Page 54 - TheGoldBug1971-72

PAGE 2 THE GOLD BUG JANUARY 1972 Lightner: Jan. Term more innovative by Nellie Arrington Dr. James Lightner, director of January women in American literature, and ex- Term, said he has been very pleased with the perimental art. Other teachers consented to take program this year in an interview at the end of an over-enrollment, such as in the journalism the term's second week. workshop, innovations in teaching, and home He felt the program is definitely better than it buying and building courses, according to the has been in the previous two years. "I think director we've got more innovative courses this year than whne the calendar was Dr. Lightner's work, we've ever had before ...I think more professors he said all events were created by students have gotten in the philosophy of the thing to the through a student committee on Jan. Term degree that they are creating courses that are activities. The director has talked to students, more innovative." Dr. Lightner noted there is a who he said seem to enjoy going to things. "At "more refined" activity program this Jan. the same time Ithink there's a virtue in not having Term, which he attributes to the cooperation of so many things going on on campus, in that various campus groups creating events. He said people need the relaxation and they enjoy the since the program is now "a full part of the less hectic pace of Jan. Term .... You don't have college curriculum as opposed to an experiment, to go to everything, and if you don't want to, it's a people are thinking more of planning things for good opportunity to read that novel you haven't Jan. Term." been reading .... It seems to me if anyone is bored Dr. Lightner said the freshmen requirement of on this campus, it's of their own doing." taking two Jan. Terms did not affect enrollments Most events have been well attended, noted at all, although it was anticipated that it would. Dr. Lightner, who has tried to spot-check various "The junior class is by far the largest percentage activities. "At the coffee hour we've pulled about represented, and the freshman class is the 150 each week. ...Mr. Bachmann said they smallest.. ..We anticipated an 800-850 enrollment couldn't handle any more in the Davis Room for and eighty percent of the freshman class. As it the film series there. That's about seventy-five Two Jan. term events which were well-attended were was, we have sixty percent of the freshmen and people for a series of films that are not well the student-directed one act plays. seventy to eighty percent of the other classes." known. The SGA films certainly draw crowds," "Almost every one of the courses had a nearly "I think it's a good thing for Western Maryland Stoner relaxed full enrollment this year ,,-, commented Dr. and I gather most of the students do too, or else Lightner. The four main courses from which he be here," Dr. Lightner com- they wouldn't said he had to shift students were 1972 elections in sociological perspective, western literature, mented. "We have one of the largest enrollments of any college around here, which (percentage) by Francois Derasse means we must be doing something right." Dennis Stoner, wearing blue jeans, a green sweater, and a woolen cap, walked on Alumni stage on this cold sixteenth of January with a Fierens excels stool in one hand and a cup of hot tea in the other. He placed the stool down, put the cup on top, by Jeff Bell Deaf program picked up his guitar which was on the floor in The College Concert Series presented front of the microphone, passed the strap over Guillermo Fierens, famed classical guitarist, in his head, and faced the two hundred Western concert Friday, January 14, in Alumni Hall. Well Maryland College students that were sitting in over 300 attended. As the lights dimmed, a hush certified the theatre. A spotlight was aimed at him from fell over the audience. You could have heard a the right creating a large shadow on the left part pin drop. The evening's performer took his place 9f the backdrop. In a chair in the center of rnamstage, with his left The first thing he said into the microphone was foot on a stool, holding his guitar. The program in education of the deaf at how cold it was in the theatre and that he had a As he began to play, you could sense his tense- Western Maryland College, Westminster, has cold, thus the reason for the cup of hot tea. He ness in the few mistakes he made and in his received the approval of the Council on proceeded to explain his first song, "Lost on the frantic style. He was not helped by the audience. Education of the Deaf, the College recently Highway," which was about one of his friends People continued to walk in and sit down after he announced. who traveled a great deal around the country. had begun, making noise that, within the concert CED is the certifying agency for teachers and whue he sang this song, he first noticed tile atmosphere, sounded like shattering glass ..This approves· teacher preparation programs in shadow which was over-looking him. After the did not help the composure of the artist. And yet, deafness. This is the second year of the program song he said he was afraid his shadow may somehow, Mr. Fierens managed to make it on a full-time basis at Western Maryland and one "clobber" him. He quickly overcame his "fear" sound beautiful, at least to my ears. The opening of the evaluators commented that it is unusual and commented that it was too bad his shadow set was highlighted by his playing of Suite NO.1 for accreditation to be granted so soon. Some could not play the bass. The twenty-five-year-old for Lute by J. S. Bach. programs, in existence for many yars, have not Dennis Stoner acted very relaxed-he joked, When he returned to the stage after the in- received approval. explained his songs while "doodling" .on his termission, Mr. Fierens was composed and According to Britt M. Hargraves, director of guitar, and occasionally took a sip of hot tea. relaxed. He turned out excellent. performances the program, the college was approved because After the intermission, Dennis Stoner, nor- of compositions by Torroba and ViIla-Lobos. In it fulfilled every requirement and had no areas of mally plays the piano to accompany his songs, spi te of his own tenseness and the bad manners weakness. The application did not have to be but the piano which was on stage was missing the of certain people in the audience, Guillermo returned for further amplification or correction pedal that makes it "sound cool by blending the Fieens turned in an excellent performance. of problem areas, he said, and went through on chords together," so he picked up his guitar and the first submission. continued his concert. Coeds to stand up Western Maryland is in its fifth year of a Dennis Stoner walked off stage after-his last cooperative plan with the Maryland School for song amid clapping and cheering from the the Deaf. This original program was part time 'audience, as the spotlight went "dead." The by Nellie Arrington and experimental. Dr. David M. Denton, theatre lights slowly became brighter, lighting a Ann Coffey said WMC women must start to superintendent of Maryland School for the Deaf, frozen audience, stand u~ 'for themselves in both academic and conceived the cooperative idea and worked with social situations and interest in a local chapter of Western. Maryland administrators and faculty to the National Organization for Women (NOW) get it started. That program started in order to The Gold Bug spoke in an ad hoc meeting 17. of a capacity meet needs of the Maryland school, which faced of that group was raised as three representatives a growing population of deaf children without audience in Decker Januarv She noted that women excel over men in every enough certified teachers to educate them. As the program continues to be Successful at paper measure used to academically evaluate western Maryland, applications are received Western Maryland students. Mrs. Coffey feels from all over the United States and from outside women are not encouraged to make full use of the country. The college has added to its faculty their intellectual facilities by not being informed a research scientist in the field, Dr. McCay of available opportunities, She said women tend Vernon, and an educator to administer the to choose from a limited group of majors pr-ogram, Mr. Hargraves, Mr. Hargraves says tradi tionally elected by women. Mrs. Coffey said that one reason for interest in the program is that WMC faculty members seem uninclined to Westerri Maryland will accept deaf persons. For academically encourage women students, many years, he points out, deaf people could not possibly because of the women's attitude. take part in programs for the deaf and many Enteredassecond~ naterial at the Westminster, The academic situation can be remedied, said teacher preparation programs still do not accept ::tlml pest oftke, 21157. Seoond dass S':""" Mrs. Coffey, by more in classes, seeking honor by them. in the field ~~:.~:.~ action aggressive women in participating According to various publications studies L~ii:.~::.t""""","",reIIect papers and special school. projects, and of deafness, one half of all teachers at schools for enrolling in graduate the deaf are not now certified. Mr. Hargraves Sue Head said about thirty girls showed m- noted that there were 80 teachers on campus last terest in opening a local NOW chapter which Addresi; mail to Box394,WesternMaryland College, would include townspeople. An organizational summer working toward certification, most of ¥ks1:Jrin§ter, Maryland2t1S7. meeting will be held at 7:30 Monday, January 24, them employed in the field although not qualified. These teachers in the Delt clubroom. and from Canada. were from 30 states