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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 3, 1984)
Ducks nab another Oregon Prep star See page 5 Oregon daily emerald Thursday, May 3, 1984 I-— Eugene, Oregon Volume ttS, Number 147 Robinson returns to stage in local production By Angela Allen Morgan Of the Emerald In Eugene, he is known pro fessionally as "the man of the theater." On campus, he is recognized sentimentally for the theater which has his name. At 74 years old, Horace Robinson has a string of theater credentials that stretch impressively over the past five decades, including his 42-year directorship of the University Theater. He has done most everything in the past 50 years that a man of the theater would do: direct, act and design. In the last 16 years, he has pursued all of these dramatic endeavors, except one — acting. Tonight the dry spell will be broken when he plays the part of Norman Thayer in Oregon Repertory Theatre's produc tion of "On Golden Pond." Ah, yes, the Henry Fonda role — a fact that Robinson asserts has nothing to do with his performance. "There is no Norman Thayer," Robinson says. "There is only one when so meone does it. That's what makes the theater so exciting." Along with the excitement come the jitters for a man who hasn't had to commit a part to memory in a number of years. Photo hy Clift Colt The production of "On Golden Pond" to be held at the Soreng Theatre through mid-month features (left to right) Pete Shanahan (Billy), Horace Robinson (Norman Thayer), Barbara Morseth (Ethel Thayer) and Davey Davison (Chelsea). "An older person gets close to agony when memorizing lines," Robinson says. But it's part of the "business of being on stage,” Robinson says, that has presented him with the biggest challenge as Norman Thayer. “It's like bicycle riding," he says. "If you haven't done it for awhile, you get rusty. When I get on (the stage), I'm a little wobbly." Not so, says David Lunney, ORT's artistic director who is also directing Robinson. "He's always done fine,” Lunney says about Robinson's perfor mance in the brief three weeks of rehearsals. "I admire his courage for wanting to do such a big part.” Robinson is the focal point — the star — of Ernest Thomp son's highly praised play. He appears in almost all 10 scenes of the two-act play. The role of Norman Thayer, Lunney says, required “heavy bone work.” The bone work, Robinson says, has been demanding, though he feels reasonably well-matched to the "ideal” Norman Thayer in terms of age and physical presence. He hints that the intensive rehear sal schedule which profes sional companies follow has been "too short,” but other cast members deny seeing any evidence of Robinson's self confessed rustiness. "He's a gem,” says Barbara Morseth who plays Ethel Thayer, Norman's wife. "He's very at-home on stage." It is fitting that such a figure as Robinson who has con tributed significantly to Eugene's performing arts should appear in ORT's final production of its first year at on the Soreng's stage. "For the people in the com munity," Lunney remarks, "it will be an event." "On Golden Pond" will play May 3-5 and May 10-13 at the Soreng Theatre in the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are from $6.50 to $12.50. All performances are at 7:30 except for a 2 p.m. matinee on May 13. University Assembly votes against SEARCH motion By Doug Nash Of the Emerald The University Assembly defeated a motion Wednesday requiring the SEARCH program to consult with depart ments before offering non-credit workshops that cover the same ground as traditional University classes. Though it required only consultation and not validation by departments, many of those present voiced their concern that the amendment would have a cen suring factor on SEARCH courses. "It has to do with freedom of speech," SEARCH Director Steve Myers said, ex plaining his opposition to the amend ment. "There needs to be a forum for the presentation of different ideas and ap proaches. The SEARCH non-credit workshop is that forum." But arguing for the amendment, Counseling Psychology Prof. Ron Rousseve said the non-credit workshops "enjoy a sort of presumed credibility" because they are taught at the University. It is the University's obligation to verify the beliefs being taught in those workshops, he said. "I am disturbed by the prevalence of ir rational beliefs in the contemporary world," he said, referring to SEARCH workshops in astro-travelling and mysticism. "We in the University are dedicated to appraising beliefs." Disagreeing with Rousseve, Student University Affairs Board member Tom Birkland said the University does not have the responsibility of protecting peo ple from irrational beliefs. "If people are gullible or taken in, that's their perogative," he said. "But I don't think it's our role to protect people who fall into that trap." Assembly members also said the con sultation requirement was too am biguous to be workable. The amendment tailed 26-20. In addition, Assembly members decid ed there were too few in attendance to act on a motion requesting emergency funds for the State System of Higher Education. The proposal, made by Stu dent University Affairs Board member Gordon Mallon, calls on Chancellor Bud Davis to ask the Legislative Emergency Board for more funds. It will be discuss ed at the Assembly's June meeting. In March, the State Board of Higher Education denied a similar request by ASUO Pres. Mary Hotchkiss and iaw stu dent Don Corson. The Assembly also considered two mo tions dealing with its own structure. The first one, which defines the membership of the Assembly, passed. The second fail ed, however. It would have established an Assembly quorum of 75. Only about 65 members were present at Wednesday's meeting. "If people are not concerned enough to turn out, those who are concerned enough should be able to attend and vote," said English Prof. Glen Love, argu ing against the<motion. Commencement at Hayward Field — weather permitting By Melissa Martin Of the Emerald Graduation has changed in the 106 years since the University's first com mencment exercise. The first graduates delivered long ora tions such as “The Development of Science," and the "Earth's Battlefield," at the 1878 graduation, says University Ar chivist Keith Richard. But graduation audiences can tolerate five hours of speeches for only so many years. This year's 1,000 bachelor graduates have only a two-hour ceremony, two or three "orations" and hopefully a twelve year record of clear skies. "I've been doing this since 1972 and there's only been one rain-out in a sum mer commencement, in 1976,” says Mary Hudzikiewicz, community services director. Regardless of the weather, students who want to go through commencement ceremonies Sunday, )une 10 should order caps, gowns, tassels, hoods and an nouncements in the bookstore before May 25, she says. Officials expect more than 1,400 bachelor, master and doctoral can didates at graduation, which will be held at Hayward Field or McArthur Court, depending on the weather. The 3,100 students who applied for graduation will receive an information letter in the mail this week, she says. To guarantee that the right garment sizes are still available, students should come to the bookstore pen counter soon, preferably in the mornings, says bookstore employee Nancy Dasso. For bachelor candidates, the $17.50 graduation cost pays for a black acetate cap, gown, tassel and a diploma cover, all of which graduates can keep, Dasso says. Four indoor tickets and the $5 com mencement fee are included in the package. Master candidates pay $21.95 for a ren tal cap, gown, hood and tassel. The fee includes commencement charge and the four tickets, Dasso says. And with doc toral candidates, the $22.95 fee pays for the same package. Graduates can buy already-ordered an nouncements from the pen counter im mediatley, or wait three to four days for their names and degrees to be printed in gold type on the front, Dasso says. Costs range from $16.75 for 25 buff colored announcements with a name and degree printed on each to $31.75 for 50 of the same order, she says. Graduates requesting more than the allotted four "in case of rain" tickets for the commencement, which begins at 2:30 p.m., should go to the bookstore June 9. And graduates who did not receive a letter in the mail this week should stop by 202 Johnson Hall for a copy, Hud zikiewicz says.