The ROTUNDA LONGWOOD COLLEGE
Vol. 70, No. 1
October 8, 1990
Farmvflle, VA
Paule Marshall Awarded John Dos Passos Prize Longwood will award its 10th John Dos Passos Prize for Literature to Paule Marshall, of Richmond, whose novels and short stories explore her Caribbean island leritage and the challenges •nrountered by immigrants and their descendants, as well as the complex relationship of AfricanAmericans to their heritage. Ms. Marshall, currently professor of English and creative writing at Virginia Commonwealth University, will come to Longwood on Tuesday, Oct. 9. to receive the prize and to read from her work. The ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. in Bedford Auditorium: everyone is invited. She also will meet with students at Longwood and speak to a literature class in which one of her nov
els. Brown Girl. Brownstones, Is being studied. Ms. Marshall was born In Brooklyn, the daughter of Immigrants who came to New York from Barbados. She was graduated from Brooklyn College in 1953. Six years later she published her first novel. Brown Girl, Brownstones. It tells the story of a young girl growing up in Brooklyn during World War II. torn between her father's strong ties to his native Barbados and her mother's desire to buy a brownstone house and live out the American dream. The Chosen Place, the Timeless People, published In 1969. chronicles the changes wrought in a group of Americans by their extended encounter with the culture of a Caribbean island and. in turn, their effect on the In-
habitants. Pralsesong for the Widow (1983) concerns the physical and spiritual journey of a black American woman whose ancestors lived on one of the coastal islands of South Carolina. While on a Caribbean cruise, she Is drawn into an experience that alters the course of her life. In addition to these novels, and a fourth that is scheduled for publication next year. Ms. Marshall has published two volumes of short stories, plus essays, stories, and articles In numerous anthologies and magazines. The John Dos Passos Prize was established at Longwood in 1980. It commemorates one of the greatest of 20th century American authors, who made his home in Virginia'! Northern Neck from 1949 until his death in 1970. The Prize is awarded to
writers who have a substantial body of significant publication and whose work demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics — an intense and original exploration of specifically American themes, an experimental quality, and a wide range of literary forms. Winners receive a medallion and a cash award. The Prize is funded by a grant from the Longwood Foundation. Previous winners include Gra ham Greene, Gilbert Sorrentino, Doris Betts. Robert Stone. Russell Banks, Tom Wolfe. John Edgar Wideman. Lee Smith, and Shelby Foote. Dr. Martha Cook. Professor of English, is chair of this year's Prize jury.
PAULE MARSHALL
Join The Crop Walk For Hunger By ALLEN BRECKENRIDGE. Episcopal Campus Chaplain Did you know that Prince Edward County has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the state? Or that hunger is a real problem among the people of this area, so much so that the local food pantry has. on a yearly basis, given away almost 30 tons of food to persons in need of basic food aid? Did you know that malnutrition is a serious problem for the elderly in our area and that we really do have people living on the streets in Farmville? Are you aware that two out of three people in the Third World do not have access to clean drinking water, that 390 million people in (he world are unemployed or underemployed, that at least 40.000 children die every day from hunger-related diseases, and that half the infants born in some developing countries will not survive past their first birthday. These are Just some of the alarming and often disabling statistics and problems that the world faces today. Most assuredly too young adults from Longwood will have to deal with these needs in the
world in which you will soon take your place as leaders. Sometimes it can make one feel powerless to make a difference in the face of such complex problems, both locally and worldwide. Alone it would be almost impossible to tackle them. But the reality is that working together with others on our campus, in the Farmville community, and around the world, we can begin to bring some relief to our brothers and sisters who are facing such great needs for basic survival and growth. In the student handbook on page 49. the Geist organization is described as being an honorary leadership society recognizing three outstanding qualities in students — leadership scholarship, and service. Geist regularly sponsors Oktoberfest weekend, offering an important time for student organizations to present themselves and their programs to the campus community, a time for friends to return and celebrate together the memories of Joyful and challenging times spent at Longwood, and a time to raise funds for worthy projects in which our campus community and organizations
are engaged. Clearly, connecting community service involvement to the overall educational purpose of Longwood is becoming a greater focus of our life together, as can be seen in the development of the G.I.V.E. and R.E.A.C.H. programs at Longwood in the last year. One such service program, for which many of our campus organizations are gearing up. has become a yearly tradition at Longwood and in the greater Farmville area, and it usually falls on Oktoberfest weekend. That event Is the CROP WALK for hunger. On Sunday afternoon. October 14. around 2 p.m.. walkers from our campus and Hampden-Sydney, from schools, businesses, civic organizations, and churches throughout the community will gather at Jarman Auditorium and begin a short, spirited 6.2 mile hike through the Farmville community to raise funds for meeting some of the needs addressed in the beginning of this article. Funds raised on the walk go to programs around the world and here at home. Twenty five percent of those funds go directly to our local Food
Pantry. Students from organizations such as Alpha Phi Omega. Delta Sigma, the inter-Religious Council (consisting of a variety of campus religious organiza tions). residence hall groups, as well as many faculty and staff are now busy seeking walkers and sponsors to pledge money to walk for the hungry. In one way or another, everyone has an opportunity to do something, walking and pledging, to gether our community has chosen to take seriously the goals of Geist. the spirit of Longwood, which has always meant caring about the needs of others, about making a dlf ference in the world we're a part of. about giving of some of the benefits we've been given. Finally, the CROP WALK planning committee wants to continue the festive spirit of Oktoberfest weekend by en couraging groups to "fly their colors." so to speak. If you walk as a group, why not carry a banner or poster that your group has prepared? Let it be known who you are and that your organization cares and is involved. Individuals are also encouraged to let
their creativity show through in hats, posters, and other ways of individually expressing that you care and want to make a difference. Together, one by one. we can and will begin to end hunger and make the world a more Just place for all. For more Information about the upcoming CROP WALK, contact a representa live of one of the organizations listed above, the Student Services office, or one of the campus chaplains. If your organization isn't yet signed up to walk or sponsor walk ers. ask your president how you can help make CROP WALK a part of your groups plans for this year's Oktoberfest.
Contents Commentary News Oktoberfest Schedule Features. Sports Classifieds
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