From the Editor
By Ruth E. Vise, Faculty Editor &
Advisor, 1998-1999
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| 1998 Borderlands Staff
Front: Sandra R. Pierce & Chris Fumagalli, Editors.
Back: Ruth E. Vise, Faculty Editor & Advisor and Danny Martinez,
Photographer.
Not shown: Tony Barron, Artist
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This year El Paso celebrates the 400th anniversary of Don
Juan de Oņate's arrival at the Rio Grande and what we call the
first Thanksgiving. However, this celebration has not been
without controversy. Protestors of Oņate's brutality against the
natives demonstrated outside Cougar Park in April during the
Quadricentennial festival. Tigua Indians declined to participate
in events. Fliers denouncing Oņate's treatment of Indians
appeared mysteriously on classroom bulletin boards at EPCC.
Borderlands 1998 explores several topics related to the Spanish
exploration of Mexico and the Southwest, some of them
controversial. After their research, one class became so
interested in early El Paso history that they arranged first to
take a trolley tour of El Paso's Mission Trail during
final week, with members of the class serving as tour guides.
That students are actively exploring our area is what I have
enjoyed about this year's issue of Borderlands. Our thanks go to
El Paso historians Leon Metz, W. H. Timmons, the late C. L.
Sonnichsen, John O. West, Ken Flynn, Skip Clark, Sheldon Hall,
Sam Sanchez, my colleague Randy Eickhoff and others, whose
knowledge gave students a solid basis for their research. Thanks
also go to artists John Houser and Tom Lea for sharing their
works with us.
I sincerely thank my student editors Chris Fumagalli and
Sandra Pierce who produced the articles from English 3112
research papers; artist Tony Barron for the cover and other
illustrations; Danny Martinez, whose photographs illustrate
several articles; and my colleagues Joe Old and Daryl Troyer who
assisted me with editing articles. To my daughter April, who
associates spring with Borderlands, thank you for your support
and patience.
We hope you enjoy Borderlands 1998 and it will encourage you
to become a tourist in your own city. A treasure of history
awaits you!
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