Daily Helmsman The
Friday, April 8, 2011
Pastner’s Secret Weapon for Sale “Lucky” tie from St. Jude helped Tigers to tournament; now returning favor on eBay
Vol. 78 No. 106
see page 8
Independent Student Newspaper of The University of Memphis
www.dailyhelmsman.com
Groups to continue protests for living wage for UM employees BY Kyle LaCroix News Reporter During a rally protesting University of Memphis employee wages, a small group of protesters will deliver over 1,000 postcards from students, campus workers and community members to Shirley Raines’ office today. The protest, sponsored by the Progressive Student Alliance, Workers Interfaith Network and
United Campus Workers, will take place outside of the University Center at 11:30 a.m. “We are pushing for a living wage for U of M workers,” said Kyle Kordmeier, WIN administrator. “They are paid $8 an hour and aren’t even given free parking. They can be forced to park as much as two blocks away.” He said people who work a 40-hour week should be able to afford to live, and “that’s why we
want them to be paid the living wage of $11.62.” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam recently proposed a 1.6 percent pay raise for all U of M employees in the 2012 state budget. U of M President Shirley Raines said in an email to the student body Wednesday that she was pleased The University has avoided wholesale layoffs, despite difficult economic times, and that, “salary increases remain our top
Acting up
priority while continuing to keep people employed.” Tom Smith, organizer for UCW, said an equal-dollar raise would be more helpful for those with lower wages. “It would be better for the whole campus if the hundreds who make less and, in some cases, are in poverty be brought closer to the living wage,” Smith said. Today’s demonstration will begin with a prayer, followed by
community leaders, staff, faculty and students speaking about why they feel the living wage issue is important, according to Smith. “I hope that it shows Dr. Raines the depth of the community and campus support for the living wage and how incredibly important it is that she shows leadership in leading the way to paying all faculty a living wage,” Smith said.
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Rally, page 3
UM students, alumni and faculty take to the stage in classic plays opening at Memphis playhouses this weekend
Richard III
U of M alumnus Ron Gephart (left) plays Willy Loman in New Moon Theatre Company’s production of the Arthur Miller classic “Death of a Salesman” at Theatreworks in Midtown Memphis.
Death of a Salesman BY Chris Daniels News Reporter
University of Memphis junior Jeryl Van Fossan said he learns more about who he is when he’s acting as someone else. Van Fossan plays Bernard in New Moon Theatre Company’s production of “Death of a Salesman,” Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1949 play about Willy Loman’s quest and ultimate failure to achieve the American dream, which premieres tonight at 7:30 at TheatreWorks. “It’s a tragic tale about a man who is trying to make it on top as a salesman and wishes the same for his two sons,” he said. Van Fossan’s character, Bernard, is a friend of Willy‘s son and viewed as a “nerd” who works hard, receives the top
grades in class and becomes a successful attorney. “I (relate) to Bernard in quite a few ways. I’m very much like him, how he’s always worked really hard in school,” he said. “It’s really fun to play a role where you have someone who can make something of himself.” Van Fossan, who has been involved with theater since he was a freshman in high school, said acting is all about passion, and actors cannot go into a role without learning something about themselves. “(In) theater, your body is your instrument,” he said. “Your emotions, everything working within you, connects up with this being — this character — that is written. You become this character.” Van Fossan said he would not be the
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Salesman, page 5
unfolds all too well in reality.” Boller also takes his passion for theater into the classroom. He said basic acting skills help students communicate, which is essential to public speaking. Boller often assigns students monologues to learn and perform in front of the class. “(With a monologue) you have to be able to understand characterization very well,” he said. “When they deliver a monologue, it’s more than just read-
University of Memphis associate marketing professor Gregory Boller leads something of a double life. But when he changes out of his day clothes and into his tights, the proverbial “S” on his chest stands for Shakespeare. Boller, who’s been acting for 12 years, will star in Theatre Memphis’ production of William Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” which opens today. see Richard III, page 5 Boller said although his career revolves around marketing, theater has always been a passion of his. “Everyone has to have an art of passion, something they do to have a creative outlet,” he said. “Theater is mine.” He said when his two daughters were young, he wasn’t able to participate in plays like he wanted. But now that they are older, he can commit to demanding rehearsals. “Richard III” centers on the feuding royal English families York and Lancaster. Richard’s family, the Yorks, defeat the Lancasters in a war, and when Richard’s brother, King Edward IV, takes the throne, Richard conspires to seize power. “The play is pretty contemporary, given what’s happening in the news. On one blush, leaders appear charming and charismatic, but on the other hand, they are ruthless villains,” Boller said. “We love to say, ‘How did this happen? How did they become leaders?’ But we stand idly by Meghan Lisi (front) as Lady Anne Neville, wife and let it happen. We never of Richard III, is threatened by Greg Boller, seem to learn, despite repeat- playing Richard III, in “Richard III” at Theatre ed instances of history. This all Memphis in the Next Stage, April 8-23.
courtesy of Randall Hartzog
by Casey Hilder
BY Erica Horton News Reporter