OCR::/Vol_094/WLURG39_RTP_19941202/WLURG39_RTP_19941202_001.2.txt The Stage Is Set for Upcoming Lcn"cst Events Men's Basketball loses heartbreaker to Hampden-Sydney in he 'i;ting—tum lflhi 2 /. VOLUME 94, No.11!’ WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY mm» Al SHOULD mow » .-at E vs riy 5%! <’s<&*‘= 52:23.9.-..\;s4»»a tmmim‘ _ Photo by Betsy Green, The Ring-tum Phi Observing Global AIDS Day A Global AIDS Day was December 1 this year, and the AIDS Education Project sponsored an information center outside the Leyburn Library. Numerous information pamphlets about making sex safer, options for protection from sexual transmitted diseases, condoms, and AIDS awareness ribbons were place out for people to take. In addition, there were large charts with information about AIDS and how it is transmitted. Former W&L dean dies at 84 Law professor, security officer, and bookstore employee also mourned By ETHAN KRUPP Phi News Editor Washington and Lee lost a former dean, a law school professor, a security officer, and a bookstore employee over Thanksgiving Break. William Webb Pusey III, a retired dean, profes- sor, and acting president of W&L, succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 84 on Friday, Nov. 25. J. Timothy Philipps, a professor at W&L’s School of Law, died of cancer on Sunday, Nov. 27. He was 54. Clarence A. Miller Jr., a W&L Security Officer, died as a result of a heart attack on Friday, Nov. 18. Ruby Clemmer Earhart, a W&L Bookstore employee died on Saturday, Nov. 26, of cancer. Pusey was a S. Blount Mason Jr. Professor of German Emeritus and dean emeritus of W&L, in addition to serving as acting president of the univer- sity during his 42 years of service to the school. He joined the faculty in 1939 as an associate professor of German and was made a full professor in 1947. He served as a dean of the college, W&L’s arts and sciences division, from 1960 to 1971. Pusey was appointed acting president of the university from the time Fred C. Cole resigned in 1967, until his succes- sor, Robert E.R. Huntley assumed the office Feb. 5, 1968. While acting president, he continued to serve in the dual capacity of dean and chairman of the depart- ment of German. From 1971 until his retirement in 1981, he returned to his first love: teaching. During his 11 years as dean, Pusey directed a series of changes that had a profound effect on W&L. Faculty salaries were doubled, enabling the univer- sity to attract and keep top-notch teachers; research opportunities for both students and faculty were expanded; the Robert E. Lee Research Program was established and has since allowed hundreds of under- graduates to engage in advanced research normally undertaken only on the graduate level; the entire university curriculum was reorganized; the academic calendar currently in use was adopted; the number of courses in arts and sciences was nearly doubled; a program for honor students was developed; and the faculty advisor system was reworked. A 1932 graduate of Haverford College, Pusey received his A.M. degree from Harvard University from Harvard University in 1933 and his Ph.D. degree from Columbia University in 1939. Pusey was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. During World War II, he served 39 months in the United States Naval Reserves, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. He was cited for his work as an interpreter in interrogating the German Naval Command at the end of the war. Besides his duties in the German department, Pusey taught Russian Language and comparative literature and was responsible for developing W&L’s East Asian Studies Program in the late 1970’s. A noted scholar, he wrote extensively on the topic of German language and literature. His major field of study was German Impressionism, particularly the writing of Eduard van Keyserling. His doctoral thesis, Louis-Sebastien Mercier in Germany: His Vogue and Influence in the Eighteenth Century, was published by Columbia University Press in 1939, and in 1943, he co-authored a textbook, Readings in Military German. He was the author of numerous reviews and articles in scholarly journals. He also was the author of a comparative historical examination and critique of W&L’s curriculum in the period of 1850-80, and a study of the Ann Smith Academy, an all-female school in Lexington during the 1880’s. Aside from scholarly pursuits, Pusey was an avid baseball fan and once served on the board of directors of the Lynchburg Mets, a Class A farm club of the New York Mets. He also enjoyed walking, garden- ing, and playing bridge. At W&L, Pusey won two Ring-tum Phi awards from the newspaper in 1968 and 1971. In 1981, the student body established the William Webb Pusey III Award, to be given annually to a member of the faculty or administration who has given outstanding service to the university. Pusey was the first recipient. He is survived by two daughters and two grandchildren. J. Timothy Philipps, a native of Wheeling, W.Va., had been a professor of tax law since 1980. Prior coming to W&L, Philipps taught at Loyola Law School (1977-80) and West Virginia University Law Center (1966-76). He was a visiting professor at Duke University in 1976. He received his B.S. from Wheeling College in 1962, J .D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1965, and L. L.M. the following year from Harvard Law School. At Harvard, he was a Ford Foundation Fellow. Philipps taughtcourses in individual income taxa- tion, business taxation, and tax policy. He lectured frequently on tax policy and was the author of numer- ous articles on the subject. He spent a sabbatical leave in 1993 as a law to U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Stamp Jr. in Wheeling, W. Va. He also served as a member of the ABA Section of Taxation’s committees on attorneys in small firms and problems of low income tax payers. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, his mother, two brothers, a sister, and several nieces and nephews. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memo- rial donations be made to the Rockbridge Area Hos- pice (146 S. Main St., Lexington, Va. 24450) or the J. Timothy Philipps Scholarship Fund (c/o Washing- ton and Lee School of Law, Lexington, Va. 24450). Clarence “Sonny” Miller, 57, spent 17 years work- ing as a W&L Security Officer. Assistant Director of Security Stephen T. Tomlinson characterized Miller as “someone who never complained.” After being diagnosed with lung cancer, Miller underwent sub- stantial radiation treatment, but “never missed a day of work,” said Tomlinson. The day before he died of a heart attack, his doctor had informed him that his attempt to overcome the cancer had been successful. “He was an inspiration to [the Security depart- ment] and to the university,” said Tomlinson. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Ruby Clemmer Earhart, 61, had worked for the bookstore for almost 30 years when she died. A native of Rockbridge County, she lived in Raphine. She is survived by her husband, three daughters, son, sister, three brothers, three half brothers, and eight grandchildren. File Photo Pusey was instrumental in forming the modern W&L while serving as dean. U»... .— «.ut......_.._....- .... ...._._.., ..... LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA DECEMBER 2, 1994 Heatley suit against W&L tossed out By SARAH GILBERT Phi Executive Editor Judge Duncan M. Byrd, Jr. dis- missed the $1 million lawsuit against Washington and Lee University Nov. 15, granting W&L’s motion for sum- mary judgment. The decision is a victory for Wash- ington and Lee University, and is the culmination of a year- long battle former professor Nathan Rick Heatley has been waging in the hopes ofbeingcompensated for what his lawyers called “wrongful dis- charge” from the uni- versity in May of 1993. Heatley’s lawyer, Charles Smith III of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore in Roanoke, said they would de- cide whether to ap- peal the decision “within the next couple of weeks.” In oral arguments Oct. 19, W&L’s lawyers made a motion for demurrer and summary judgment. In otherwords, they contended that, though the facts that Heatley presented may have been true, they did not support his premises of wrongful discharge and breach of fiduciary duty and the case should be dismissed. Heatley’s lawyers quoted a clause from the Virginia Code which they felt should create a new cause of action, or a new basis on which civil suits could be brought. In his decision, however, Byrd cited cases from the Virginia Supreme Court which he said supported W&L’s argument. , In response to the three of the counts of Heatley’s suit, I, II and IV, which allege that W&L “terminated Heatley without just cause and without follow- ing it own procedures,” Byrd brought up the Virginia “at will” employment clause. This states that the term of employment is indefinite an may be terminated for any reason, unless some contract exists between the employer and employee. Heatley’s lawyers insisted that the personnel manual, the faculty hand- Heatley book and the student handbook consti- tuted a contract between Washington and Lee and its employees. But, be- cause the contract was not “signed by the party to be charged,“ as the Statute of Frauds mandates, it was not holding. Byrd used the Falls v. Virginia State Bar decision as his basis on these counts. In the Falls case, an employee of the Virginia State Bar argued that, since the Bar manual bore the Bar’s logo, the signature requirement was sat- isfred. The Virginia Supreme Court said it did not. On count III of the suit,whichalleged“a wrongful discharge under Virginia’s nar- row exception to the employment-at-will doctrine for retalia- tory discharge in vio- lation of public policy,” Byrd brought in the deci- sion of Miller v. SEVAMP, Inc. This count-means that Heatley’s law- yers tried to establish a new cause of action under a part of the Code which states its purpose is to “protect citizens of the Commonwealth against unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination.” However, because the Supreme Court decided in Miller that the excep- tion was “not so broad as to make actionable those discharges of at-will employees which violate only private rights of interest,” and Byrd felt that the discharge of Heatley was a private interest and not a matter of public policy, he dismissed this count. The final count, IV, inwhich Heatley alleged a breach of fiduciary duty, Byrd wrote “Virginia does not recognize the tort of breach of fiduciary duty.” Heatley’s lawyer said the lawsuit should be negatively received by many people to whom it relates. “I would imagine that the employ- ees of Washington and Lee would be surprised to find that the personnel manual and faculty handbook which ostensibly secure many contractual rights are meaningless,” Smith said. Washington and Lee’s lawyer was out of his office this week and could not be reached for comment. Nicaragua trip planned for Washington Break cause she is a romance By MICHAEL HEWLEIT Phi Staff Writer If you’re looking for a place to go for February break, you might try Nicaragua. Junior Jennifer Beam has begun organizing a group of Washington and Lee students to travel to Nicaragua from Febru- ary 10-19. Beam said she went to Nicaragua in the sum- mer of ’93 with Bridges for Community, a non- profit organization based in New York City. She planted trees and con- structed a school. She said she had a good time. “I thought it was an experiencedifferent from the normal W&L experi- ence,” she said. She said she went on the trip to improve her Spanish. She had been to Mexico and Yonkers, New York to do mission work. Her church raised money for her to go. Students will have to raise money for the trip on their own. The trip costs $1200, and a $500 deposit will be due on January 1. The money will pay for airfare, trans- portation and food. Stu- dents will be provided housing, probably tents. She said the students will probably be working on a school or housing project. Beam said the students would be going with Bridges with Community. Beam said twenty- five students have al- ready shown interest in the trip. “I was overwhelmed at the number of people who have shown inter- est,” she said. “It looks pretty good.” Junior Phaedra Cianciulli said she liked the idea of helping people. “I think it’s a good project because it actu- ally does something with the people involved,” she said. “You actually live with and work with the people you’re helping.” Junior Lisa Smith said she became interested when she heard about Beam’s trip to Nicaragua. She said the Nicara- gua trip intrigued her be- languages major. She thought it was a way to help people. “We have a lot of op- portunities to help out within the Lexington community,” she said. “This is just an opportu- nity to take that to an international level.” Beam went to Spain last spring but has never been to Central America. She said she expects to get a lot out of the trip. Freshmen David Fos- ter also thought the trip was a great opportunity to help people. He said the school construction project attracted him to the trip. “I think spreading education and helping people is a positive ex- perience for those who are going down to help and those who are re- oeiving the help,” he said. Beam said the trip is a rich, well-rounded edu- cational experience in that students can learn things in any field. “We’re trying to heighten awareness about developing coun- tries, especially Central America,” she said. OCR::/Vol_094/WLURG39_RTP_19941202/WLURG39_RTP_19941202_002.2.txt BEYOND THE BLUE RIDGE The World UN threatens withdrawal, seeks cease-fire The United Nations has decided to withdraw its peacekeeping mission in Bosnia unless the country reaches a ceasefire. The ultimatum comes after a week of Serbian agression towards the UN, including taking UN personnel hostage and stopping supply convoys. The UN hoped that a visit by Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali will result in a cease-fire of at least four months. Yeltsin to declare state of emergency Russian President Boris Yeltsin threatened to impose a state of emer- gency in the warring region of Chechnya if fighting does not stop by Thursday. Chechnya has tried for the last 100 years to secede from Russia, who is not willing to forfeit the Caucases Mountains and oil deposits in that region. It is assumed that if the fighting does not stop, Yeltsin will send in troops to control the area. A North Korea quit nuclear program, says UN UN inspectors have verified that North Korea has halted its nuclear program and stopped building nuclear reactors in compliance with its agreement with the United States. A statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that work at the nuclear sites had been stopped. North Korea agreed to stop its program in return for Western resources to replace the reactors with other models that produce less plutonium. III-fated Achille Lauro sails no more US naval vessels and merchant ships rescued almost 1,000 people from the cruise liner Achille lauro as it burned off the coast of Somalia. A fire that began in the engine room travelled to the sun deck killed two of the 979 people on board. The Achille Lauro made headlines in 1985 when Palestinian terrorists hihacked the ship and killed a wheelchair bound passenger from New York The Nation Dahmer killed in prison Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, infamous for necrophilia and cannibalism of his victims, was killed Monday in the Wisconsin prison where he was serving 15 life terms. A prison guard found Dahmer bleeding on the floor in the shower area of the prison. A bloody broom stick was found nearby. The suspect in Dahmer’s death is a convicted murdererwho claimed he was the Son of God. Quayle treated for blood clot Former Vice President Dan Quayle entered an Indiana hospital on Monday for treatment of a blood clot in the right lung. Doctors say they are optimistic about his recovery and that the ailment should not affect his political plans. Quayle is expected to announce a bid for the 1996 Republican Presidential nomination in the coming weeks. Researchers find fat gene Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation thought tobe responsiblefor some types of obesity. The mutation is believed to disrupt the signal that tells the brain when a person has had enough to eat. Without this signal, people continue to overeat. This discocery may eventually lead to a therapeutic drug designed to mimic thehormone so that people can eat less food and feel satiated. The State Farris decides not to run Michael Farris, the losing Repubiican candidate for Lieutenant Gover- nor in 1993 said Wednesday he will not run for US Senate in 1996. The possible remaining candidates for the Republican nomination are incum- bent Senator John Warner and either James Miller III or Oliver North. Developers to modify plans for Parkway In compliance with requests from the Coalition for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke County land developers agreed to change plans for a housing development planned within 200 feet of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Owners of the four tracts of land have agreedto attend workshops with architects next year in order to lessen the impact of the development on the view along the 470 mile parkway. Beyond the Blue Ridge is compiled by Emily Baker. The Ring-tum Phi, December 2, 1994 qqpqmumm,-Mmxw. VMI’s libary closing Photo by Betsy Green, The Ring-tum Phi VMI’s Preston Library will be closed beginning in January due to renovations. During the twelve month renova- tion period, library services will be moved to Lejeune Hall, the Ball Room on the second floor. Services and collec- tions housed in Lejeune Hall will be circulation and reserves, reference; current periodicals, current government documents, videotapes, CD’s, and microforms. Most of the book collection will be stored in a warehousein Lexing- ton and the VMI library staff will retrieve items from storage daily. W&L students and faculty may call the VMI circulation desk at 464-7228 to request items from storage to be picked up at Lejeune Hall. VMI’s online catalog can be accessed for searching via Liberty. VMI faculty and cadets can continue to use the W&L libraries. Cadets must sign out for a two hour period to use materials at W&L that are not available in their own library. Webb informs freshmen about final exam policy Webb outlined the basic procedure Webb went on to outline the EC violations going to be hell,” said one student. honor By PATRICK WILLIAMSON Phi Staff Writer This past Monday Executive Com- mittee President Kevin Webb met with the freshman class in Lee Chapel to inform them of the procedures involved in exam week. Because the meeting was manda- tory, the chapel was packed with first year students eagerly awaiting what- ever words of wisdom Webb might impart to them regarding the week all students dread. The meeting actually turned out to be a short one, because, as all upper- classmen know, the process of sched- uling exam periods is really for the students, explaining the process of obtaining envelopes, filling them out and turning them in to the profes- sors. In addition, he passed out infor- mation sheets and sample envelopes to all present which served as a reminder of what he had just explained. After passing out the sheets and folders Webb proceeded to expound upon the honor code and its place in the exam system. “The"opp'oitunity to schedule your own examinations is a direct reflection of the honor system,” he said. “Because of the faith the adminis- tration and the faculty place in the honor system and in you, you’re al- lowed to schedule your own exams, whenever you desire, within the exam times.” policy on during exams. “Self-scheduling of examinations opens the door to temptation of dishon- orable conduct,” Webb stated. He es- sentially stated that students should be responsible for their own actions and that no aspect of any exam should be disclosed by students to their upon taking .the exam. He added that if students ‘continue to uphold the honor system and act in an honorable man- ner, “the policy of self-scheduled ex- aminations will continue to be a W&L tradition for generations to come.” Freshman students were naturally not thrilled at the prospect of enduring their first exam week. Another student had only good things to say about the W&L exam policy. “If you need time to study for a particular course, you can schedule the time for yourself. I think it works great. . . . For the most part, people generally seem to care about the honor system. Many of them came here for that reason.” As for themeeting, freshmen were supportive but tended to agree that they ’ d rather be spending their evening doing something else. “The meeting was helpful in a way. It was needed. But ten minutes, come on. It was kind of a waste for them to drag us all out there for such a short meeting,” re- marked a student. quite simple. “I ’ve got four exams and they are all Students, Howison discuss mandatory sophomores housing By Joanna Soto Phi Staff Writer Students voiced their opinions on the possible change in the university housing policy at an open forum Wednesday night. Dean Howison organized the forum to get student reactions on issues that currently face the university. The main topic of discussion was the possibility of requiring sophomores to live in campus housing. The class of 1999 will be the first class to be affected by the policy. The idea came about at a Budget and Audit committee meeting last spring. The administration wants to create an environment that balances resident and financial life. Dean Howison told students that the change in policy was not the university’s way of raising money. “Washington and Lee’s budget is as rock solid as it ever was,” said Howison. As it stands now only 75 percent of Gaines and Woods Creek are occupied. If Sophomores were required to live on campus it would bring an addi- tional $200,000 in revenue. Howison said that the money would be used to improve student life. One possible use for the money would be the construction of a student center. How- ever, no new construction will take place until the science center is completed. Howison also said that by taking one hundred students out of the housing market would put pres- sure on landlords and real estate agents to lower prices or improve conditions. Dean Manning sees the change as a way to im- prove relations between the students and the administration. “I think we need to put more emphasis on institu- tional loyalty and building community,” Manning said. . The students at the forum expressed some con- cern over the notion that you must sacrifice freedom for community. Other students felt that a sense of community could not be forced, but must be voluntary. One student even went as far as to say that a sense of community was not worth having to live in Gaines. “I’d rather live in a dump than in Gaines,” said junior Andy Olmem. There were students that felt that it was not unrea- sonable for the university housing policy to be changed. Senior Noelle Parrott thought that sophomores would appreciate not being rushed into having to find a place to live their sophomore year. “You shouldn’t have to Worry about signing a lease when you need to be concentrating on your studies,” Parrott said. “Besides, I don’t think living one more year on campus is too much to ask of students.” For those students that didn’t get to voice their opinions, another open forum will be held in January. Christmas weekend plans to keep students busy By PETER WEISSMAN Phi Staff Writer From Santa hats to gag gifts, Washington and Lee students today begin the festive rituals of Christmas weekend. While standard fraternity activities include cocktail parties and bands tomor- row night, some houses will celebrate with their own traditions. At Pi Kappa Alpha, sophomores will read a Christmas poem that pokes fun at the brothers, said president Allen Gillespie. At Sigma Phi Epsilon, pledges will mock the brothers in a skit and challenge them in a football game. Pi Kappa Phi president Alan Christensen said the brothers will entertain underprivileged children Friday afternoon. Phi Kappa Sigma will hold its annual formal dinner, and Sigma Chi will have its annual semiformal. At Sigma Nu, the brothers are having their annual formal and plan to keep their fireplace burning from Thursday to Sunday. “Whenever people come in, there will be a fire going,” said president Stephen lnman. Professors will also have a chance to enjoy W&L’s last Saturday before finals. Chi Psi, SAE, and Sigma Nu will host faculty receptions. Christmas activities are not limited to fraternities. The Pi Beta Phi sorority will hold a faculty reception Monday. Kappa Kappa Gamma will take pictures with Santa outside the Co-op for the United Way Wednesday, said philanthropy chairman Ashley Matthews. Senior Sarah Gilbert said that Xi Pi Xi, “W&L’s newest sorority,” will hold a Christmas formal next Saturday. The Minority Student Association will host a party for Lexington children at the Chavis House Saturday afternoon, said MSA secretary Nova Clarke. Service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega will initiate seven pledges Sunday and go caroling next Saturday, said APO president Josh Cook. Tonight, the Student Activities Board will begin Christmas Weekend with the band Hootie and the Blowfish at the Pavilion. “I think we’ve caught a band that is on it’s way up,” said SAB entertainment director Drew Denbo. “If you like rock and roll, you’ll like these guys.” SAB President Michael Weinfeld said that tickets have sold well, thanks in part to extended sale hours and interest at nearby colleges. Students of drinking age should bring identification to enter the beer garden, said assistant W&L Security director Steve Tomlinson. “It should be a good time for everybody although I’ve never heard of Hootie and the Blowfish,” Tomlinson said. Law enforcers are also preparing for the big weekend. Lexington Police Chief Bruce Beard said students should watch out for underage drinking, drinking in public, and public intoxication. “We will have the force beefed up for the weekend,” Beard said. “I recommend that [students] stay inside and keep the music down.” Alcohol Beverage Control officers won’t be on campus because they were not requested, said ABC Public Relations Coordinator Robert Chapman. W&L Security and Lexington police can handle the job, Tomlinson said. As in recent years, security officers will visit fraternity houses. “We’ll have somebody dropping by if time permits,” Tomlinson said. He said that students should use common sense and not congregate outside parties. With a wide variety of social traditions, W&L students have many reasons to look forward to Christmas Weekend. PiKa’s Gillespie offered one reason. “To find out who’s been naughty and nice.” Scheduled bands for Saturday Night: Chi Psi, B, S, & M, Kappa Alpha, The Stegmonds Kappa Sigma, Southern Legends Lambda Chi Alpha, Doug Clark & The Hot Nuts Phi Delta Theta and Beta Theta Pi, Uncle Mingo Phi Kappa Psi, The Press Pi Kappa Alpha, Fighting Gravity (formerly Boy 0 Boy) Pi Kappa Phi, Jupiter Cayote Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Jimmy Smoothie Sigma Chi, Curiosity Shoppe Sigma Nu, Red Hot Smoothies 1 Sigma Phi Epsilon, No Small Feat A OCR::/Vol_094/WLURG39_RTP_19941202/WLURG39_RTP_19941202_003.2.txt R The Ring-tum Phi, December 2, 1994 W&L ife ‘Passion and con roversg color Come Down Burning ’ Plagwrighl Kia Corthron eloquentlg wrestles with the abortion issue in Lenfests latest production By DAN ODENWALD ‘E Phi Staff Writer Kia Corthron believes that important and valuable theater needs to have passion. This would explain why the widely ac- " claimed playwright focuses on current contro- versial political issues. Political debates stir emotion and feeling, and that is precisely what Corthron wants. “I consider my play a success if just one A person leaves the theater differently than he came in,” said Corthron. Come Down Burning , a 1993 play written by Corthron, will be part of the play reading series offered by the Lenfest Center this week- end. The work focuses on three black women growing up in poverty in a small Southern town. The play deals with the emotional issue of abortion. Moreover, the work questions the plight of poor women faced with matters of ‘ choice. “The central political issue was that of choice. The play is about overcoming barriers. I focus on sibling rivalry and health issues,” said Corthron. Corthron also examines the contrast between female characters, one of whom is paralyzed. “I wanted to compare the power between the women in the play. The main character is physically handicapped, but is the most psy- chologically powerful,” said Corthron. Theater professor Tom Zeigler sought Corthron after their mutual agent recommended her work. After reading her play, he decided that as a member of the Glasgow Committee, a group with access to an endowment fund that pays for visiting performers, he " would invite Corthron to Wash- ’ ington and Lee. “The play was exciting be- cause it’s controversial. The characters are forced to make extreme decisions because of the economic pressures on them which is a result of their race,” said Ziegler. Zeigler is also interested in audience reaction, especially at W&L. . “I’m very interested in see- ing how the students will re- spond,” said Zeigler. Corthron was unable to pre- dict how W&L audiences will receive her play. She did comment, however, on a similarly conservative Connecticut audience who had recently seen her play. “Some people were visibly moved by the play, while oth- ers were quite hostile,” said Corthron. Corthron expects varying emotional responses from au- dience members when they see her plays. Politically, she classifies herself as more liberal than Bill Clinton. Therefore, she is met with some disagreement from the more conservative elements in her audiences. Her stands on political issues come out in her plays because she chooses to write about them. “A lot of theater is passionless. It doesn’t make you think, and while entertaining, it’s mostly mindless sit-com,” said Corthron. A 1992 MFA graduate from Columbia University, Kia Corthron‘s works have won numerous awards, including the 1993 New Professional Theatre Play Writing Contest andthe Delaware Theatre Company's contest. Given the new hostility to the political- correctness movement, it would seem that Corthron’s ideas would be subject to attack. The playwright doesn’t believe in political cor- rectness as an idea. “Personally, I believe the term came from conservatives as a way to im- ply that one’s beliefs are both- ering someone else. Every person should be allowed to listen to their conscience,” said Corthron. Corthron is currently working on a play that deals with the death penalty. The plot centers on historical fig- ures Nat Turner and Crazy Horse, both of whom Corthron considers remark- able people, who are on death row. Undoubtedly, the play will spark an interesting debate on capital punishment. Ziegler chose C omeDown Burning because he wanted to involve more students in Lenfest productions. “We look for every op- portunity to get more students involved in the department. For this play, we looked for more minority students espe- cially,” said Ziegler. In fact, the entire cast is made up of members of the Minority Students Associa- tion. “It’s a disturbing play be- cause it deals with abortion in a time before Roe v. Wade. It’s more about a relationship between two sisters than about abortion,” said Michael Hewlett ’96, one of the play’s performers. The play reading series is an experiment of Lenfest, and the staff hopes to get a positive response. Students in Zeigler’s play writing class will have their original work presented Satur- Publicity Photo ‘Dam/vire tetfs a mystifying tafe C. 2 1 4" J 1' 1' "-I: By KIRK SUSONG — - Phi Movie Reviewer Interview with the Vampire — rfinfr Interview with the Vampire is a very interesting film, but it leads a double life. For all the fans of Anne Rice out there, it is surely a work to be savored, a splendid, beautiful and gilded movie that finally brings all those readers’ personal imaginations to the big screen. But for the rest of us who haven’t read her books, it is merely a gaudy, confusing and thoroughly sordid tale. The premise is that a young re- porter, Malloy (Christian Slater), is I interviewing a vampire, Louis (Brad Pitt), whom he has met on the streets of San Francisco. His recollections form the body of the movie. M .. 3, He begins in 1791, in New Orleans, as a rich, young, re- cently widowed, plantation .. owner. He is approached by the ' vampire Lestat (Tom Cruise) who . offers him the chance at immortal- 5. ity and a new life. Louis accepts, only to quickly dis- cover that he is still too in touch with his human side: he hates killing people just so he can feast on their blood. Instead, he must suck the life from rats, chickens, poodles, etc. Lestat finds this absurd, and re]- ishes the death of at least one fresh, ripe maiden a night. The tension between the two steadily increases, and Louis considers leaving behind his compatriot’s wicked ways. But, Lestat won’t have that, so he creates a family for them, by vampire- izing a young girl, Claudia (Kristen Dunst). The three become the best of friends as they go on theirnightly quests for that red, red wine. Over the years, tensions come up, and the three become increasingly tired of one another. Claudia is especially resentful be- cause she will never grow up and be- come a fully-bosomed woman; when Lestat turns a deaf ear to her problems, she decides to kill him. First she has him drink blood from a corpse (apparently quite bad for a vampire’s constitution), then she slits his neck and has Louis throw him in the swamp for the alligators to prey upon. But killing a vampire is no easy task. Lestat comes back with a ven- geance, and finally Louis must set him afire to stop him. Louis and Claudia decide to leave America to search out other vampires around the world. They search futilely for many years, but finally come across a whole horde of them in Paris, led by the graceful Armand (Antonio Banderas). It turns out that Armand is looking for a vampire in touch with the modern age, and he thinks Louis is the best man for the job. And, Louis discovers that Armand is willing to answer all those questions about vampires Lestat wouldn’t touch. Unfortunately, the other vampires have all heard about Claudia’s attempts to do in Lestat and are quite upset she tried to kill one of their own kind. _ They capture her and expose her to the sunlight, crumbling her to dust. Since Louis was her accomplice, they decide to lock him in a coffin for a hundred years, walled up in the dark depths of their catacombs. Armand comes to the rescue, and is able to get Louis out of the coffin, but too late to save Claudia. Louis is so heart-broken over the death of the girl, whom he had always considered a daughter, that he decides to burn all the vampires to death as they sleep in their coffins. The result is lots of gore, and the only people 1 e f t standing from the mess are Armand and Louis. Armand hopes that Louis will join him in a new beginning, as two thor- oughly modern vampires learning to love life again. Louis rejects this idea, and instead moves back to New Or- leans on his own. Then one night, after having watched Tequila Sunrise at a movie theater, Louis begins to poke around an old, deserted house. Inside, he finds none other than his old friend, Lestat, now quite weak as far as vampires go, but rarin’ to get back out to the killing, if only Louis will help. Louis refuses, and walks out of Lestat’s life. By this point the story has finally returned to the present day, and so at the end of the interview Malloy is left absolutely stunned by all that he has heard. He wants Louis to make him a vam- pire, too. But Louis is still a discon- tented vampire, and realizes he has utterly failed to convince Malloy of the psychological hell that being a vam- pire is. Louis storms out angrily. The movie ends as Malloy drives away (to a Guns ‘N’ Roses version of “Sympathy for the Devil”); in the very end he is caught by a feeble Lestat, who is willing to give him the same chance he gave to Louis two-hundred years previous, and thus start the cycle all over again. This movie is marked by a tremen- dous richness, a wealth of fabrics and colors and music and sets. Director Neil Jordan does an ad- equate if uneven job telling the story, occasionally lapsing into long, slow, tepid shots before jumping back into sudden, harsh, quickly clipped shots. The difference is unsettling and not appropriate to the luxury of the scenes. But the acting is pretty good consid- ering the bizarre characters the actors are performing. There is a certain melodrama about the way the lines are delivered, either shouted in anger or whis- fulness; perhaps that is unavoidable when playing these noble, evil crea- tures of the night. The big huff over the choice of Tom Cruise for Lestat seemed overblown to me. He neither butchered the job, nor did he excel particularly; on the whole, Antonio Banderas and Kristen Dunst have the strongest performances, though Brad Pitt does a fine job as well. The biggest drawback is the screen- play of the movie. For someone who has actually read some of Anne Rice’s works, this movie might seem totally different, but I was confused through- out. It is clear that Rice wants to address not just the romance and mystery of vampires, but also the everyday prob- lems they might face, and even the deeper metaphysical problems they would consider. So some silly, mundane things get emphasized way too much. For ex- ample, there is astrong veinofbloodlust running through the film, focusing on where Louis will find his next meal; blood runs constantly and plentifully pered in feigned mg“ day night, along with Corthron’s play on Friday night. Zeigler points to the benefits of play reading as opposes to full scale productions. “The play reading focuses on the writer. The audience sees the script alone. With full scale productions, many people influence the work from the director to the actors. The script, itself, may be lost,” said Zeigler. Time constraints also was a factor in choos- ing to do play readings. With the short time available between the close of the fall produc- tion and the Christmas Break, play readings are ideal for they require less preparation than an elaborate production. Louise Uffelman, Lenfest Center Assistant Manager, said, “The play readings offer some- thing different and provide for a different kind of theater. It’s more informal and fits into the schedule.” I . Audience members are invited to remain after the performance to discuss the plays. Audience members can voice their opinions and share any thoughts about the presented work. Uffelman expressed concern about the plethora of other activities planned for this weekend that would compete with the play readings. With the Hootie and the Blowfish concert sponsored by the Student Activities Board and the fraternity Christmas formals scheduled at the same times as the play readings, audience turnout may be limited. Nonetheless, the Lenfest crew is hoping for a healthy showing. Come Down Burning will be presented Friday night at 8:00 p.m. in the Johnson The- ater. Original student works by Megan Duncan ’95, Ashlie Kauffman ’95, Frank Christian Olah ’96, T. Jason Shaffer ’97, and Daniel Tipton ’97 will be presented on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. Uffelman is uncertain if the play reading series will become a regular event at the Lenfest in most of the shots. Conversely, some very interesting points receive attention that we might not normally think would be addressed. For example, the fact that vampires never age means that Claudia will never grow up, a point of anger for this forty- year old pre—pubescent. Similarly, Louis is very much op- posed to taking human life, the most natural thing in the world for a vam- pire. The result is a sort of twentieth- century existentialist vampire, one caught up in a struggle against his own nature. Movies are fun when they construct a fabulous, imaginary world we can escape to for hours. But they also must not create a world with question marks, and that is what Interview with the Vampire does. We are filled with numerous unan- of Forrest Gun-9% swered questions about the characters , and vampires in general. ”