Courtney Straub & Justin Curry, News Editor
by Heather Peterson,
Question of the Week staff writer
Trigon and SAF host witch burning
Performance piece demonstrates intolerance of homosexuality
by B.J. Shields
staff writer
Less than 24 hours after the state
Supreme Court of Massachusetts
declared that same-sex couples cannot
be denied the right to marry, two
lesbians visited Behrend to share their
experiences with intolerance in the state
courts of Nebraska.
On Wednesday, Kris Gandara and
Traci Kujath tied themselves up to a
stake in a performance art piece in the
Reed Union's Wintergarden Atrium.
The two women, who have been
together for seven years, used the
performance piece to express their anger
and depression in dealing with lengthy
court battles over the custody of Traci's
biological sons. The event was
sponsored by Trigon and the Student
Activities Fee.
"In 1995, Traci came out of the closet
as a lesbian to her husband, Kevin," said
Colin McAndrews, ENGL 03. "Kevin
told her right then and there that she
would never see her kids again."
The performance art expressed the
emotions of the couple over losing the
custody battle and their experiences
with Nebraska's strict laws against
homosexual parents. As they stood tied
to the stake for several hours, cardboard
flames rose up around them out of a pile
of wood. They placed signs on their
bodies with words like dyke, witch,
Mini powwow performed
in Reed Wintergarden
by Heather Peterson
staff writer
On Thursday, the Rhythms of Life
Series continued with its second per
formance. The Native Nation's
Dance Theater held a mini pow wow
in the Reed Wintergarden in order to
help celebrate American Indian Heri
tage month. Their 12:30 p.m. per
formance was complete with tradi
tional costumes, ceremonial dances
and many drums.
According to Andy Herrera from
the SAF office, the Native Nations
Dance Theater is a group from Phila
delphia, which is a subsidiary of Per
formance Dance Theatre. It was
founded in 1991 in order to educate
people about different aspects of the
performing arts. He also said that
Vaughnda Hilton was the founder of
both organizations and Delwin Fid
dler Jr. is the current Chairman.
The Native Nations Dance Theater
formed out of PDT in order to help
specifically teach about Native
American culture. During the per
formance, those who attended were
able to see a variety of dances, cos
tume, and instruments first hand. At
the beginning of the performance,
each member of the group was in
troduced. There were many Native
mother and lesbian to vocalize the
words used against them throughout
their court battle. The scene represented
a witch burning.
The two later shared their thoughts
with guests in Reed 117.
"Kris opened and closed with a poetry
reading," said Michael Watterson, GAS
09. "In between they told their story
through poetic dialogue with each other,
sort of acting it out."
Starting in 1995, Kujath's court battle
continued until 2000, when a district
court judge in Lancaster County, Neb.,
ruled that her two boys would remain
with their father. Visitation rights were
awarded to Kujath but are limited to
every other weekend. Kujath also is
required to pay child support even
though her current family income is less
than half the amount of her ex
husband's family.
Kujath and Gandara noted that the
boys' father at the time of the hearings
was an alcoholic, and had been known
to be violent with the boys. However,
Nebraska state law is set up so that in a
case such as Kujath's, custody is
inevitably awarded to the heterosexual
parent.
Since the judges ruling in 2000,
Kujath and Gandara have continued to
fight for custody of the boys.
"The older boy, Josh, has been kicked
out of his father's house several times
and wants to live with his mother," said
American Nations involved, includ
ing Seminole, Creek, Blackfeet,
Navajo, Lakota Sioux and several
others. The performers each talked
about where they were from and how
long they had been involved. The
youngest member of the group was
just 2 years old and it was explained
by her parents that she started at one,
as soon as she could walk.
Each member wore a different type
of costume depending on his or her
tribe. However, they all had elabo
rate beadwork and featherhead
dresses as part of their ensembles.
They began by doing a walk-around
dance to the beat of a flat, decorated
drum and traditional chanting. Fol
lowing this, a blanket dance was per
formed by some of the younger
members. It was later explained that
the younger women of the tribe of
ten do the most athletic dances.
Dancing was not the only part of
the performance. Throughout their
program, the group also explained
the importance of many of their
crafts and the different decorations
on their costumes. One of the
women discussed the importance of
the bone and bead breastplate that
she wore. Not only did it provide
decoration, it also provided bullet
NEWS
Friday November 21, 2003
Watterson. "But they still have to go to
court to have him testify."
Still, the simple fact that Kujath is a
lesbian will likely keep the judge from
granting the transfer of custody, as it
would go against current Nebraska
legislation.
"The boys are stifled at their father's
house," said Kujath. "And Kris and I
have to take care of any medical
problems for the boys."
Abbey Atkinson, an alumni of Trigon,
met Kujath and Gandara at a conference
in Columbus, Ohio, several years ago.
She spoke with them again last year and
invited them to Behrend to share their
performance piece.
"With so much in the news today
about gay marriage and adoption, we
(Trigon) hope the performance will
make students more aware on a personal
level of anti-gay discrimination," said
McAndrews.
In addition to the performances by
Kujath and Gandara, Trigon hosted the
Laramie project last week. Other events
the group sponsors include Erie's annual
Pride rally and march, the Safer Sex
Cabaret and an organizational
recruitment party. The organization also
promotes safe sex and research on
campus, and is planning an event for
World AIDS Day in December.
Trigon meets every Thursday at 7:30
p.m. in the Multi-Cultural Center suite
on the first floor of Reed.
protection in the event of a confron
tation or battle. They also explained
that traditional women's costumes
include decorated shawls to keep
warm, fans to help cool off, and a
purse to carry valuables and food.
Along with all of the beadwork,
costumes, and instruments, other arts
and crafts were on display as well.
One of the most popular was the
dream catcher, which many people
are familiar with. As the program
progressed, several more chants and
elaborate dances were performed as
well. Overall, the group shared a
great deal of history with the
Behrend community as well as an en
tertaining performance. Those who
attended were able to learn about
many different Native Nations and
why many of their customs were
formed.
According to its mission state
ment, the Rhythms of Life Series
"seeks to inspire an appreciation of
all people through vibrant presenta
tions of the arts." It will continue to
do so throughout the year, and all
performances will be free and open
to the public, thanks to the SAF and
the Office of Educational Equity Pro
grams.
Kris Gandara and Traci Kujath tied themselves to a stake in a
performance art piece in the Wintergarden.
Lambda Sigma
the unfortunate
by Brian Mitchell
staff writer
"Teeehete have been coming up to
me tiding how much food have we
Lambda Sigma, an honor society
cOneetings" said. Sparie. The
or students of third and fourth H arvest bank appreciated more
;emester standing, set up 35 boxes because it is getting toward the
around campus from Nov. 3 to Nov.
14 and delivered them on Wednesda brulidart,#.,they
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worked out better. However, the bank Putting an the ESO dance. The ESO
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The Behrend Beacon
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