hate" and "Black," the band's current hit single.

Guitarists John Connolly and Clint Lowery churn out stomping riffs and funky wah-wah grooves, wisely using dynamics to add variety to the music.

While the musical interplay of the rhythm section is exceptional, lead singer Lajon's performance leaves something to be desired.

Although blessed with a powerful voice with an extensive range, his choice of lyrics and subject matter tend to border on the juvenile and immature. Song titles like "Bitch," "Wired" and "Born To Die" are examples of his over-the-top generalizations.

However, it is the backing players' strength that makes this album worthy of attention.

EVENTS

Speaker Daniel E. Koshland:
"The Progress of Science -- Is It Making Life Better or Worse?"
5:30 p.m.
UU-Redwood Room
Free

Jerry Azevedo: Fingerstyle Guitar
7:30-9 p.m.
UU-Redwood Room
Free

Feb. 4

Dewey Parker: Traditional Blues/R & B
Noon
UU-Redwood Room
Free

Alpha Phi Omega
Rush Information Night
6-8 p.m.
UU-Oak Room
Free

Michael Knapp: Acoustic Folk, Rock and Blues
7-9:30 p.m.
UU-Coffee House
Free

Feb. 5

Speaker Margaret Norris: "Tools for the New Millenium"
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
UU-Redwood Room
Free

Speaker Chris McKay: "Life Beyond Earth"
4:15 p.m.
MND 1005
Free

CSUS Cycling Club Meeting
5 p.m.
UU-Coffee House
Free

Feb. 6

"Boogie Nights"
Chicano/Latino Graduation Committee Fundraiser Dance
9 p.m.-Midnight
Unitarian Universalist Hall
Free

Feb. 7

Art, Music and Culture in Florence
10 a.m.
Regional and Continuing Education Office
Free

Feb. 10

Speaker Xiaoping Hu: "An Overview of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Technical Issues and Applications"
4:30 p.m.
Amador Hall 150
Free

Alpha Phi Omega
Rush Information Night
6-8 p.m.
UU-Oak Room
Free

Steve Montgomery: Acoustic Solo Guitar
7:30-9 p.m.
UU-Redwood Room
Free

Feb. 11

"Nearly-Wed Game"
Noon
UU-Redwood Room
Free

Mike Shotwell: Contemporary, Acoustic Folk
7-9:30 p.m.
UU-Coffee House
Free

"A Night with Tom Deluca"
7:30 p.m.
UU-Redwood Room
$5.50 w/CSUS ID

Feb. 12

Speaker John Ellman:
"Combinatorial Chemistry and New Drugs"
4:15 p.m.
MND 1015
Free

"A Night with Tom Deluca"
6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
UU-Rewood Room
$5.50 w/CSUS ID