UHCL Participates in the Celebration

The University of Houston-Clear Lake is observing Black History Month in several different ways.

The UH-Clear Lake Alumni Association is hosting a seminar entitled "Building Experience: Alumni Success Stories on Feb. 27." The key speaker is Guion "Guy" Bluford Jr., the first African-American to fly in space.

Bluford, along with a panel of other alumni, will speak in Atrium II at 3 p.m. in celebration of Black History Month. Bluford will speak more in-depth about his personal life story at 6 p.m. in the Bayou Theater.

"We are very excited that he has agreed to come speak," said Resa Ott, director of alumni and community relations. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at (281) 283-2016.

Cellist Derek Menchan and his ensemble played at the Bayou Theater Feb. 1. Separation of Church and Swing (African-American music from Gospel to Blues) gave audience members a look at music of the past, featuring jazz and gospel. Menchan and his ensemble of bass, piano and percussion highlighted artists such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Andrae Crouch.

February 4, Carl Raye gave his one-man performance entitled "A Killing in Choctaw."

The two-hour performance described how Raye, as a teen, witnessed his father's murder at the hands of a white man. Raye also describes the trial and events that followed, his childhood battle with polio, his aerospace career and his eventual work as a stand-up comedian, which helped heal the wounds of his childhood.

"According to the audience members that I spoke with, everyone seemed to have enjoyed Mr. Raye's performance," said Denise Shipley, multicultural and international student services coordinator. "They all seemed touched by his honesty and courage."

"His performance was so good, you could almost feel his pain," said student Christine Levige, literature major.