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Friday, April 9, 2004
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“Dogfall” announced as New Play Award winner
Jared Smith
Pilot Staff
Last week, the North Carolina
Theatre Conference announced the
play, “Dogfall,” as the recipient of
the 2004 New Play Award.
Scott Lahaie, director of theater -
at Gardner-Webb, wrote the play.
The original play was performed
on campus last November; however,
the award is based on the script
alone, not the production.
“Dogfall” is a play on the debate
over the right to die, with the play
uncovering the topic in the
American court system. The first
cast to perform the play was Matt
Winning, Karl Mosbacher and Mary
Leila Erwin, all GWU students.
Winning was excited to be part
of the first cast that performed
“Dogfall.”
“I feel privileged that I was the
first to do that part,” said Winning.
“And I’m excited for Scot.”
It was not until days before the
announcing of the New Play Award
that Lahaie was contacted about his
award, and he delayed his weekend
events to attend the awards ceremo
ny.
“[The committee] called me on
Thursday and asked if I could be
there on Sunday because they had
announced the winner,” said Lahaie.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll just cancel my
rehearsal! ’”
As recognition of the award,
“Dogfall” will be used in stage read
ings across the state.
Two readers will sit in chairs and
share the script with the audience
without props or backdrops. So far
readings of “Dogfall” have been
done at the national theatre confer
ence, Davidson College, Wesleyan
College and in Greensboro.
Lahaie feels that, besides his
personal benefit from wirming the
award, the university will benefit as
well.
“Most exciting for us is that it
really draws attention to the
Gardner-Webb’s theatre depart
ment,” said Lahaie. “It’s a real vali
dation for our program, and I think
student enrollment for this depart- photo by Kaylin Bowers
ment is going to be strongly impact- Scot Lahaie poses for a portrait outside
ed by this particular play.” the Communication Studies Hall.
1
Students attend conference
Kaylin Bowers
Pilot assistant photo editor
Several of Gardner-Webb
University’s Alpha Chi National
Honor Society members attended
the Alpha Chi Regional Convention
in Nashville, Term, on April 1-3.
A group of eight students and
English professor and club sponsor
June Hobbs went to the convention,
which had an attendance of approxi
mately 125 students and faculty.
The students attending the con
ference were Jason Bruner, Emily
Davis, Tim Gribble, Hans
Koschman, Shawn Pendergrass,
Laurie Pinkert, Douglas Singer, and
Sarah Olimb.
”It was a time for students and
sponsors to share scholarly papers
and take care of business, such as
electing representatives and offi
cers,” said Hobbs.
All eight students who went to
the convention presented a paper,
artwork or a musical piece.
“I wa^roud of them because we
were the only group in which every
one who went presented some
thing,” said Hobbs.
The students who attended
enjoyed not only the convention
itself, but also having evenings free
to explore Nashville.
“I enjoyed getting to know my
fellow classmates better,” said
Koschman, junior.
Others agreed that it was a good
chance to spend time with students
on campus that they do not normal
ly see.
“It was a relaxing weekend and
a good chance to get away, but I also
enjoyed being able to hear class
mates present their work as well,”
said Davis, senior.
Davis presented a display of her
artwork with the theme, “Ever-
changing,” showing a portrait of a
baby’s face, a painting of the artist
as a small child, a self-portrait and a
picture of her grandmother’s hands.
Koschman and the other students
who attended presented papers,
while Singer played an original
piece on the piano.
“I presented [my music] because
last year I presented something I
wrote and it went very well, so I
decided to try it again,” said Singer.
Students presented their papers,
artwork and musical pieces at vari
ous times Friday and Saturday
mornings.
“The students in Alpha Chi were
represented well by the presenta
tions,” said Singer.
Alpha Chi also received the Star
Chapter award of outstanding excel
lence.
Next year, Alpha Chi will be
attending a national convention in
St. Louis, Missouri,
Peterson staying at Gardner-Webb
Jared Smith
Pilot Staff
Over the past few weeks, students
have been wondering if Kirk
Peterson, assistant professor of
PEWSS, will be returning to teach
next semester. Peterson turned in his
resignation shortly after spring break
in hopes of purchasing a marina in
Connecticut.
Peterson had planned to purchase
the business with his wife, sister and
brother in-law. However, due to
some legal issues with the business,
Peterson decided to delay the pur
chase and ask for his job back at
Gardner-Webb.
His colleagues expressed concern
for his decision.
“We did not want to him to go to
begin with,” said Carol Blassingame,
associate professor and chair of
PEWSS. “He is a valuable faculty
member and colleague.”
After the mutual decision by the
University and Peterson to stay at
GWU, the professor will retum next
year teaching his ^ usual classes of
Health, Drugs and Alcohol,
Community Recreation, and
University 101. “I’ll be back, and even
though I don’t know what’s going to
happen. I’m just real excited to be at
Gardner-Webb,” said PetersoiL
Peterson knows that there was a
purpose for the events that allowed
him to stay at Gardner-Webb, and he
is grateftil to still be a part of the
University. “I was trying to do the
very best I could for my family, yet
sometimes we’ve got to pay atten
tion to God’s roadblocks,” said
Peterson. “We’re just proud
Gardner-Webb will take us back, and
we look forward to next year.”
“We are just happy to have to him
here,” said Blassingame.
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