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.