UNIVERSITY PRESS
The Newspaper of Lamar University Vol. 96, No. 5 November 7, 2019
RACE ON DISPLAY
LU theatre’s ‘Permanent Collection’ tackles uncomfortable topic Noah Dawlearn UP photo editor When we visit an art museum, we do not see all the works a museum owns. We see a curated version of a collection. But do we ask who decides the
works we see? “The Permanent Collection,” by Thomas Gibbons, uses a museum’s art collection to ask hard questions about the role of race and who controls the narrative of our experiences. Lamar University’s depart-
ment of theatre and dance will present the play, Nov. 7-10 in the University Theatre. The play follows Sterling North, the new director of the Morris Foundation, a privately owned art collection based on the real-life Barnes Foundation
in Philadelphia. Director Caitlin Grammer said the action follows the drama that happens after a provision in the benefactor’s will comes to light about 20 years after his death. The provision puts control of the foundation in the hands of a local
African American university, who appoints a black businessman as the foundation’s new director. “When Sterling finds African art in the basement, he proposes the art be placed on public display, which goes against other provisions of Morris’s will which prohibit changing the layout of the museum,” Grammer said. “It turns into a large and very public battle over who has control of the foundation after accusations of racism are thrown around publicly,” she said. Senior Austin Jones plays Sterling. He said Gibbons poses the question of how much space in the world, both literally and figuratively, white people have left for black people. “I like putting emphasis on the situation of race, with black people trying to just be a part of this world,” Jones said. “But because of how some white people choose to treat black people, also how that connects to how history has continuously treated black people, it’s hard to really become part of that world. “Taking the line directly from the show, ‘It’s always been a situation of, we’re always trying to figure you guys out, but you never put any effort to figure us out.’ So it always brings up that question of are we truly equal?” Grammer said the play offers actors such as Jones a unique
UP photo by Noah Dawlearn
Austin Jones plays Sterling North in LU theatre’s “The Permanent Collection,” presented Nov. 7-10 in the University Theatre.
See COLLECTION page 2
DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURE
Proksch to discuss music, oil, Tuesday Bryan Prosksch, department chair and associate professor of music history, will present his lecture, “Music and Oil in Beaumont: The Magnolia Petroleum Band and John Philip Sousa,” Tuesday, at 6:30 p.m. in the Live Oak Ballroom of the Setzer Student Center. Proksch has published two books, including one on Sousa, as well as numerous essays in leading musicological journals on both the history of bands and classical music. He hosts a music history show, “Behind the Music,” on 91.3 KVLU Public Radio with the goal of making the history of music fun, relevant and accessible to all. The event is free to the public. A reception will follow the lecture. The event is sponsored by Total Petrochemicals and Refining USA, Inc. For more information, call 8808046.
UP photo by Stefan McCord
The Educator’s Career Fair is an opportunity for students of all majors to network with potential future employers.
Educator’s Career Fair set for today Stefan McCord UP contributor The Educator’s Career Fair will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., today, in the Setzer Student Center Live Oak Ballroom. The fair is open to all majors, but Amy Dillow, mar-
keting coordinator for the Lamar University career and professional development center, said education majors are encouraged to attend. “Students who are interested in working in the educaSee CAREER page 2
LU unveils assistive technology lab Erin Black UP contributor
UP photo by Noah Dawlearn
Justin Norris and Reality Boutte utilize the computer lab — the first of its kind in the Texas State University System, Nov. 5.
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Lamar University has unveiled its new assistive technology lab, a dedicated space for students with disabilities that allows them access to an area where they can be trained on how to use technology to access information. The facility, located in 106 Cherry Annex Building across from Gray Library, opened Oct. 29. The facility is the first of its kind in the Texas State University System. Kyle Mutz, director of the disability resource center, said it is good to have a space where students, es-
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pecially freshmen or newer students, who may not be confident in their ability to use technology, can get help. “It’s going to have a huge impact on the students,” he said. “For the student who maybe has dyslexia and who never knew that books can be read to them, it’s going to cut down on that extra time that they are having to spend having somebody else read to them, rather than having a piece of technology that they can use themselves and be independent, and have the technology cater to them.” The goal for the technology in the lab is for stu-
dents not to have to rely on other people, Mutz said. “We want them to become independent so they can be able to do this stuff on their own,” he said. “I feel like some people who do have disabilities feel like they need to rely on other people and that can be really daunting. We’re all human — we want to be able to do things for ourselves. When it’s taken away from you, it’s not a good feeling.” The lab has computers with built-in technology that can cater to specific disabilities. When the stuSee LAB page 2
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