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ROTUNDA
VOL. LLV
LONGWOOD COLLEGE
Student Newspaper Is Back In Black Reported by Jacqueline Smith Rotunda writers and staff members, frantic with despair over seven weeks' absence of Longwood's newspaper, came together today to publish this semester's first issue. Soon after the December 6 issue came out. Rotunda editor Johnel Brown was told by Longwood's Vice President for Student Affairs, Phyllis Mable, that the newspaper was "banned" until financial difficulties were worked out. The financial problems were the result of an oversight on the part of the 1982-83 staff. The editors of last year's paper neglected to apply for funding for the current year from the Student Activities Committee, a mistake which led to a forty-five hundred dollar debt at the time of the December 6 issue. In late January, the current editors applied to the Student Activities Committee for funding to pay the debt and continue publication in the current semester. The committee, headed by Susan Tolliver, then appropriated funds sufficient to cover the debt and to print through early March. The editors then applied for funding from the emergency reserve fund, which resulted in a sufficient amount to continue publication throughout
this semester. Thus, The Rotunda will be on a regular publication schedule until May. Another problem which has concerned Rotunda editors is the small number of staff members who publish the newspaper. The regular staff was limited to four last semester, but Ms. Mable and Mr. I. B. Dent, Director of Student Activities, conferred with the English department to arrange a meeting last week for all students interested in working for The Rotunda. While only five students attended the meeting, a large number of students signed a list in their English classes expressing interest. Four of the five students who came were given assignments, and all five are now reporters for the newspaper. Also introduced at the meeting was Dr. Jack Haberstroh, the new adviser to the publication. Haberstroh, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, has had seventeen years of experience in mass communications and has been the owner of various publications. Dr. Haberstroh observed that Longwood students should have been upset over the printing delay because "even though they don't pay a cover price they have already paid out of their activities fees." (Continued on Page 5)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1984
NO. 9
Required: Dickens' Copperfield IiOngwood students enrolled in freshman English courses came to class this semester toting a nine-hundred page Victorian serial novel. Charles Dickens' David Copperfield was chosen by Longwood's English Department because, according to department head Massie Stinson, "We want every student to have the experience of reading and understanding great works of literature from our culture." Student reactions ranged from frustration to enthusiasm. Longwood junior Drew Decker wasn't worried about the choice. "The impression I got was that it was chosen because a large proportion of the English faculty hadn't read it. I guess they wanted to be as surprised as the students about what happens next. Over the course of a semester, what is 900 pages? It shouldn't be a problem for most students." Others were anything but complacent. One student who declined to be identified, commented that Copperfield is completely unnecessary and irrelevant to non-English majors. For a freshman English course, it's pointless. They should at least choose an American novelist. What made them choose David Copperfield, why not Moby Dick? It's an interesting idea but I don't see the reasoning behind the choice." The novel will be read in
installments over the course of the semester and up to exams. These assighments are in addition to other reading including plays, poems, and short stories. To deter students from not reading the entire work, owners of the college bookstore have agreed not to sell Cliff Notes on Copperfield. In an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch Dr. Stinson said, "We want our student-; to get beyond the 28minute attention span of television situation comedies. In this course they will have to know well a work . . . which took its original Victorian audience a year and a half to read." Some students feel they shouldn't be required to read any faster than those Victorian
readers did. One student commented, the novel "is too detailed, too big to cover in one semester. There are shorter books on the same level that we could read." But another student in the same class retorted, "I don't think it's that bad. I like the characters, and reading by installment helps!" Whatever the students' judgment may be, the English department is committed to upgrading its requirements and enriching its total program. The move has gotten stories in newspapers around the state, and the English department is pleased. Dr. Stinson saw this as "the beginning of longwood's emphasis on traditional learning."
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An illustration from Charles Dickens' DAVID COPPERFIELD.
GYPSY — A Musical Fantasy At Longwood with somethin RviirRRvnArFNHART S for everyone. By JERRY DAGENHART Based Qn [he memoirs of the Broadway is coming to Q Rose [he Longwood in the form of the ^ tra(?es the m of Gypgy musical fantasy Gypsy. Gypsy is d her overbeari stage a "melting pot of entertainment ^^ Roge {Qm Q ,g ear,
childhood, in Vaudeville to the peak of her career at Minsky's Burlesque House. The action ranges from boys and girls auditioning for Uncle Jocko's Kiddyshow to Bumps and Grinds from the strippers who dawn the stage of the Burlesque house. The cast of Gypsy includes many veteran Longwood Players, and some very talented newcomers. Miss Paula Moore, a senior at Prince Edward Academy, brings to the title role an air of vibrance and beauty that has not been seen on the Longwood stage in quite some time. Paula, who is a native of Prince Edward County, was last seen in The Waterworks Players' production of The Fantasticks. The role of Gypsy's mother, Rose, is portrayed by Ms. Diahn Simonini, in her 152nd role. Simonini, whose father was the Head of the Longwood Department of English for 13 years, has been a Longwood Paula Moore as Gypsy Rose Lee and Diahn Simonini as Madam Player since age 10. She has Rose in rehearsal for GYPSY.
guest performed at longwood in Hamlet and Angel Street. Ms. Simonini is currently teaching English and Creative Writing at Buckingham High School, and she is the Artistic Director for the Buckingham Youth Theatre Touring Company. She brings to Gypsy a wealth of experience; she is a union actress, she has toured with the U.S.O., and she was active in summer stock for nine years including work with the Barn Dinner Theatre. She also served as the student liaison officer for the NationalRepertory Theatre. Rose's nervous, ulcer-plagued boyfriend, Herbie, is portrayed by longwood junior Curt Walker. Curt was last seen as the bumbling Dr. Diaforous in The Imaginary Invalid. Herbie is Walker's first major role and his characterization creates a wonderful balance between the roles of Gypsy and Rose. The production is being guestdirected by Mr. Thorn Williams, a member of the faculty at
Longwood's Department of Music. Williams is a very active vocal soloist, and he is also very involved in the theatre. He was last seen in the role of "Quixote" in the Richmond's Department of Recreation and Park's production of Man of La Mancha. Gypsy is being produced by The Lognwood Players in accordance with the departments of Music and Speech and Dramatic Arts, with a great deal of support from the Farmville community. This musical fantasy extravaganza will open Thursday, February 23, and run through Saturday, February 25. Curtain time is at 8:00. Admission is free to Longwood students with I.D.'s, all other students $3.00, faculty and groups of 10, $2.00 and general admission is $5.00. The cast of Gypsy is expecting a successful run and would appreciate the support of the student body.