EILBER: “OPTIMISM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED’
Page 3
By Jeff Cherry
Midway through the second
quarter. Director Charles Eilher
gives the '83-'84 school year
high marks, saying that his
"optimism has been confirmed".
In a recent interview,
Eilber discussed the term so
far. his role within the school
and his hopes for the future.
Eilber pointed out that the
absence of construction is a
marked contrast with last year.
Gesturing towa?rd the windows and
the gathering dusk, he said,
"Last year at this time, four
hundred students were walking to
the cafeteria — three blocks
away".
Despite improvements : in
curriculum, especially in the
areas of biology and independent
study^ Eilber noted that he
wants the search for "innovative
ways of teaching and learning"
to continue. Future projects
include enlarging the
independent study and Mentorship
programs and increasing the
number of seminars and
interdisciplinary studies.
This year has also seen a
major reorganization of the
administration, which included
.the creation of an office of
principal. Eilber says the
change was made at his request
as he saw the school evolve.
Now that "I have a principal who
sits with the deans". Eilber
devotes more time to
policymaking, long range
planning, and off campus
activities.
Though he now ■ travels
statewide to work with
supportive organizations. Eilber
says "I kinda miss more contacts
with the faculty and students".
Eilber summarizes the state
of the school as "Healthy; It
has a feeling of productive
tension... and the sense of
community is still here and
growing". However, he points
out that community "doesn't mean
that everything is alwavs
lovey-dovey. We're always free
to discuss our disagreements".
As for the new class of
juniors, Eilber says that, as in
other years, he is amazed'at, the
quality of the students and
their wide varietv of
lie Music Chaiienges Students
By Lillian Rinker
Singing robots at NCSSM?
We11...not quite! This year,
for the first time, the music
department has offered a one
semester course entitled
"Electronic Music". Presently,
the course is taught by Steve
Hicken and there^ are thirteen
students enrolled. More than
half of the students have had no
formal training in music, but
this is really no hendrance. as
the ability to read music is not
required. In class, students
listen to different pieces of
electronic music. learn the
technical usage of their
instrument, and discuss many
different aspects of both music
and technique. The course deals
primarily with composition, the
major goal being to develop the
ability to compose solely with
electronic devices.
The type of music composed
is called "musique concrete"
which is the recording of sounds
that are later altered using
tape techniques such as editing
and employing equalizers to
change frequency relationships
within the music. The
individual student's grade is
based upon how well he or she
can manipulate sounds. The
student must demonstrate within
his piece an attempt to
integrate his sounds into a
coherent musical statement. The
production of these tapes is
tedious, but the students have
done well with a limited amount
of time. Of course the amount
of outside work is determined by
each individual student.
Many people think that
electronic music is equivalent
to the music presented on such
programs as MTV. Technically,
they are correct because
synthesizers are used to produce
much of MTV's music. but
according to the previous
definitions, this music is not
"classical" electronic music
because it does not show
awareness of musical
implications. NCSSM's
electronic music class does a
lot more than just rearrange
Beethoven's symphonies!
Certain instruments have
special qualities which should
be used to the advantage of the
composer, and this instrument is
no exception. It is capable of
producing sounds which no other
instrument in the world can
produce. Buchla's point is that
if a violin sound is desired,
why not just play a violin?
There is no need to build a
machine which sounds like a
backgrounds. "It seems to
work." he says. "I think that
the students really want this
school to work for the sake of
the school."
future hold
Last week Eilber^ is
What does the
for NCSSM?
attended a national forum of
educators in Indianapolis, where
NCSSM was among several
exemplary schools showcased.
Because of the growing
concern for education
demonstrated in conferences such
as this, Eilber feels confident
that support for the school will
continue at the state and
national levels despite next
year's elections. He says he
has "solid evidence of support"
from President Reagan through
contacts with Board of Trustees
member Dr. George Keyworth.
Reagan's science and technology
advisor.
Appeals Explained
By Kim Windley
Does the appeal system at
NCSSM really work?
After being leveled,
students may wonder what
alternatives they have besides
room restriction. If a student
feels that he has been leveled
unjustly, he can always turn to
the school's appeal system.
When NCSSM's appeal system was
designed, it was designed with
the innocent student in
mind--and that's what the appeal
system is all about. It gives
those students who may have been
unjustly accused a chance to say
so.
To file an appeal, students
must obtain the proper form in
the office of the Dean of
Students. An appeal must be
filed within 48 hours of
receiving the judicial action.
If the judicial action is a
level one, a conference is then
held with the student, the RA,
and Dean Benzaquin. If the
judicial action is a level two,
the appeal is made to the
Principal, Borden Mace, instead
of Dean Benzaquin. The student
is notified in writing as to
whether the discipline decision
has been upheld or overturned.
According to Dean
Benzaquin. "Alot of times the
student knows he's wrong. He's
just upset with the way the
matter was handled." In this
case, she urges students to have
a talk with the RA involved and
to try and settle any
mlsunderstandincrs.