Article first published in Vol. 17, 1998.
By Ruth E. Vise, Faculty Editor & Advisor, 1998-1999
This year El Paso celebrates the 400th anniversary of Don Juan de Oñate's arrival at the Rio Grande and what we call the first Thanksgiving. However, this celebration has not been without controversy. Protestors of Oñate's brutality against the natives demonstrated outside Cougar Park in April during the Quadricentennial festival. Tigua Indians declined to participate in events. Fliers denouncing Oñate'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!
Image caption: 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.
Produced by the Students and Faculty of El Paso Community College
El Paso Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
