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| Basque Center ARCHIVE News Conferences Visitors More Archives Basque Center |
News Archive - Winter 2006-Spring 2007 | |
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Sandra Ott receives award for conference paper Prof. Ott has been awarded the Millstone Prize of the Western Society for French History (WSFH) for her paper, “Gift-Giving and the Management of Justice: Borderland Basques under German Occupation (1942–1944) and during the Liberation.” The Millstone Prize is awarded to the best interdisciplinary paper presented at the annual conference of the Society. First awarded in 1998, the prize recognizes the paper that best highlights research, methods, or insights drawn from a field other than history to enrich, challenge, or expand the understanding of the French past. The prize carries an award of $500. A formal announcement will be made at the 2007 WSFH meeting. | |
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Zulaika book on ETA available in Spanish translation Joseba Zulaika’s book ETAren Hautsa (ETA’s Ashes), published in Basque in 2006 by Alberdania, has now come out in a Spanish translation by Gerardo Markuleta entitled Polvo de ETA. The work is a lengthy essay on the historical significance of ETA for the author’s generation. Since ETA was created in Bilbao by a group of university students, and key figures such as Txabi Etxebarrieta were from Bilbao, Zulaika’s essay can be seen as one aspect of his research in Bilbao on the ruins and resurrections of contemporary Basque culture. | |
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Basque Literature publication reviewed Prof. David Laraway of Brigham Young University has reviewed Rossetti’s Obsession in World Literature Today, May 2007, pp. 71–72. He praises both the novel and the translation, and says that “the author’s propensity for understatement and wry humor only sets in greater relief his ability to create some truly memorable images.” Laraway also congratulated the Center for “giving an English-reading public a chance to become acquainted with one of the most important writers of the Basque Country.” The review is available online at: http://www.ou.edu/worldlit/onlinemagazine/ 2007May/22reviews.pdf | |
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40th Anniversary of the Center for Basque Studies — Basque Country visitors welcomed Events were held on Thursday, May 3 as a part of the ongoing CBS 40th Anniversary activities. Special visitors from the Basque Country included Karlos Zarraga, who voluntarily worked for decades sending books, materials, and assorted information to the Basque Library, as well as Anttonmari Aldekoa-Otalora, manager of Urretxindorra bookstore in Bilbao. The bookstore has been the main supplier of materials to the Basque Library for many years. A lunch was served in the Bible Room of Getchell Library, followed by presentations by Center for Basque Studies and Basque Library staff.
Center receives recognition from Nevada Legislature “For 40 years, the Center has quietly and consistently promoted Basque studies to an English-speaking world,” said Gloria Totoricaguena, director of the Center for Basque Studies. “We study the human experience using the new technologies to further Basque research, instruction, and information in a global world.”
The internationally renowned center has conducted and published
Basque-related research, developed academic programs, and established a
Basque library that contains some 60,000 volumes. | ||
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Lecture on Gernika/conflict resolution presented A seminar/discussion on “The Resolution of Political Conflict” was presented on May 3, with Dr. Pedro Ibarra (Dept. of Political Science, University of the Basque Country and 2006–2007 William A. Douglass Distinguished Visiting Scholar) and Basque historian Dr. Xabier Irujo (Center for Basque Studies, UNR). Irujo explained the history of the bombing of Gernika by the Nazis’ Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War, and Ibarra discussed later development of the Basque conflict as Basque nationalism gained momentum in the post-war era. They then opened a discussion of the theories and experiences of political conflict resolution, especially with relation to the Basque conflict. | |
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Basque Studies lectures presented by visiting scholars Dr. Zesar Martínez, Professor of Sociology at the University of the Basque Country, presented a lecture on “Civil Society and Democratic Participation in the Basque Country” on April 25. He discussed how Basque civil society has shifted from a powerful capacity for mobilization in areas such as recovery of their language, ecological concerns, women’s rights, etc. to a progressive demobilization as public institutions and political parties have taken on these issues.
On April 30, Dr. Carmelo Moreno del Río, Professor of Political Science,
University of the Basque Country, gave a presentation on “Political
Humor in the Basque Country.” His lecture touched on how the
polarization and disruption in Basque politics during the last few
decades has made it difficult to introduce political humor in the mass
media. However, recent years have shown some changes such as radio and
TV programs that make fun of politics, putting “serious” people and
stressful attitudes in a ridiculous, minority position. | ||
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Zulaika participates in Roundtable on Bilbao Guggenheim On April 17, Joseba Zulaika participated in a roundtable presented by the Instituto Cervantes of New York on the book, Learning from the Bilbao Guggenheim, which was edited by Anna María Guasch and Joseba Zulaika following a conference at the University of Nevada, Reno in April 2004. Discussants included Anna Maria Guasch (Professor of Art History, Barcelona University); Joseba Zulaika (Center for Basque Studies); Keith Moxey (Barnard College); Beatriz Colomina (School of Architecture, Princeton University); and Hans Haake (artist, New York). | |
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Ph.D. student Arana publishes articles Basque Ph.D. candidate Juan Arana published a review of Oteiza: La vida como experimento, by Pilar Muñoa (Irún: Alberdania, 2006) in Revista Internacional de Estudios Vascos, 50.2, pp.506–510. The review is also posted on the Eusko Ikaskuntza site. In the same journal, issue 51.1, pp.77–99, Arana published an article on “The Convex and the Concave: The Feminine in Jorge Oteiza’s Mythological Cosmogony,” also posted online. | |
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Events planned for anniversary of Gernika bombing The bombing and destruction of Gernika was an aerial attack on April 26, l937, during the Spanish Civil War by the German Luftwaffe squadron known as the Condor Legion against the Basque city of Gernika. It was, at the time, the largest aerial bombardment of a town. On the 70th anniversary of this important event in Basque history and heritage, the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center has organized the following events:
The forty-five minute documentary The Mark of Man will be shown by
historian Dr. Pedro Oiarzabal of the University of Nevada, Reno, who will
also moderate a discussion following the film (two showings - free admission):
The director of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno,
Dr. Gloria Totoricagüena, will give presentations on the history of this event:
Commemorative Oak Tree Planting Ceremony at Sister Cities Park in South San Francisco. Gernika Gogoratuz Memorial Mass officiated by Basque Chaplain Father Martxel Tillous, Thursday, April 26, 7:30 pm.
Events will be held at the San Francisco Basque Culural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue,
South San Francisco, CA 94080. | ||
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2-day course on Basques in the American West offered A one-credit class in Basque Culture—Basque 460/660, Basques in the American West—is offered April 27–28 in Reno, on the Redfield Campus, by Sandra Ott. Basque culture will be explored from a variety of perspectives, from global to local, in the context of contemporary Western society, including concepts drawn from anthropology, history, and cultural studies. The Basque diaspora, Old World/New World culture, the preservation of Basque culture and an introduction to research techniques used by local historians and anthropologists will be covered. Films, lectures, guest presenters and a computer lab-based overview of internet resources will be used; Basque foods may even be sampled! Students will be required to take a test and complete a reading/research assignment outside of class time that must be received by May 14. Internet and email access is required.
For further information please contact UNR’s Extended Studies at
775.784.4046 or 800.233.8928. | ||
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Argitxu Camus receives Who’s Who award Basque Ph.D. candidate Argitxu Camus will be recognized for her outstanding scholarship in Who’s Who among Students in American Universities and Colleges—a prestigious honor conferred by more than 1,400 schools in the U.S. Selection is based on academic achievement, community service, participation in university activities, and potential for continued success after graduation. She was recognized at a ceremony and reception held at the University of Nevada, Reno on March 14 to honor sixteen awardees, both undergraduate and graduate students. Her name will appear in the 2007 Who’s Who publication. | |
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Pedro Ibarra presents lecture on Basque democracy Pedro Ibarra, the 2006–2007 William Douglass Visiting Distinguished Scholar, gave a presentation on April 3 at UNR on “Democracy in the Basque Country.” Dr. Ibarra is a professor of political science at the University of the Basque Country. His discussion centered on attempts to devise a new proposal from the theoretical debate about democracy. He stated that democracy exists in a society when there is a set of deliberative public spaces that work to provide the highest possible coincidence between what citizens want and what governmental policymakers decide. Thus, democracy exists not only when political representatives are elected in a free, competitive, equal, legal process, but also when their political decisions coincide with the real interests, values, and claims of the citizens. He then discussed this analytical model in relation to the Basque Country. | |
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Ph.D. student gives presentation at UNR Basque Studies Ph.D. student Argitxu Camus gave a presentation on “Basque Identity in the Basque Country and in the United States” to a sociology class at the University of Nevada, Reno on March 29, 2007. The class is studying ethnic and race relations. | ||
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Sandra Ott presents paper at Historical Studies conference Dr. Sandra Ott attended the 53rd annual conference of the Society for French Historical Studies at the University of Houston, March 15–17. As an invited speaker, she presented a paper entitled “The Philosophical Reflections and Mundane Concerns of a Nazi Officer,” on the panel, “Wartime Writing: France during the Two World Wars.” Professor Leonard Smith of Oberlin College acted as Chair, and the Commentator was Professor Daniel Cohen of Rice University. Other panel members included Professor Bruno Cabanes of Yale University and Professor Guillaume Piketty of the Institut d’Études Politique de Paris. | ||
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CBS Advisory Board Meets in Reno The Center for Basque Studies Advisory Board held their annual meeting for 2007 on March 2 and 3 at the Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks. Participants included Board members John Echeverria, William Douglass, Gloria Totoricagüena, Michonne Ascuaga, Pete Ernaut, Tontxu Campos, Sixto Jimenez, Emilia Doyaga, Jeronima Echeverria, Tony Campos, Anita Anacabe, Pedro Ibarra (representing the Amigos de Reno) and Sandra Ott, CBS Advisory Board Administrator. The Advisory Board advises the Director of the CBS in regards to the fundraising, publications agenda and international outreach of the Center and its activities.
Members and spouses enjoyed a Friday night cocktail
party with invited guests William Douglass Distinguished Visiting
Scholar Pedro Ibarra and his wife Carmen Oriol, Mike and Jeanette
Montero, Diane and Lloyd Root, and from the Basque Family Heritage in
the USA project, George Ryskamp and Shalyse and Ben Clayton. Entertainment
for the Saturday night dinner was provided with txistu music and Basque
folkdancing from Teresa Anacabe Franzoia and Bernadette Leonis. | |
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Director Totoricagüena teaches class at Stanford University An introductory level course on Basque history and culture was given by CBS director Gloria Totoricagüena during the winter 2006–07 term at Stanford University. Topics included politics, economics, geography, the Spanish Civil War, Basque exile, Basque language and linguistics taught by guest speaker Dr. Xabier Irujo, Basque diaspora identity, cinema, Basques in the USA, contemporary life in the Basque territories, Basque instrumental music and dance taught by instructor Valerie Etcharren Arrechea, and Basque cuisine taught by chef Gerard Hirigoyen at the Piperade restaurant in San Francisco. Six professors and 32 students participated, and additionally each week there were guests interested in a special topic who attended particular lectures and discussions. The Basque Government Councilor of Education, Tontxu Campos, was also a guest speaker and discussed the topic of bi-lingual education in the Basque territories of Euskadi. Stanford Provost John Etchemendy served as the Stanford sponsoring professor and
attended every class. Professors from the departments of anthropology,
history, language and literature, European studies, and Spanish and
Portuguese also attended. Several students chose to incorporate Basque
themes into their projects required for other courses as well, and
borrowed many books from the UNR Basque Library.
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Ikasi is back! [5/15/07: SORRY, Ikasi has been cancelled for 2007] The Center for Basque Studies will again offer our summer Ikasi program, an opportunity for adults to learn about Basque culture. This year’s Ikasi (meaning “to learn”) will be held June 6–8, 2007 at the University of Nevada, Reno. The program offers several new sessions on more contemporary issues of interest to Basques, and will be presented by current and former Center for Basque Studies staff and Ph.D. students, visiting scholars, and representatives from the Basque American community. Session topics include Forty Years of the Center for Basque Studies, by Jill Berner, Dr. Linda White, and Dr. Bill Douglass; Sweet Promised Land and Robert Laxalt, by Monique Laxalt; Basque Culture across Continents, by Dr. Lisa Corcostegui; Stories and Images of Basque Sheepherders, by Florence Frye and Linda Dufurrena; Lertxun Marrak – Basque Tree Carvings, by Dr. Joxe Mallea; The History of NABO, by Argitxu Camus Etxekopar; Internet Based Basque Communities, by Dr. Pedro Oiarzabal; The Political Status of the Basque Country and the Peace Process, by Drs. Pedro Ibarra, Xabier Irujo, and Joseba Zulaika; German Relations with Collaborators during the Occupation of France,1940–1945, by Dr. Sandra Ott; and Navigating the Globe, by Dr. Carmelo Urza.
The program is free of charge and open to any interested persons. Enrollment
is limited so be sure to sign up early! The complete
schedule and an application
form are posted on this site. | ||
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Book on Basque nationalism in Uruguay published A new book, La Hora Vasca del Uruguay by Xabier Irujo Ametzaga of the Center and Alberto Irigoyen Arteche, was presented at the Centro Vasco Euskal Erria of Montevideo. The book describes the development of Basque nationalism in Uruguay (1825–1960), and the efforts of the Basque diaspora there to maintain the Basque culture. Dr. Irujo researched in the archives of Pamplona and also the U.S., where he has been a professor of Basque studies at Boise State University and currently at the University of Nevada, Reno, while Mr. Irigoyen provided research and insight from the Uruguayan Basque community of which he is a part. The authors’ sources included their family archives, as ancestors of both figure strongly in Basque diaspora history. Irigoyen’s grandfather was a delegate of the Basque Government in Uruguay from 1940–1973, and Irujo is the grandson of Bingen Ametzaga who was known in the Old and New Worlds for his political and literary accomplishments.
The first Basque Center in South America was founded in Uruguay in 1876,
and they continue to have a strong influence on the maintenance of Basque culture there. | |
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CBS books presented at Durango Book Fair The Center for Basque Studies presented its 2006 publications at the annual Durangoko Azoka Book Fair in Durango, Bizkaia, December 6–10. New titles include Apologists and Detractors of the Basque Language by Juan Madariaga; Rosetti’s Obsession by Ramon Saizarbitoria; Bernardo Atxaga: Basque Literature from the End of the Franco Era to the Present by Jon Kortazar, and Global Vasconia by William A. Douglass. These books were presented at a special event at the Bilbao Urretxindorra Elkar bookstore on December 4, 2006. This year’s publication for the Basque Classics Series #2, Apologists,
sold every available copy. Last year’s Basque Classics #1, Old Law of
Bizkaia, was the best seller for the Center’s stand this year.
Gloria Totoricagüena worked at the stand describing and explaining the
activities of the CBS and its publications. She was assisted by Iker
Zarraga of Bilbao. | |
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For past news stories, please see our News Archive. |
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