Oregon daily emerald., June 28, 1983, Image 1

Oregon daily
emerald
Senate runs flat
on Coors sales
in Oregon
page 8
Tuesday, June 28, 1983
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 85, Number 3
Photo by MarK Pynes
Maintenance crews begin to repair damaged curb cuts.
Crews smooth sidewalks
City of Eugene maintenance crews
are putting the finishing touches on
campus-area sidewalks, such as this
one at 14th and Alder, which will be ac
cessible to wheelchairs when the pro
ject is completed. “Smoothed”
sidewalks include those along Alder
Street from 14th to 18ih, and on 12th
Street from Patterson to High.
After receiving numerous com
plaints from people who use
wheelchairs around the University
area, the West University Neighbors
Group, which is funding the construe
tion, implemented the $10,000 federal
ly funded project.
Besides smoothing the sidewalks,
maintenance crews are repairing those
which have been damaged by heavy
foot and wheelchair traffic in the busy
neighborhood.
Construction, which began spring
term on the 12th Street sidewalks and
last week on Alder Street, could be
completed as soon as Wednesday or
as late as July 4, a city spokesperson
said.
Board pursues lease
of 'surplus’ school
By Joan Herman
Of the Emerald
The State Board of Higher Educa
tion approved a motion allowing the
University to pursue a lease of Con
don School from the Eugene 4J
School District Friday.
The 60-year-oid building at 1787
Agate Street — across from
Hayward Field — would be leased
for a 2-year period at $50,000 annual
ly, with an option to apply rental
payments to a purchase price.
Because of declining enrollment
in the 4J school district, the
building was considered “surplus”
to the district’s needs after June 30,
1983.
Unlike the school district, the
University badly needs the
building’s usable area of 27,400
square-feet, said University Pres.
Paul Olum.
“We don’t have any extra space
around the University, and we are
giving up other leased space to do
this because we are getting a better
deal and it’s a more desirable
space,” Olum said at the board’s
June meeting held in the EMU.
The building’s primary function
will be to house the College of
Education’s microcomputer center,
which helps train students,
teachers and administrators in the
use of computers, said Jack
Hunderup, vice-chancellor for
facilities planning.
The former elementary school
also would provide space for ar
chitecture students’ design studios,
many of which are now housed in
prefabricated World War II buildings
along Agate Street; ERIC Clear
inghouse on Educational Manage
ment, an education resources infor
mation library, which is currently in
the University’s main library; Career
Information Service; the Continua
tion Center; and the Housing
Department, which would use the
school’s auditorium, gymnasium
Condon School
and kitchen to provide recreational
facilities for University students in
the East campus area.
Funds for the building’s
estimated annual operating ex
penses of $118,000 would come
from the departments to be housed
there, rent savings of those depart
ments, as well as a $35,000 supple
ment to the University's state
budget, Hunderup said.
The building is in “extremely
good shape” and has been moder
nized with a new roof and
weatherization system, Hunderup
said. “It can be adapted readily to
certain uses" by the University and
free up expansion for other pro
grams, he said.
The two-acre site, which lies
within approved campus boun
daries, hns been part of the Univer
sity’s long-range development
plans, Hunderup said. The Universi
ty hopes to include funds to pur
chase and rehabilitate the property
within its budget request for
19C5-87.
Rilling is thrilling audiences, students
Rilling's approach to conducting is a mirror of his
approach to living. Rilling is a world-renowned
choral conductor as well as one of Europe’s finest
teachers of choirs and choral conducting.
By Joan Herman
Of th« Emerald
The young woman moves to the front of Room 198
in the music school as her name is called. She raises a
small, white baton and begins leading the group of
musicians that surround her through a Bach cantata.
Leaning againsi a piano, intently watching every
move, is Helmuth Rilling, the Oregon Bach Festival’s
artistic director. When she is finished, Rilling walks up
next to her to critique her conducting.
“Oh, very good,” he says, obviously impressed
with the student’s performance. The woman laughs
both from surprise and relief that the “master” of con
ducting has praised her work. She is the first student
in Rilling’s master’s class to receive a compliment
that day.
It’s not that Rilling is stingy with compliments,
but that he demands perfection from his musicians.
Perhaps only from Rilling would the conductors, who
come from all over the nation to be in his class, take
these criticisms without flinching.
Yet Rilling softens every criticism with humor.
After one conductor finishes his turn, Rilling tells him,
“I’m surprised you didn’t say anything to the basses
because they are falling asleep over there.” The class
loves it and they crack the somber mood with laughter,
not an unusual occurrence for the bunch.
The musicians seem more like teenagers ex
periencing their first love than some of the country’s
most talented artists. They hang on their mentor’s
every word, nodding in agreement with all he says.
When Rilling demonstrates how to conduct, they
move their hands in unison with his, attempting to
catch his conducting talents.
Rilling’s musicians are “totally dedicated to him,”
says the festival’s executive director Royce Saltzman.
“The orchestra and choir seem to have a love affair
with him. They also have an enormous amount of
respect for him,” Saltzman says.
The feelings are mutual.
"I enjoy working with people — with the
ensembles, chorus, orchestra and soloists. We have
an unusually good atmosphere. They love the music
as I do. And I love working in class with workshop
members,” Rilling says quietly.
Conducting and teaching are not new to the
50-year-old man from West Germany. Not only is Rill
ing a world-renowned choral conductor, but he is also
one of Europe’s finest teachers of chorus and choral
conducting, as well as an accomplished organist.
When he is not involved with his many choral con
ducting responsibilities in his native Stuttgart, he is
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