Page 36 - ThePhoenix1996-97

Saturday, October 19, 1996 - Page 4 NEWS Gospel Choir heats .,up To be or not to be Continued from page 3 versities. And as we do stand on (he verge of cool Westminster night every person who was convinced that their a new millennium, we are faced with 2 clear vote was worthless would have actually choices. One is to give up, in both our selves, voted, elections results, and, indeed, history and our government, and refuse to accept the Mother Nature might be ready tocool off, efit. itself, would have turned out much differ- responsibility of being in a democracy; we but several area performers are just heating "It's a real pleasure to listen to them ently. can choose to lay down and die, which, of up and will be red hot for the October 26 fall do their thing and the audience is just go- The second major reason people give for course, is the much easier option. I however gospel extravaganza at Western Maryland ing to love them," he said, noting the. not voting is the idea that there are so many believe that none of those tasks would be College. group has been harmonizing for almost 40 problems out there, that no matter who you impossible to overcome if the citizens of this The concert, one of two annually which years. vote for, nothing will ever change. A sort of nation would only realize that when people benefits Common Ground on the Hill, a non- The VersaTiles also join Michael's doomsday type of vision. Such thinking ob- try, no task is impossible. The chalJenges we profit traditionalartsand musiccenter inresi- group, Walt Michael and Co., as well as viously drives people away from the poll- faceas a nation would be mucheasier toover- dence at WMC, begins at 7:30 p.m. in The Sisters in Harmony, The Nichols Sis- ing places. come if people join together and attack the Alumni Hall. Admission is $10 in advance, ters, and others. In my estimation, this is the reason that common threats we all share, while fortify- $12 at the door for adults, and $8 for seniors Michael's group, a well-known and re- is mas! disturbing, in regards to explaining ingthose positive qualities which unite us all. over 65. Children under 12are free. spected folk music ensemble which has away a lack of responsibility on the part of I! sounds like a difficult task. And it is. But 1 Also, proceeds from this year's concert performed throughout the United States, the American voter. It seems to indicate that believe that with hard work, and faith in our will benefit the Carroll County Mass Choir, Canada and Europe, will be highlighting people have given up and lost faith not only own abilities, we, as a nation, can tackle the which is preparing for a Christmastime cul- some of its original works. in the democratic process, but also in them- future, and make this nation a better place tural and musical exchange tour of Austria. "Gospel galore," he said. "There's a lot selves. I am convinced that if as much en- than it already is. And it can all begin at the The 25-member mass choir, including of good stuff going on right here and we're ergy were put into finding solutions to this individual level, when that one complainer members of the Union Street Gospel going to show it off." countries problems as there is put into com- stops and takes responsibility, and says, "I Jubileers and the WMC Gospel Choir, was The Sisters in Harmtrny is a four-per- plaining about them, unbelievable progress am going to contribute. I will cast a vote. invited for a Dec. 18-23 tour of Vienna. son group from this area and Baltimore, could be made. But this cannot be done with Once we learn that, and once such an atti- The mass choir will host its own musical and the Nichols Sisters features three vo- the current attitude of many American citi- tude becomes the rule, and not the exception, fundraiser November 3, at 6 p.m., at West- calists from New Windsor. Kellie Nichols zens and voters. we, the United States of America, will be minster Church of the Nazarene. is a student at WMC, while sister Kim is a Instead, we must allow ourselves to em- ready for any challenge. If we only try. The Jubilcers, a IS-member group from 1996 graduate of the college. brace the idea of optimism and hope for the Ty Unglebower is a new writer and is in the Union Street United Methodist Church The youngest sister in this outstanding future of the United States. We, not unlike the class of 2000. in Westminster and recognized as one of the group is an area high school student, Hamlet, are faced with many daunting ad- most talented groups in the area, will be fea- Michael added. tured at the fall extravaganza along with the Common Ground on the Hill is a non- WMC Gospel Choir. Both groups, as well profit traditional arts and music center as the mass choir, are directed by Eric Byrd, formed by Mr. Michael, a Western Mary- a WMC music lecturer. land alumnus, in conjunction with the col- Also making another Common Ground lege to simply bring people together appearance are the VersaTiles, a four-man through the arts. group with an acapella, street corner-like The Center sponsors concerts through- sweet sound, according to Common Ground out the year and in the summer offers a founder Walt Michael. one-week institute featuring a variety of The group was a late addition to Com- workshops on music, dance, visual arts, mon Ground's spring 1996 gospel concert and related topics. and was such a huge hit that Michael made Courtesy of Public Information sure he booked them for the October ben- Deaf students upset about availability of TTYs Continued from page I rarely travels alone. She says that if she were is deaf or if that the call is legitimate unless alone, she would "look out more." an officer goes to the scene. "Deaf people are used to it," said Candy "Honestly, there's nothing we can do," Todd, 26, another graduate student. ''They said Wayne Short, one of the seven Campus know where to go...They've always been Safety officers. limited." PUIILICINFORMAT!ON The location of the call is made through But is that limitation always inevitable? MOTe than 2,500 people packed Gill Center for the laser, light and sound extravaganza, Carroll the use of a caller identification system Last week when the power went out, it County's first laser show. The finale to WMCs Sept. 28 Day of Illumination also featured an within D.o.eS. phones. However, if the "scared all the deaf students, including me," opening performance by illusionist Scott Graci '95 and his assistant Jennifer Brown '95 officer is the only one on-duty and he or she said Leticia Arellano, a deaf student attend- Continued from page I $250,000 endowment for scholarships for is not inthe office, the call isthen redirected ing evening classes. "We felt as if we were The six-element campaign also high- students from WMC-Budapest, which was to the cellular phone and can then not be deaf and blind. It was a terribleexperience!" lights the annual fund, undergraduate and established in 1993 as the only American traced because the system has no way of She was with a group of deaf students in graduate scholarships, and renovations to college campus in Hungary. The first class retaining previous calls. Lewis Hall who could do nothing but feel academic buildings and residence halls. The of students, who took two years of WMC Short has caller i.d. at home that can save their way around and waitfor Campus Safety goals also include additional endowed fac- courses in Budapest, arrived in late August phone numbers which he says costs "only to come with flashlights. ulty chairs and programs, a special endow- to finish theirundergraduate degrees inWest- like $3 or $4 a month." However, he is un- Arellano is another one of several deaf ment for library acquisitions, and upgrad- minster. sure about the possibility of such a system students who sees the need for more TTYs ing campus technology. "We know where we are going," Dr. working at WMC with the ROLM phones. on campus. Of the $40 million the College plans to Chambers said. "We are building upon tradi- Sergeant Chris Collins, one ofthe two Cam- If she were in an emergency situation, raise, almost $22 million is earmarked for tions that we have enjoyed at this institution pus Safety supervisors said the matter would alone, and needed to use one, she said she physical plant projects, while more than $8 for many decades. Now is the time for us to have to be researched. would be "stuck and scared" if Decker was million is geared toward current programs move to a higher level of selectivity, quality, "There need to be more TTY phones not open. and nearly $10 million for the College's and recognition. And that is something we bere," said Collins. "We are supposed to be Arellano said there should be TTYs in growing endowment. are determined to do." one of the best institutions in the country the library computer lab "where many deaf The science center is estimated at $12 The college, founded in 1867 and named for teaching the hearing-impaired ..." students are around." millionand willhouse the biology andchem- after the WesternMaryland Railroad, was the Collins also expressed the need for more Satu Kujala, a 28-year-deafstudent, said istry departments. The new facility will ad- first coeducational college south of the Ma- emergency phones on campus, saying there she would "prefer that all the telephones all join Lewis Recitation Hall, which was built son-Dixon Line and the first in Maryland to should be one close to every parking lot. around [campus] have TTY." in 1914 and is one of the admit women. It is the distance one has to travel to a So far, Michael Webster's reply is, "1 oldest collegiate science buildings still in Western Maryland, one of only 161 Se- TTY which bothers most deaf students. don't know how we could fix it." use, and a wing added in 1966 to officially lective Liberal Arts Colleges in the United ''The only building that has TTY is Decker," Solutions are on the way though, accord- form Lewis Hall of Science. Areas in Lewis States, enrolls more tban 1,200 undergradu- said Eva Ayers, a 23-year-old graduate stu- ing to Collins. In the meantime, the prob- vacated by biology and chemistry will be ate students and 1,100full-time andpart-time dent at WMe "So if I'm in another build- lem with the red phone outside Campus converted into spaces for modern, students in its evening and summer master's ing and want to call someone so they can Safety still remains. electronically-equipped classrooms and fac- degree programs, including the nation's larg- escort me, I couldn't do it." She says she The one-minute delay isunsettling. "You ulty offices for mathematics, physics and est graduate program in deaf education. used to cany an alarm that makes an ear- get more nervous and the more nervous you other academic departments. Courtesy of Public Information piercing noise when set off, but now she can't think," commented Kujala. Also, the campaign will establish a