The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 22, 1971 Page: 1 of 8
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Baker presents a worthwhile Midsummer Night's Dream
By JOHN MAULDIN
Without a doubt, the most fun play
that has been at Rice this year is A
Midsummer Night's Dream. Directed by
Don Bayne and Wes Morris, the set-
ting of the earthy Shakespearian com-
edy in Baker lends a touch of authen-
ticity to the play. The set, designed in
the round by John Merkling, comple-
ments the entire play and quite easily
demands the audience to use their own
vilsual imagery.
The cast, the largest in two years at
Rice, is quite competent. The movement
and fine acting of Oberon, the King
of the Fairies, played by Tom Nichols,
and of Puck (Rod Rich) keep the play
flowing as swiftly as it should. Rich's
make-up is superb (an example of make-
up making the fairy) and their obvious
enjoyment of the roles, which they han-
dle very well, adds to the enjoyment of
the audience.
Martha Gipson as Titania, the fairy
queen, has once again given the fine
performance that one has come to ex-
pect of her. Her face says more than
her lines, and 'her presence on the stage
commands your attention.
The sextet of lovers played by Susie
Collins, Lois Kincheloe, Carol Porter,
Charles Tanner, and English profs John
Iglesias and Wes Morris complement
each other well. Porter as Helena comes
through well as the spumed lover of
Demetrius (Tanner) and they combine
to show some of the better acting. Wes
Morris as King Theseus does seem to
reign in parts of the play.
I Kissed the Wall's Hole
The funniest damn thing I have ever
seen on the theatrical stage is the group
of Rustics wiho perform the play within
a play. Faculty members Dennis Huston
(Bottom), David Nilssen (Quince), and
Terry Doody (Flute), along with Keith
McGregor (Wall), Bill Horowitz (Lion),
and Joe Walling (Moon), combine to
give this show its one truly superlative
moment. The interpretation of this scene
plus the fine character acting of all of
the group, especially Doody and Huston,
make the whole Night memorable.
The relief provided by the fairies,
(whose lack of costume boggles the
mind — bounce bounce jiggle) is effec-
tive. The (singing of Kate Jones and the
dancing of Cathy Keneda are pleasant.
The play does slow on some of the
cues (through which herds of elephants
have time to run through), and the
movement on and off the stage is some-
times clumsy. If a few of the more tech-
nical aspects of the theatre can be
cleaned up, the play will be solid in ail
points. It is well worth seeing. Tickets
should be reserved by calling Baker Col-
lege or they may be purchased at the
door. Tickets are $1.25 for Rice stu-
dents and $1.00 for Baker members and
high school students, $1.50 for all others.
Curtain time is at 8:30.
Head Klansman to speak Monday
By JOHN HARDY WILLIAMS
On Monday, April 26, at 7:30
]*m in the Chemistry Lecture
Hall, Baker College presents
Frank Converse, the Texas
Grand Dragon of the United
Klan of America. Mr. Converse
is often featured in Space City!
and on Pacifica Radio and is a
very personable man. Many, my-
self included, disagree with his
views on many subjects, but I
ask that he be permitted a
chance to speak, free from dis-
ruption.
Mr. Converse is the guest of
students, as was Abbie Hoff-
man last year. Abbie Hoffman
was not permitted to speak for
fear of disruption of our prec-
ious peace. Then, we screamed
"FREEDOM OF SPEECH" and
1 hope that now, when a per-
son of an opposite political per-
suasion is invited, we-will hon-
or those ideals which we pro-
fessed and held high then. If
we will listen to him and ask
him questions, we will gain a
beter understanding of him and
the Klan and thus be better
informed. If we behave prud-
ently towards him and. present
him with an image of truly
open and inquisitive minds,
maybe he will understand us
better. If we disrupt, we will be
fulfilling his expectations and
reinforcing his attitudes about
students. This can serve no use-
ful purpose.
If we will present him with
the opportunity to speak, with-
out disruption, and we listen to
1 him, a step toward understand-
ing and peace between us will
have been made. PLEASE, let
him speak.
the
thresre?
rice university, houston, texas
volume 58, number 25
thursday, april 22, 1971
Second in a series: changes suggested in accounting
* By ^NEIL ISBIN
In last week's article I ques-
tioned administrative policies
with respect to the Athletic De-
partment and the effect of these
policies upon both tuition aid
and student attitudes toward the
administration. In the conclud-
ing summary of my report, I
will elaborate upon my second
conclusion — that the admin-
istration has obfuscated the is-
sue of tuition aid — and I will
conclude with several admin-
istrative and policy proposals.
As $320,000 in athletic schol-
arships were budgeted under
the category of undergraduate
tuition aid, the question arose as
• to whether funds for athletic
scholarships had priority over
funds for academic tuition aid.
Rice Fund nears
$1 million goal
The 1970-71 Rice University
Fund has now reached 61.5%
of its $1 million goal. The fund
was established last fall by Dr.
Hackerman to help offset an
unexpectedly large budget de-
ficit.
According to Charles F. Mo-
ser, Director of Development,
over 2000 contributions have
been received to date, and
"somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of 4000" are expected be-
fore the 70-71 fund comes to a
close on July 1:
Alumni have so far contri-
buted approximately 77% of
the $200,000 asked of them;
51% of the $'475,000 expected
from business and industry has
come in." Almost 58% of the
$150,000 allocated to founda-
tions has been received, and
"friends" of the university have
provided 96% of their $175,000
share of the $1 million.
The fund will be continued
aifter this year, with the annual
goal to be adjusted to meet the
needs of the university.
That suspicion proved erroneous.
The Board allocates a certain
amount of funds to academic
undergraduate tuition aid: funds
for athletic scholarships are al-
located separately. However,
that is not to say that the
amount of funds proposed for
athletic scholarships does not
influence the amount proposed
£or academic tuition aid.
Although the Board of Trus-
tees set a limit of $1 million for
tuition grants in 1964, $1.51
million was allocated for aca-
demic tuition aid for the year
1970-1. Of that amount, $1,252
million was used. Next year,
undergraduate tuition aid will
be $'1.27 million, a raise of only
$18,000. At the same time total
tuition cost will rise approxi-
mately $540,000 (see Chart
Two). As current students have
been guaranteed that their tui-
tion grants will not be cut be-
cause of the relative decrease
in funds, the incoming fresh-
men will pay the heaviest price.
In order to alleviate the im-
pending burden for both the
freshmen and future students,
the administration is seeking to
establish a new long term, low
interest, University loan fund.
Although it was learned early
in the semester that the Uni-
versity was seeking to estab-
lish this new loan fund, no de-
tails could be solicited from the
administration. Neither myself,
nor Rick Jones, Chairman of
the Senate Financial Aid Com-
mittee, nor Bob Parks, former
S.A. President were able to
obtain any information about
the prospective loan fund, even
though we talked extensively
with individuals in both the
Financial 'Aid Office and the
President's Office. During a
policy address he gave on April
9th in Baker College, Dr. Hack-
erman announced that the ad-
ministration had nearly com-
pleted negotiations for obtain-
ing $500,000 for loans that
would would be at 3% interest
and payable in ten years. (Two
days before, the Financial Aid loan was virtually established. upon, and the manner in which
Office could give me no in-
formation on either the amount
or type of loan the administra-
tion was preparing.) In the fu-
ture, Dr. Hackerman hopes that
the new loan fund will be en-
larged enough to allow any stu-
dents, regardless of need to ob-
tain a loan.
I'm not accusing the admin-
istration of foul play, but of
potentially dangerous secrecy.
When the administration de-
cided to give tuition aid more
in the form of loans than in
the form of grants, it acted in
a paternalistic manner, refrain-
ing from comment until the
It would have been better if
the administration first an-
nounced why it was switching
to more Joan funds, and second
announced what type of loans
they hope to work out.
As you may nave noticed, I
have mainly criticized admin-
istrative procedures and that I
have only raised questions about
the substantive issues of alloca-
tions to tuition aid and to the
Athletic Department. As a stu-
dent concerned about the pol-
icies and goals of the Univer-
sity, I feel qualified to critize
both the methods by which these
policies and goals are. decided
the policies and goals are com-
municated to the student body.
I'm aware tSiat at the same time
that University endowment was
increased last year by $10 mil-
lion, arid will likely be increased"
next year by a similar amount,
tuition aid along with many
academic departments^ha^e suf-
fered (decreases — or have not
been increased). However, with-
out all the facts available, with-
out a proper background, I feel
qualified only to question the
amounts appropriated and not
say whether more or less should
have_ been given. Students and
(Continued on Page 2)
Peterson's contributions lauded
By GARY RACIILIN
During the past several weeks 1 have been
fairly critical of Rice football. My purpose was
not to rid Rice University of big-time foot-
ball. Quite the contrary, I feel that major col-
lege football, if conducted "properly" (that is,
athletes are -not only permitted, but also
strongly encouraged to be students as well as
athletes), has a place at Rice. A football pro-
gram benefits the University by providing, for
example, a mildly entertaining diversion for
students and faculty as well as providing a
means of keeping the alumni associated with
Rice.
The purpose of the criticisms was to help
keep the Rice football program operating in a
"proper" manner. Instituting the limited year-
round training table set off fears that Rice
Athletics was moving in a direction similar
to the University of Houston's program: away
from the concept of a team composed of stu-
dent-athletes to a semi-pro type program.
Evidence that :U of H has moved in this
direction lies in the fact (as told to me by
football reportex-s and coaches) that Elmo
Wright might win the honoK of being the first
black scholarship athlete to graduate from the
University of Houston. Such a situation
would be intolerable at Rice.
At this point, however, I do not feel that
Coach Peterson is trying to make Rice foot-
ball resemble Houston's. Originally it was
feared that the year-round training table was
the first in a series of steps that would
eventually result in an athletic dorm, recruit-
ing of animals, and separate classes for ath-
letes. After talking with Coach Peterson,
Coach Peccatiello, and several athletes, 1 be-
lieve that the training table is an end, not a
springboard to semi-pro football. Although the
training table still seems to me not to be ne-
cessary, it is, in itself, not that detrimental
to the university as a whole. It will not destroy
the college system, nor will it keep the ath-
letes completely separated from the rest of
the students.
The. Thresher has been focusing, on the
negative aspects of Coadh Peterson's regime
as Athletic Director and Head Coach. How-
ever Coach Peterson has had a positive in-
fluence on Rice football. Primarily, he has in-
stilled pride in his players, as well as generat-
ing enthusiasm among his players, his coaches,
the alumni, and Rice football fans in general.
This pride and enthusiasm will hopefully be
demonstrated next season on the field. Per-
Ihaps ito, won't be reflected., too much by our
won-lost record (next year Rice faces one of
the toughest schedules in the nation.). How-
ever, the enthusiasm and pride should be
demonstrated by increased quality of play and
greater determination by the members of the
team. Increased enthusiasm by the alumni was
evidenced by the fact that some alumni who
haven't seen a Rice football game in five
years were on hand Saturday night to view
the BJ,ue-Gray game. It seems that if Coach
Peterson will stay within the lines of "pro-
priety", as I feel he will, Rice football should
become, in the next few years, an asset to the
University as a whole.
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Mauldin, John. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 58, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 22, 1971, newspaper, April 22, 1971; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245106/m1/1/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.