An opera usually begins with an overture, has one, two or more acts, and concludes with a grand finale. My opera begins at The University of Texas at Austin with an overture entitled “A Dream.” What I mainly dreamed about was to be a student in the classic sense of the word - to be part of the student life of the university. I was denied that experience. My overture culminated in a controversy so well publicized that it is known to this day...
Barbara Smith Conrad, 1992
