Everything Nac

Begun in 2007 by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, the 10th annual Tunnel of Oppression will offer the SFA and Nacogdoches communities a glimpse inside often complex yet subtle forms of oppression.

“The Tunnel of Oppression is an interactive museum that spotlights many forms of oppression through interactive theater,” said OMA Director Veronica Beavers. “The purpose of the tunnel is to enlighten and educate participants in the areas of diversity and social justice.”

SFA’s university-sponsored Lumberjack Cultural Association primarily coordinates the Tunnel of Oppression. Members of OMA’s other eight organizations will perform various skits within rooms inside the tunnel, each with the aim of illuminating how forms of oppression can affect individuals and families.

“Participants should expect to be amazed,” Beavers said. “They will experience an eye-opening experience. Topics to be discussed include stereotypes, body image, mental illness and many more. The Tunnel of Oppression brings awareness to participants on many diversity-related topics and social justice issues in society, which aligns with the OMA’s mission.”

The Tunnel of Oppression is a free three-day event. SFA 101 students will be the only participants Nov. 6. The event will open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 7-8, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater.

For information, contact the OMA at oma@sfasu.edu, or visit sfasu.edu/oma.

By Christine Broussard, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Trombone Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a program that features a mix of musical styles when the choir performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in Cole Concert Hall in the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

Directed by Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone, and Dr. Daniel Chapa, adjunct professor of trombone and euphonium, the Trombone Choir will present a variety of musical styles ranging from 16th century Renaissance to current compositions, according to Scott.

“The tradition of the trombone choir dates back further than 500 years, so it is important that I expose students to the style of music originally composed for trombone as well as more recent literature,” Scott said.

“Canzona” by Nicholas DiNunzio was composed in the style of Renaissance music for trombone choir and utilizes the tradition of two opposing trombone choirs.

Another early piece, “The White and Sweet Swan” by Jacob Arcadelt (ca. 1505-1568), was originally a madrigal for voices. SFA music graduate student Josh Porter arranged the work for trombone choir.

Also on the program, J.S. Bach’s “Fugue in G Minor ” was transcribed for trombone ensemble by Ralph Sauer.

More modern music includes Simon Wills’ “A Breach of the Peace,” which Scott describes as “a highly entertaining piece that uses stomping and clapping to enhance the Scottish melodies and rhythm.” The British Trombone Society commissioned the work.

Gary Slechta’s beautiful arrangement of “What a Wonderful World,” made popular by Louis Armstrong, will also be performed in a jazz style.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. Andrew Bunting, assistant director of the Chicago Botanic Garden, will present “Magnolias: Queen of the Garden.”

For the past 26 years, Bunting has been curator at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. From 1991-92, he was curator at Chanticleer in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Bunting is the past president of the Magnolia Society International and the Delaware Center for Horticulture. He also has served as chair of horticulture for the Philadelphia Flower Show and has done committee work for Bartram’s Garden, Tyler Arboretum and Awbury Arboretum.

Bunting has published over 100 articles in American Gardener, Arnoldia, The Hybrid, Fine Gardening, Magnolia Society Journal, Green Scene and Organic Gardening. Bunting’s home garden in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, has been featured in This Old House magazine and in the Wall Street Journal. He published “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Magnolias” in 2016.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

On the heels of Halloween, students enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University’s DeWitt School of Nursing held a disaster drill that incorporated a zombie attack to help nursing students better prepare for a crisis.

During the crisis simulation, fourth-semester nursing students divided into two groups. One group acted as medics and cared for patients who had been affected by a natural disaster while the other group acted as the patients. To further complicate the scenario, both groups had to endure a zombie attack during the drill.

Students participated in two simulations with members of each group reversing roles to ensure each student had the opportunity to act as a medic and patient. After the first simulation was complete, instructors held a debriefing where they gave critiques and shared information on how to correct deficiencies The students then attempted to correct the deficiencies during the second simulation.

Carol Athey, clinical instructor of nursing at SFA, said the simulation helps students put their nursing knowledge into practice. “During the simulation, students see how to use different medical resources, set up triages, assess various levels of injuries and communicate with each other,” Athey said.

Senior nursing students Addie Bowland, of Henderson, and Amber Comstock, of Lufkin, were selected as simulation team leaders by their classmates. Both students have been preparing for the simulation since the summer by gathering supplies, recruiting volunteers to play the roles of zombies and security personnel, and preplan the scenarios for each participant during the simulation.

Members of the Nacogdoches Fire Department and emergency medical services assisted and discussed with the nursing students how to anticipate the needs of first responders. They also trained students on how to properly use emergency equipment such as backboards.

“We finished with a better understanding of our roles as nurses when it comes to a disaster or mass-casualty event,” Comstock said. “The simulation has made us more aware and appreciative of what first responders do.”

Though nursing students participate in clinicals, which are supervised sessions for nursing students to observe and learn in real-world health care environments, this disaster drill provided additional insight.

According to Bowland, hospital situations are much more organized and controlled. “During the simulation, the wind was blowing our supplies away, and people were yelling for help while medics were trying to get to them without being contaminated by zombies,” Bowland said.

According to Athey, these types of simulations often can be helpful in preparing future nurses for natural disaster situations like hurricanes and other weather-related events.

“A few years ago, a former student called me after a tornado hit Waco,” Athey said. “She told me the disaster drills she was involved in at SFA helped prepare her for that disaster. As instructors, our goal is to prepare students for any type of medical situation that might occur. These types of drills may eventually save lives.”

By Emily Brown, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The characters in Anne Washburn’s “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play” use the TV series “The Simpsons” as a vehicle – a shield or distraction – to avoid dealing with the hard truth of the world as it has become in a post-apocalyptic era.

That perspective by scenic designer Kenneth Verdugo helped guide his thought process in designing the set for the dark comedy to be presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre as part of its 2017-18 Mainstage Series.

“The play is extremely dark at times,” said Verdugo, visiting assistant professor in the School of Theatre. “I wanted to go very dark at first – mirroring a kind of 9/11 picture of despair and hopelessness. Keeping it light was my challenge.”

“Mr. Burns” combines a nuclear catastrophe, “The Simpsons” and the myth-making impulse to reinvent contemporary theatre, according to its director, Slade Billew, assistant professor of acting/movement at SFA.

The play follows six people (and later seven) who have survived a nationwide nuclear power disaster. Society has collapsed, and there is no electricity. In Act One, the characters sit around a fire and try to recall an episode of “The Simpsons.” Act Two occurs seven years later. The survivors have regrouped and formed a theatre company performing old episodes of “The Simpsons.” They are seen in rehearsal where we discover more about the world they have helped remake. Act Three takes place 82 years after the initial disaster and includes a full musical performance of an episode of “The Simpsons.”

“The set evolves in three acts,” Verdugo explained. “The various locations or set elements evolve or progress accordingly, on a given trajectory, within the life of this particular theatre company over the years. There are a few iconographic elements directly referencing ‘The Simpsons.’ Over time, however, their cloudy images are based on word of mouth alone.

“Linked to a previous generation’s lost technology, ‘The Simpsons’ becomes a product of history,” he added. “That history gets retold in the form of a musical 82 years later. Of course, with time comes change.”

The play is not a recreation of “The Simpsons,” but rather it is a series of visual snapshots and remembrances. The play is reflective of the values and pop-cultural references commonly shared within that generation’s collective memories, Verdugo said.

“I wanted the design to reflect the point-of-view of this small collective of players,” he said, adding he hopes audience members will remember the boat painting on the wall of the Simpson home that he designed for the set.

“The characters in this play create an edgy coping mechanism in order to sublimate the darker underbelly of their new post-apocalyptic reality,” Verdugo said. “That coping mechanism comes in the form of a reformulated episode of ‘The Simpsons.’

“Their play (the musical) compelled me to be somewhat uplifted – to allow playful madness to help shape and/or normalize an otherwise desperate situation.”

“Mr. Burns, a post-electric play” is not appropriate for young children.

The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Nov. 7 through 11, in W.M. Turner Auditorium in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive, on the SFA campus.

Single tickets are $15 for adult, $10 for senior and $7.50 for student/youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.theatre.sfasu.edu.