N C SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
LIBRARY
THE N. C. ESSAY
VOLUME V, NO. Vin
NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
DECEMBER 18, 1970
Drama Department Meeting
by michaei s. ferguson
The Drama Department had its long-awaited meeting with President Ward, NCSA Foundation
Head Roger Hall, and Dr. James Semans, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, on December 10. The
meeting, held in the drama theater, was the result of a document drawn up by the students and
presented to the administrative figives, concerning a deep dissatisfaction with conditions in the
DramaDepartment. As might have been expected, the meeting was a mind^ggling session, replete
with a series of facts, figures, and realities that blunted the senses.
The meeting, which lasted three hours, began with Chris Rosania as Chairwoman and Marilyn
Mclnt]^ as Parliamentarian. The student-level delegates (including the Writing Dept.) were seated
in front-row positions, with their respective levels filling in the rows behind. A row behind the
students, the drama faculty sat. Out front, at a long table, sat the I»resident, Roger HaU and Dr.
Seamans.
Ward opened the session by stating that he wanted to clarify what had been called “a lack of
seriousness” on the part of the administration in relation to the document. He said that the document
“had been taken seriously” and explained that the reason for the delay of the meeting (a week and a
half later than the students had originally requested) was necessary in order to coordinate sdiedules
and gather material. (He also stated that local outside media, invited by the students, had been asked
not to attend, as the meeting was of a personal school nature). Ward also said that the document “had
far-reaching consequences for the school . . .”
Respect
He went on, however, to say that if the students expected respect from the administration, then
they too must ^ow respect. He cited a convocation which he had called several weeks ago which was
termed “important” and for which he had requested full student attendance. Few students showed.
The discussion then turned to the basic, hard economic realities of this school. Ward explained the
school’s relation to and dependence upon the state for financial assistance. He told of a number of
ix-oposals for the school’s future, all of which would be given support by the state. Included were air-
conditioning of the present theater, renovation of the theater, old cafeteria renovation, etc. Some
$«,000 of building funds from the state will be used to bring a closer physical association with the
Drama Dept, and the Dept, (rf Design and Production. Also Included in the drawing from this money
would be state ownership of some s^ool buildings, previously owned by Winston-Salem.
More immediate state funds were to be used for an additional speech and acting teacher(s) and the
proposal for a senior writing teacher and carpenters and seamstress.
Ward, ffxplaining the difficulty in raising funds, said that the school was currently working under a
budget which was drawn up two years ago.
He mentioned further that requests were being made of the state to helj) support summer programs
for all departments in the school. Lastly, Ward related that the longrange plans included the building
of a new drama theater, which would house performances by all schools. After saying that the
national economic situation was another reason for the shortage of funds, Ward said: “ Your (Drama
Dept.) needs are fully known and fully understood. Everything is being done to fulfill your needs.”
Specific Questions
The emphasis then shifted to more specific questions. Gregg Wilson and Delle Chatman, dept,
student representatives, directed questions to the administration. The first issue dealt with the
possibility of faculty-member increase. The students’ document stated that they felt the need for
eighteen faculty members is necessary or reasonable.” He further said that such a request was
presently financially impossible. This met with disagreement from the students and faculty. Ward
concluded by saying: “^ere, anywhere in the world, has so much happened in so short a time? ”
Roger Hall then spoke and praised the students and their proposals.
Dr. Semans followed with a statement concerning his interest in the school, his role as Chairman,
and his pleasure at having been invited to sit in on the meeti^.
The document itself was then examined. The classroom situation-and the requested 1 to 10 student-
faculty ratio-was discussed. Ward responded by telling the students that he did not see it as the
president’s responsibility to tell the faculty what the curriculum should be. He also said that he
wasn’t sure if 1 to 10 was “correct.” “If the faculty agrees, then I would consider it seriously,” he
added.
Steve Evans, a student delegate, raised the question of why student enrollment hadn’t been kept
proportionate to the budget. The president responded that the enrollment had to be kept “realistic”
(in terms of growth) as far as the state was concerned. It was then stated that there would be no
additional students in the Drama Dept, next year.
Tuition Raise?
The discussion kept on in that vein until Mr. Ward t old the students that their proposal request
could be partially realized, were they to pay an additional $300 tuition per semester. He explained
that music students pay more than any other in the school. Roger Hall then added that if the students
did so, it would be “an obligation” of tilie foundation to match the sum total the students raised.
This proposal was met with Initial indifference. Then, in a moment aptly dramatic, Mr. Ron
Pollock, Dean of Drama, rose and said; “I am distressed. These fine men have taken their time and
effort to come here and offer you a sound, honest, obviously well-thought out proposal and I have not
heard one word of thailks.” He received an ovation.
Although much heated debate followed, the students’ mood seemed to shift at that moment. Peter
Stambler, Creative Writing teacher, responded to the president by saying that a “mismatch” had
been created, that the students were being asked to pay for something they were already supposed to
be receiving. Barry Boys, acting instructor, followed with similar protest. Both
received ovations, somewhat mysteriously, as l}oth made statements in direct opposition to what Mr.
Pollock had said.
After nearly three hours, tension grew and the meeting lost what positive effect it had had. The
study of the document never got past the second point. The students adjourned, thanked the ad
ministration and then called a meeting to discuss what they had learned.
Joyce Reehling moved that the department study the tiiition-raise suggestion. Faculty members
gave their opinions, most in a kind of vague affirmation. Gregg Wilson objected on the basis that he
shouldn’t pay additional tuition for something he was supposs^ to be getting currently. The vote was
held and it was decided that the students would study the proposal as well as other possible alter
natives.
As the students filed out, the feeling seemed to be one of “get it while you can.” Somewhat
shellshocked, no one seemed to be quite sure of what they thought. A strange mood hung in the air,
one not immediately identifiable. Perhaps it was one of realization, perhaps defeat, but most
prevalent seemed to be a mood of... perplexity.
K3tat3t36XXX3tXXa6X3CKX36XX36300t3C363t3ta000t36Xaa0eatX306KaCX36Xa6K3tX3atXXX363CKXX36X3tXXXX3tX:
New G)iirses
by mary jane
Information on registration
and brief synopses of new course
offerings which opens second
semester to college students were
distributed Monday. Mrs. Fitz-
Simons is quick to praise the
teachers responsible for
organizing and researching
material for new courses.
Several courses in particular
seem to serve a self curiosity,
which though not absent at other
schools seems more intense at
N.C.S.A. Covering the scientific
aspect of the problem, Mr.
Corson will lead a study of hiunan
genetics-^ow genetics come to
characterize a society as well as
a human individual. The en
vironment of the Twentieth
Century will be explored
historically by Mr. Ruark in a
course that should fill one in on
those last chapters of history that
weren’t there yet or weren’t
covered well in exam schedule
haste. Dr. Evans will examine
the process of cultural change
and the possibility of man’s
planning future history. Courses
tau^t by Mr. Stone and Mr.
Hyatt will show how the impact of
new nineteenth Century ideas on
traditional ones produced the
religious and philosophical
climates of the TWentieth Cen
tury.
Specialty Offerings
Always a popular course with
students, the King James Bible
will be studied from a literary
viewpoint. Of particular interest
to Drama students is a course on
Shaw, Ibsen, Stridberg and
Tchekov. Film buffs will want to
join Mr. Sugg’s reorganized
presentation of the History of
Silent Film.
Mrs. Dreyer’s Journalism
class will reorganize into two
weekly sections; one con
centrating on feature writing and
the other on arts criticisin.
Students may take one section in
depth or two in survey.
Please be sure to check the list
received Monday for your ap
pointment time and place.
CLUE: Registration will be
taken this time in reverse
alphabetical order to give the
Ziolkowski’s and the Zablotny’s a
chance to sign up before the
Apgar’s and Aycock’s fill all the
rolls.
Following yonder star .
Capt. 8-Ball
by frederick avery
En Garde! Cue-up? Now, who
would have expecteid to find two
school musicians in the lower
depths of the Student Commons
Building battling it out over a
rectan^e of grem felt and some
colored balls at two o’clodi in the
morning, Thursday, December
ten? Perhaps, only tlie remaining
contestants in the first N.C.S.A.
Billiards Contest, perhaps not.
The “point” is, four games and
five hours after the contest
began, our school awarded five
dollars and a trophy to Larry
Glickman, oboist, and from
nebulous sources a pat on the
back for first runner-up, Steve
Sherrill, dedicated freak-
trombonist.
The proud fathers of the dor
mant formal ritual were MozeU
Duncan, Recreation Director,
and Dave Belnap, Director of
Housing, and Assistant Dean of
Students. In spite of rather late
publicity, their sporty instincts
were not in vain-the pool room
witnessed a comfortable com
pany of fifteen hungry entries at
9:00 p.m., December 9. The
agenda of competition proceeded
from eight pairs of stick-fiends
evolved four, then two, and
finally the aforementioned
hungriest of the hungry.
This healthy splurge deserves
credit if for no otter reason than
that it was a “together hap
pening” within our school’s
somewhat untogether en
vironment. More still, however,
the Recreation Department
seems to be on a general sports
fertility kick. Dave Belhap,
beaming with inspirational
pregnancies, said N.C.S.A. could
very well be the proud father of
Volley Ball and Ping Pong teams
come next semester. It’s really
up to you “Mothers” that could
dig getting behind the nets, to get
this together and do your thing.
HAPPY
NEW
YEAR
January 6, The Feast of the Epiphany, Twelfth Night, or what you will, is the commemoration of
the day the Wiseman brought their gifts to Jesus. Not conmionly celebrated in this country, it is the
focal point of Oie C^istmas season in many other parts of the globe.
It was for a celebration on the 6th of January, 1601, that Shakespeare originally wrote “Twelfth
Night.” So it is entirely fitting that this madcap romp should be performed again on Twelfth Night,
1971. To this end Barry Boys is transporting his cast to Renolda House for special performances
January 6 and 7.