The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 21, 1972 Page: 3 of 10
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HSPVA involves and develops student m theater arts
BY WENDY NORDSTROM
"Do you like it here?"
"You better believe. I could
not envision going to school
any other place, after being
here . .
Tlhis is Houston's High School
of the Performing and Visual
Arts, one of a series of schools
designed to offer opportunities
to students already interested in
a particular field. The Houston
Independent School District ap-
proved the concept unanimously
when it was presented in July
of last year. Mrs. Ruth Denney,
originator of the idea, opened
the school in the old Beth
Israel synagogue in September
with 200 sophomore students
and some 45 part-time students
who came only during the
afternoon for the .arts.
This year the number of stu-
dents has been doubled by the
addition of a new sophomore
class. The plant, however, did
not expand, and construction
of pre-fab buildings was neces-
sary to accomodate the new
class. The students feel the
crowding:
"When you get more bods in
the same amount of space, the
school has to become more
structured, and that is an evil
thing."
The flexibility of the curri-
"■ 'lilted
by the students because it
gives them a greater chance to
pursue their own interests.
They are allowed to miss clas-
ses for the purpose of projects,
as long as they are made up,
and they needn't sit in their
seats when they listen to lec-
tures, but can work at any-'
thing that does not disturb the
class.
The students like the aca-
demic classes better, too, be-
cause there is more emphasis
on current events, and more
outside lecturers are brought
in. The academic courses of
the school are at least on par
with those of conventional high
schools; but, because the stu-
dents are more motivated, they
work harder and do better at
HSPVA.
The school day runs an hour
longer than at other institu-
tions, allowing for a 3-hour bloc
of time during which the stu-
dents work on art. This allows
continuity in the work, instead
of chopping the period into 1-
hour segments. They work on
their major interest three days
a week, and are required to
study another art during the
other two.
dean Ornish
Janus exists, to create ...
T. MARTIN GRACE
JANUS Editor
WHAT IS JANUS? The god
of good beginnings. Rice's Janus
is a publication for beginning,
for creations. Literature, photo-
graphy, art can be part of
these beginnings; published to-
gether they fuse a new crea-
tion. Janus is young, the result
of fresh attempts by new crea-
tors.
WHO IS JANUS? You: read-
er," dabbler, writer, perceiver.
Janus needs all to aid its con-
ception; students, graduates,
faculty may all participate. The
publication is born when you
decided to speak about your
world, and when another decides
to listen. A3 a beginning, it's
for beginners. Janus can be
son;
The program is enhanced by
special lecturers in various
fields, usually well-known ex-
perts. The equipment, also, is
top quality; the school provides
books and full facilities for the
developing of skills and inter-
ests.
The students are encouraged
to get involved with one an-
other. Art students sketch the
dancers, actors, and anyone else
nearby; dance and drama stu-
dents combine efforts for pro-
ductions; the theater technology
students help everyone on stage.
They have programs to get to
know one another also. Four
or five times a year, they have
"happenings", events in which
each department provides an
exhibit or program open to
each other and to the public.
This way, people can see what
is happening in school, either
with individuals or with the
school as a whole. This pro-
motes public understanding and
acceptance of the school. It
also lets the students show their
work, and get opinions. In the
arts, any publicity is good.
Because the school was start-
ed on such a short notice, the
students had a big part in
designing the facilities. The
stage, for instance, is made up
of segments that can be moved
to adapt to a particular re-
quirement, and the technical
facilities also have this mobili-
ty. The dance room and the
gallery both had the opinions
of the students considered in
their design, so the facilities
are suited to the needs of the
students.
This school is different in
another way. Every student
there is there because he wants
to be there. He had to audition
to get in, and he has to go an
extra (hour a day to stay in.
This gives the student body a
greater cohesiveness. The teach-
ers sense this and give the
students more leeway in the
scope of work, while increas-
ing the responsibility required
of the student. This helps pre-
pare the student for profes-
sional or college life.
The students have a common
reason for going1 there—to
learn about their art, and de-
velop their skills and experi-
ence. They are glad of the
chance—"I love it. I put my-
self back a year to go here,"
and they take advantage of it.
Many work during the year,
and in the summer, in jobs that
will also develop them—sum-
mer theatre, traveling bands
. . . the opportunities are many,
and they are taken.
Although many outsiders
misunderstand the school's pur-
pose, this should be dispelled
after tihe graduation of the
class of 1974. The students will
be prepared for either a profes-
sional career or college. Already
they see results—one of last
year's students is now a full-
time dancer with the American
Ballet Theatre.
In the end, it boils down to
this:
"The idea of having a coarse
in something you enjoy is kind
of different."
....
m
...and Fowl exists, if created
Rice has had a humor maga-
zine off and on. It was on
campus in 1965 as "The Bird"
but only came off the press
twice. "The Bird" bombed. But
that was 1965.
Humor is back! The 1972
"Fowl" has been red-taped into
the Student Association Con-
stitution recently, and merits
the support of Rice University
students. Editor-in-Chief Dave
Bourbon envisions a quality
magazine featuring humorous
articles on issues with appeal
to college students compliment-
ed by graphics and illustrat-
ions. Hopefully, the "Fowl"
will provide a bridge of com-
munication with other Houston
colleges and universities. (Dis-
tribution will include other
campuses, but Rice will be the
prdouction hub.)
A promising- advertising cam-
paign has already begun. But
more volunteers are needed.
Help make somebody laugh—•
submit your contributions or
offer to help. Contact Dave
Bourbon, second floor, Anderson
Hall (senior architecture lab),
Literary Editor Bob Brandt, or
Business Manager Tom Whit-
lock. (Bob and Tom are in
Lovett College.)
Let's get the "Fowl" off the
ground!
poem, photo, drama,
sketch, essay, narrative.
THE GOAL OF JANUS? An
event; an art. Perhaps to dis-
cover and to communicate. It
may be something one admires
intensely, something beautiful,
something useless, something
fun. Janus is our imagination;
it exists wwhen we assemble
our fanciful flights. Format,
tone, and contributions are up
to those beginners who wish to
help. Janus exists, to create.
TO BEGIN JANUS: A meet-
ing tonight, 21 September, 7:30
pm, Rayzor 319. We need a
staff; we need contributors. We
require no specific abilities, on-
ly a wish to begin Rice's crea-
tive publication.
"And so each venture is a new f
beginning."
KVSp
tlonn ornish
the rice thresher, September 21, 1972—page 3
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Jackson, Steve. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 60, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 21, 1972, newspaper, September 21, 1972; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245139/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.