THE March 2, 1989 Vol. 87, No. 36
p ATISTA
Thursday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Pulitzer Prize winner to lecture on campus
Christian Reesee of the Kirkpatrick Foundation presents a $5, 000 check to President Bill LiIlard.(Photo by Daniel Smith)
Larger orchestra pit slated By Mei Pong and Lori Aronson Mitchell Hall, where many orchestras and bands have performed, will be given a new orchestra pit. Jim Poe, manager of Mitchell Hall, said $5,000 was recently donated to CSU by the Kirkpatrick Foundation to enlarge the orchestra pit. "The existing orchestra pit, which was built in 1925 to accommodate smaller orchestras, is too small for current needs," Poe
said. The concrete pit will be broken up and dug 2 feet deeper. A new partial cover will be installed to maintain the size of the stage and to deflect the sound out toward the audience. The floor space between the main seating area and the current orchestra pit will be taken out to build the new pit. According to Poe, added features include a safety rail, which will be added so that the audience will not trip.
The work for the pit has begun and should be completed in time for the April 14-16 production of "Cosi fan tutti," which will be performed by the university's civic opera company, the Edmond Central Historical Opera, Poe said. According to Poe, even if the work is not completed on time, the opera production can still proceed since the building of the pit is being done in several separate stages.
The fact that many Americans today, particularly students, are not aware of the importance of the Bill of Rights was one of the main concerns that prompted Pulitzer Prize-winning political theorist Dr. James McGregor Burns to write his play, "We the People of Liberty Tavern." Dr. Burns' original three-act play will be performed Friday, March 3 through Sunday March 5 in the Pegasus Theatre in Central State Univerity's Liberal Arts Building. The play will be performed by the CSU theatre program in a special reader's theatre production. Burns will be on on campus this week through Sunday, March 5 to speak to various classes, attend rehearsals of the play, give interviews with the media and hold discussions following all performances of the play. Set in Philadelphia at the time of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the play explores the many humanities issues debated during the historic five days leading up to the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Although no historic figures appear in the play itself, the people portrayed are ordinary men and women, black and white, young and not so young, from the north and the south, and these people are involved in the decisions made at that time. Burns chose to use a diverse group of ordinary citizens for his characters since ordinary Americans traditionally have
stood up for their rights as a whole. "I wanted to show how great events will impact on the lives of ordinary people," he said. The play is intended as both entertainment and education. "I would like to appeal to the young, but informed audience," said Burns. "People today know some history, but not a great deal." "I think people today mainly ignore the Bill of Rights. They don't seem to know about its origins. To me, the main question today is what will people do now when the chips are down." Burns mentioned the Joseph McCarthy era as a time when "the chips were down" in terms of the rights of average citizens. Another example is recent efforts to include prayer or a moment of silence in public schools. Such efforts impact separation of church and state, freedom of religion and freedom of speech. In fact, the play opens with a scene featuring a Quaker who has been pulled before a judge for passing out religious literature. "The scene," Burns said, "obviously raises the issue of religious persecution. "I think that the question of rights cannot be supressed. People will always demand their rights, and Americans have a good tradition of demanding their rights." Burns is visiting Central State University because previous visits to the campus have been so rewarding to him. Please see Burns on page 8.
Is racism a problem here? By Kamal Mazlan Staff Writer Several Central State University students allege racial prejudice on campus, but are hesitant to complain to the administration because they say little can be done about it. The alleged racial incidents include: • a black student claimed his new dorm roommate refused to live with him. • a foreign student at CSU claims he was racially slurred as he walked past a small group of students. • a faculty member uttered racist remarks to a student in class. Is racism prevalent at CSU? "Yes, it is," said Dr. Lamona Evans, instructor in English at CSU. "If the (CSU) administration closes its eyes and ears, this problem will continue to exist. This campus must be integrated. "In Oklahoma, CSU has the largest black student population, about 3,500, in a state college. But because there's no integration, we
are a black school within a white school," said Evans, who is also a faculty senator and sponsor of a black sorority at CSU. Evans said black students had complained to her about racist remarks made by faculty or unfair treatment at the dorms. "Unless there is a push for affirmative action programs, there'll be no integration at CSU, only apathy," she added. Dana Christman, CSU's housing manager, said the housing office doesn't make room changes based on racial discrimination, "but nine times of out 10 the request to do so come from parents who do not wish their child to be in the same room with a person they've pre-conceived notions of. "We've the final say in a room change, but only if both occupants desire it. The policy is not intended to hurt anyone," said Christman. "It is not serious problem for a commuter college like CSU, but it does exist," said Dr. April Haulman, coordinator of bilingual education program at
CSU. "Minority students at CSU want some affirmative action by the administration. They want more minority role models. We've a few black faculty but not nearly enough, and no Hispanic faculty." "There is a preponderance of ignorance (at CSU) on the realities of society," said Dr. Paul Lehman, professor in English. "Certain trees constituting as a forest, which means some people might want to view their culture as significant and all others as less significant." Such ignorance, he added, "permits racism and prejudice to grow and be nurtured. Changes has to come from the top, not just from the president, but from the Board of Regents (Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education)." Dr. Dudley Ryan, dean of student services, said he had received one complaint of racial prejudice at CSU in the past year but it was resolved between the parties concerned. Please see Racism on page 8.
Dan Sutter, a former CSU student, attended the Faculty Art Show at the Art Building. The works are on display until March 2. (Photo by Stan Pollard, The Vista staff photographer)