PAGE 2 - N.C. ESSAY
Commentary And Perspective
by mjf
Man sometimes tends to look at
his history in terms of five-year
spans. Conveniently, NCSA has
now been in existence for ap
proximately five years. Time now
to reflect somewhat upon that
time. And to also look ^ead.
The North Carolina School of
the Arts began as a unique, ex
citing experiment: a school
where young, gifted, aspiring
artists could come and learn and
grow, while (hopefully) by
passing many of the pitfalls of the
standard, conventionalized
(institutionalized) high-school
and or college situation. In some
ways, Uie school has sufficently
serveid that purpose.
As we live and operate in a
society which demands some
kind of (nebulous) affirmative
stamping on its products, it was
natural that the school be con
cerned about receiving ac
creditation. In the minds of
many, that label gives us ac
ceptability. Despite the
questionable meaning and value
^ accreditation (especially for a
school of this nature), it was
necessary - for survival - that
NCSA receive “official” ap
proval.
Which we did, shortly after the
school complete its fifth year.
So be it. We are approved,
stamped, ok’d, etc. That was a
primary goal. It was necessary.
Now what?
This is the most pressing
question NCSA - its ad
ministrators, faculty, staff and
students - faces in the next hyper-
important five-year segment.
The priorities, objectives, the
needs of this school - and its
students - must be fully un-
Photo by Barcelona
derstood, articulated, and
fulfilled. To keep NCSA “unique”
and to allow it to become a living,
breathing reality rather than an
interesting test-tube, the
necessities must be met in the
spirit with which this school was
founded.
There are serious problems at
this school, on all levels. Perhaps
the greatest single area of con
cern is assuring the student that
he will receive absolutely the best
training in his field that the
school can offer and that his
experience at NCSA will be of the
utmost benefit to his growth as an
artist and as a human being. To
be an essential alternative to the
young artist, to be the unique
school we claim to be, it is im
perative that students receive the
most complete training possible.
And if we can’t cut rigid stan
dards, we have to face it. But to
provide this opportunity for
students seems to be NCSA’s
greatest objective in the future. If
&e school does not do this, it has
failed.
As a five-year school, NCSA
has developed, in some areas,
rapidly and successfully. On a
whole, the school has much to be
proud of, numerous ac
complishments to its credit. But
to keep from dropping off, in
stead of resting on laurels and
thereby dwindling into ordinary
status, NCSA should look to the
future, conscious of its mistakes,
and cognizant of where it should
be going.
Receiving accreditation is no
longer an issue. Being a full-time
vital school is. If we want true
respect, we have to be a helluva
lot more than just respectful.
i
Just Another
Season
by mjf
Unlike previous years, 1970
wasn’t a watershed year for rock
and roll. There were good records
released, to be sure, but
something was missing. It cer
tainly wasn’t like those days back
when we were getting great new
things laid on us daily (or so it
seemed). At any rate, this is a list
of the “^st” records I heard this
year. It’s more of a survey of the
things I dug (and, by virtue of
exclusion, toose I didn’t get to
hear or into). It is in no way in
tended to be definitive and
shouldn’t be read as such. You’ll
probably disagree with some
things, but that is as it should be.
The “best ten” are listed in no
particular order or preference.
New Morning - Bob Dylan
Gasoline Alley - Rod Stewart
Workingman’s Dead and
American Beauty - Grateful
Ocdd
After The Goldmsh - Neil Young
All Things Must Pass - George
Harrison
Sweet Baby James - James
Taylor
Loaded - Velvet Underground
Plastic Ono Band • John Lennon
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out - Rolling
Stones
Lick My Decals Off, Baby -
Captain Beefheart & His Magic
Band
Continued On Page 4
The Clue
by A. Marsh
Part Six
I burst into the bedroom like a
fortified tank. The two nuns were
violently shaking Auntie Climaxe
who wobbled on her feet, eyes
shut and drooling.
“AD right, sisters, what’s the
row?” I demanded, wielding my
weapon.
“I’m afraid your aun
tie she’s burst a blood vessel in
her brain.”
“I don’t understand,” I said.
“Why are you shaking her so”?
“It’s good for her circulation,”
explained Sister Millicent. “We
all need a bit of artery
rejuvenation once in a while.”
I ordered them to halt and they
swiftly retired to a comer of the
room. Auntie was slowly coming
to.
“They killed—Auntie
mumbled.
“She doesn’t know what she’s
saying,” screamed the nuns.
They edged towards the wide
door.
“Just a minute, girls,” I said
sternly. But they burst into a run,
their heels thundering down the
staircase. I gave my aunt a rough
slap on toe face to revive her and
took off after the fugitives.
WeU, those nuns ran like bats
out of Hell (if you’ll pardon the
expression). I was hot ( in pur
suit).
I chased them out of the
mansion, through the rear
grounds, and into the woods
separating the house from the
nunnery. In the coniferous
darkness, I aknost lost their
tracks. But a thin bit of Nun’s
garment had snagged on a wild
bush and I instantly ascertained
their present course. I at last
caught sight of them, nuining
pell-mell up the abbey steps. I did
not hesitate but for a second, then
(still carrying my weapon)
plummeted forward.
Fast as a bowling ball, I hurled
up the stairs and into the camp of
my enemy. The hallway was
dimly lighted by an electric
crucifix. Danger lurked
everywhere. I advanced with
caution.
-To Be Concluded Next Issue!
VlV ITISrV Ineth The infirmary....
uy Ilkuy WCIII “Uvlng” up to its expectations?
“Do you think there’s a chance, doctor?”
This question heard so often on television hospital dramas might
just as easily be asked about a certain functioning organ at the School
of the Arts, the infirmary.
Opinions sway from one spectrum to another. Some students believe
the infirmary is incredibly substandard. Others, less caustic, have
nevertheless stated legitimate complaints. An even greater portion, as
is often the case, has preferred to remain silent. Yet these questions
must certainly met and answered. Has any progress been made
and just what can a student expect in way of treatment at the in
firmary?
In answer to the first: yes, some progress has been made. Of course,
more steps will be taken in the future. Money is a major factor. Being
in only its fifth year of existance, the School of toe Arts has un
derstandably had to bear a great financial burden. When all of toe arts
departments are clamoring for funds, toe demands of toe infirmary
are naturally set aside.
Yet plans are definitely underway. At present toe infirmary is
staffed by three, one registered nurse and two licensed practical
nurses. Plans for a doctor on campus or at least for a visiting doctor
are seriously imder consideration. At present, toe school is served by
doctors off-campus. However, appointments and transportation can
be arranged on campus wito toe school nurse. There are also nine
L.P.N. applicants being considered for a possible addition to toe staff.
Yet even an addition to toe present staff could hardly serve toe
school sufficiently for example a widespread epidemic were to
occur. There are only four rooms available wito three beds to a room.
Hopefully, major epidemics will be prevented. Certainly, N.C.S.A. is
not toe orUy school faced wito this situation. In comparison to many
otoer state schools we are equally equipped.
Injectable antibiotics are available but are naturally limited to use
prescribed by a physician. This is precautiona^ for a patient and in no
way is meant to impede recovery. This applies as well to penicillin
which will be administered orally only if toere are signs of infection. If
penicillin and certain otoer drugs are continually given, a patient may
develop a resistance to toe drag.
In addition to this, prescription drugs may be obtained through toe
infirmary at sometimes haft toe price one would pay locally. The
infirmary also provides students wito soups and fruit juices
throughout minor illnesses plus tranquilizers and intravenous glucose
in case (rf foodi>oisoning or mononucleosis. The infirmary is also
equipped and has provided traction when necessary tous relieving
students of excessive hospital bills.
It must be realized that because of toe extensive dance training here
toe infirmary is required to provide even more services th^ toe
average college infirmary. This includes heat packs, whirlpools and
paraffin baths. These treatments are especially time consuming. The
twenty minutes spent in a whirlpool is only a fractional amount of toe
time consumed. After each bato toe tub must be tooroughly scrubbed
for later use. This preparation is sometimes forgotten.
Anotoer curious factor in this case is toe number of students treated
daily at toe infirmary. On toe average, this amounts to seventy-nine
students. In proportion to toe size of tl^ school, toese figures seem
outrageous. Yet toey also serve as an indication for a more intensive
program of guidance and psychiatric help. Emotional and physical
problems often occur simultaneously. If more of this guidance were
provided, students wito basically physical illnesses could toen be
immediately and more efficiently treated at toe infirm^.
Again we must consider what we as an arts school desire most. At
toe moment toe Drama Department has made a number of demands
and toey certainly do not st^d alone in suggestions for departmental
improvement. Many students would prefer to ^ a toeatre or library
buUt long before a new infirmary. So toe question remains: Where do
our priorities lie? The infirmary may not be speeding along but it’s
certainly far from dead.
by Bonnie Stone
Theft
Someone is a thief, whetoer as a joke, as revenge, as an outlet for
boredom this thief has struck throu^out toe campus and has left toe
inevitable calling cards of suspicion. One toen begins to ask who
steals, who sneaks, who robs, and this suspicion spreads unW any
student is eyed warily by toose who have been toe victim.
The Book End is an obvious victim. Whey not steal bedspreads for
your room or sneak candles out of toe dii^lay w^dow? ^y buy a
book when you can take it free, and if a delivery is left in front of toe
store, why not lift all $30 worto? Why— because you toen are a thief, a
person not to be trusted, and your limited supply of self'^espect has
sunk lower.
As “Manager” of toe store, I regret each loss, but toen I’m told that
flowers were stolen before toey could be delivered, Christmas gifts
were stolen before toe packages were picked up, point shoes and
jewelry are regularly stolen from toe dressing rooms, taxi tickets
from toe infirmary, dishes and silverware from the cafeteria,
ashtrays from toe loiuige, billfolds from purses, newspapers from toe
stand, etc.... Is every student eitoer a thief or a ^ent observer of otoer
toieves? Must I watch each customer wito a doubt in my mind and
move all valuable merchandise out of reach?
Yes, unless you will stop one anotoer. Unless you will resent toe thief
who gives all students a bad name, unless you feel that toe real toeft is
toe loss of one’s own worto and say, as I do now, please value yourself
more highly toan a 5 cent newspaper or even a $10 pair of shoes.
*x
I N.C. ESSAY STAFF, 1970: |
Michael J. Ferguson
Katoy Fitzgerald iij:
Ed Schloss i;'!
Mary Beto Zablotny
Sam Barcelona ji;!
Alexander Marsh
Alan Zingale, Cortlandt Jones, Rich Hall,
Byron Tidwell, Fred Avery, Jon Thomps9n, Mary Jane Whiteij
Advisor Donna Jean Dreyer
Business Manager Tom Kovaleski
Hovering Guru Buzbee
Publisher N.C. School of toe Arts
Editor
Managing Editor
Copy Editor
Feature Editor
Photographer
Arts
Reporters