T H E
ROTUNDA
VOLUME 74, NUMBER 17
LONGWOOD COLLEGE Âť FARMVILLE, VA
Seale brings history to life at Long wood
School Closing Remembered Teachers reflect on struggle for equality By Taffere Tassew On Wednesday, March 1, the Honors program hosted a panel discussion featuring three retired school teachers: Vera Allen, Ernestine Herndon and Connie Rawlins. These women discussed their teaching careers from 1959-64, during the historical close of the Prince Edward County School system. The purpose cf this visit was to give the audience an insightful and firsthand walk through history with some of the very people who lived it. Each took the podium and shared personal experiences, triumphs and tragedies that highlighted their Extraordinary lives. The three educators began their stories around 1951, when black students staged a walkout at Robert R. Moton High School. The protest of the unequal educational facilities set off a chain of events which eventually lead to the closing of schools. Connie Rawlins recalls the first days of the school closings. "I didn't believe it until I showed up the next
morning and didn't see any buses or any students, that's when it began to sink in." Vera Allen points out that any sympathy for her and her two colleagues would be misplaced, " the teachers found other jobs it was the students who suffered.'" Although resistance to segregation was commonplace in the south. Prince lidvvard County took it one step further when it decided to close the public schools from 1959 to 1964. Giving it the dubious distinction of being the only county in the country to close their schools for such an incredible length of lime. Prince Edward County rccieved national attention and it was not long before they found support from all over the country. Ernestine Herdon remembers, "Many people contributed to help the students, Quakers came down from as far away as New Jersey and Pennsylvania offering to take our children into their own homes." Vera Allen recalls similarly, "Everywhere we went, outside of Farm-
Cannon searches for what's right with your life By Michele Weeks A very informative lecture was held in Jarman Auditorium on March 7. The Lecture was called "What's Right With Your Life?" The speaker was Dr. JoAnn Cannon. In the lecture. Cannon discussed how much people arc always focusing in on the ten leading causes of death. the five most deadly diseases and so on. She pointed out that many people never talk about how their lives can go well, or how they can achieve wellness in their lives. This was the main theme of her presentation. Dr. Cannon received her doctorate in public health from the University of California at Los Angeles. She was an early Peace Corps volunteer in Africa. While she was in Africa, she learned a lot from seeing a different culture. Cannon said she "saw that wisdom came from the experience." She then became interested in "What makes a quality person." In the presentation Cannon disCUMfd the fifteen major factors that Men to contribute to a person having a quality life. Dr. Cannon listed the fifteen contributing factors in descending order, and talked about each as they were presented.
These fifteen factors were arrived at by asking 600 people the question: 'What things do you think help the quality of your life?' These factors included: 15. Economic Essentials 14, Intellectual Stimulation 13. Ability to Cope with Stress 12. Rest and Sleep 11. Spiritual Awareness 10. Time and Space Alone 9. Contact with Nature 8. Experienced Creativity 7. Optimistic State of Mind 6. Balanced Nutrition 5. Work Satisfaction 4. Goal Accomplishments 3. Positive Self Esteem 2. Physical Prowess 1. Fulfilling Relationships Dr. Cannon's lecture on wellness was very informative. She was a very enthusiastic speaker, and the audience enjoyed her witty stones. If you feel that your life is not going well, take a look at these fifteen wellness factors, and sec if you have all fifteen of these in your life. If you do then you probably are living a complete and quality life.
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Dr. JoAnn Cannon was very animated during her lecture to students on the subject of living a well' life.
March 10,1995
By Justin Lincoln On Tuesday, February 28 th, Lancer Production's Cultural Unification Committee hosted Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, to speak on the history of the organization. In October. 1966, Scale helped found this organization with Huey P. Newton. The event was well attended by members of the Farmvillc commuFormer Prince Edward County Teachers (1-r) Vera Allen, nity, as well as Longwood students Connie Rawlins, and Ernestine Herndon discuss their expeand faculty. Mr. Seale was cordial, riences with the county school closings of 1959-1964. entertaining and informative. villc. people felt sorry for us. they but this was unacceptable to the black Scale's main purpose in speaking went out of their way lo be courteous." community. to this audience was to dispel misinThe educational community ralThrough all the recollections of formation concerning his organizalied around Farmvillc, Longwood this period in their lives, the women tion and the history of the Black PanCollege took in students, as did neigh- showed no bitterness. In fact, more ther Party He pointed out that since boring communities. Unfortunately, than once, the room was filled with the popularity of Spike Lee's feature the assistance did not reach all the laughter as the women poked fun at film on Malcolm X, Hollywood has students, as many never returned to themselves .ind each other. had a great interest in chronicalling school. The lasting impression is that these the history and exploits of the Black The white community raised funds women, through their dignity and cour- Panthers. The first feature he menfor the Prince Edward Academy and age, have secured their places as one tioned, directed by Melvin Van offered blacks a similar private school. of this communities' local treasures. Peebles, entitled "Panther" was referred to by Seale as "booltleg fiction." The second feature, scheduled for release in 1996, directed by John Lisa Dimino. However, these young Singleton, tentatively titled "Seize the Longwood College Forensics Team forensicators demonstrated their tal- Time," was more positively endorsed proved to be a competitor to take ent when Dimino was next out in by Seale. This, in part, may be due to seriously at the dual tournament in Novice Prose and LaMontagne placed the fact that Scale and thirty other Kentucky. Longwood participated in 4th in both tournaments for Imrormptu. members of the Black Panthers act as the Moorehcad/Carson Newman tour Senior member, Lindo Ghanb, placed consultants for this film. nament. where they placed 6th over- 2nd in After Dinner Speaking and 5th Seale pointed out that the Black all out of seventeen schools repre- in penthalon. Panther Party was not established sented. Recently, the team traveled to based on Black power. Instead, Seale Longwood's Forensics team George Mason University, where states that the motto of the group, "All started fresh this season with four new again they demonstrated their abili- power to all the People," was based on members: Alesis LaMontangne, ties. Dimino placed 2nd in Novice Ransford Doherty. Sharon Glaznerand continued page 3
Forensics Continues to Impress
the group's belief that "the AfricanAmerican people's liberation is interconnected with all human liberation." Scale told the attentive crowd that people of all races, colors, and creeds assisted the Black Panthers with their humanitarian goals. Seale's style was good natured and amusing. Considering his reputation as a firey political radical, his easy going demeanor came as quite a surprise. Throughout the evening, Seale name dropped countless other Black radicals throughout history, to place his early movement into context. Names like Marcus Garvey, Rosa Parks. Leroy Jones and Angela Davis popped up through out his personal reminiscences. Though Seale was very energetic throughout the evening, I. for one, was left wondering where all the radicalism had gone. Seale painted a picture of his Black Panther Party as simply a group of civic minded people interested in giving breakfast programs to children and carry ing weapons to help "police the police." He helped ensure that the audience recognized him. and his cohorts as canng human beings. However, in my mind, he erased the clement of danger and excitement. I wanted to find out how to continue the mission of radical culture. Instead, I found a man who said it's best (d work through the system. Radicalism is not dead, but we must accept that it is slowly being assimilated, and in may cases, sold out. In short, we must continue to question everything, including Bobby Seale, and take every answer with a grain of salt.
Gross and Tassa share theater expertise with Longwood students and Faculty By Hope E. Clarke Two not-so-new. but much welcomed faces grace Longwood's Speech and Theater Department these days. Former undergraduates James Gross and Anthony Tassa are here this semester, "sharing new techniques, different perspectives, and their expertise in the area of theater with the students and faculty," explained Nancy Haga, Director of the Speech and Theater Department. In 1990, Gross received his Theater Degree with a concentration in Literary Criticism and Theory, Technical Theater, and Performance with a minor in English from Longwood. During his undergraduate career, In was involved in numerous theatrical activities including designing the scenery for Androcles and the Lion and directing Baby withihc Bathwater Outside of his scholastic curricula, he designed and directed Animal Farm for Prince Edward Academy and was involved with the Waterworks Players. Alter graduating from Longwood. he attended the University ol Missis sippi for two years where he designed sets for a community theater. Corinth Theater Arts, and received the Best Design Award for his work on Angel Street. From there. Gross transferred to Wnj Me Stale University where he re ceivad baa M FA (Maeten <>f Fine Arisi m Scenic Design in 1994 '["hrough the university. he worked with The Hilbetr) Repertory Theatre, â&#x2013; COmpan) Which operated m a rotal
ing repertory which produced as many ing, and Model Building. These cre- University of Tennessee where he has as four different shows each week. dentials will definitely benefit Gross worked with the Resident Equity TheAlong with an impressive college as he endeavors to fulfill his goal of ater Company, and as a result, recareer, Gross has actively been in- teaching scenic design at a university ceived the fifty equity points necessary to gain a contract with the comvolved in theater on the professional and designing professionally. Tassa received his B.A. in English pany He has held roles in a number of level as well. His professional credentials include designing such plays from Longwood in 1992. Although plays such as Little Shop of Horrors as Streetcar Named Desire and Ui.'t he did not major in Theater, his inspir- and The Cowbov Comedy of Errors. and Cole for The New Harmony The- ing adeptness in theatrical perfor- Through U. T. he has also had the ater in New Harmony, Indiana He mance is undeniable. A Funnv Thing fortune of working with a fantastic w ,is ,i scenic artist anddesigned Voice Happened M the Way (o \\K Forum. theater group from Argentina, Diablo of the Prairie for The Attic Theater in The Foreigner, and Macbeth were Mundo, on an adaptation of Pete Detroit. Michigan and served .is .i three of the many plays he discussed Schaffer's play. Royal Hunt of the scenic designer and artist for the Bar- holding roles in. Along with being a SJJD, Tassa has had extensive involvemember of the Longwood Players he ter Theater. ment with professional theater as well. Not only has the quality ol Ins was also a member of the honorary His credentials include working with work as ,i iconic designer and .niisi theater fraternity Alpha Psi Omega. On completing his academic cabeen recognized, but his play writing continued on page 2 abilities as well. His play. How u> Get reer here at Longwood, he entered the to First Base Safely, which he started writing in Dr. Doug Young's Playwriting class, was produced in Winchester, Virginia at the WIIK lies ter Little Theater The pla> is about two strangers, a man and a woman. who discuss the various aspects of social dating. So just what exactly is this multilalented. 27-year-old loriner student doing here? He is serving as our guest artisl/frce-lancc Scenic Designer and Technical Director for this semester. Remember that magnificent set for God's Favorite' QlOtl is the one reepouiMe for tha elaborate work and design that made the M so iweeonw, While contributing so much lo the productions being put on tins ler, he is also honing his teaching skills by conducting two courses here Former undergraduates Anthony Tassa (left) and James at Longwood. Dialling and Render- Gross prove that the Longwood experience never ends.