From Computers to the Magic of Theatre By Paul Grondahl Jodi Emblen works full-time here New York where his emphasis was tempt with Theatre West, ing space, so continued to perform at UPS In a cramped, cubby hole of on drama and hers, dance. With a McGilliard, his wife and four outdoors for two more years. Last an office in the basement of Jones very conscious goal of bringing students from Genesco comprised- summer, the Circle began renting the Hall as Data Technician for Com- theatre to an area where it was not the nucleus that launched the first upstairs of Burton Park, formerly a puter Services. She also is the yet developed, the McG illiard's con- show for the Performance Circle. It warehouse, but now home of the Technical Director and set designer cept of "colonizing a small com- was a Civil War melodrama by Bron- theatre company and a church. A for The Performance Circle, a Gig munity" was set in motion. son Howard called Shanendoah, corporately separate entity from the Harbor theatre company. Space is a Based on census figures—their done outdoors in a natural am- Circle, but also founded and run by problem there also, as the former criteria were a young, married, col- phitheatre, Le Domaine Meadow the McCilliards, is the Gig Harbor warehouse lacks essential backstage lege educated and relatively af- (after the Italian restaurant nearby School of the Performing Arts. Kathy area and wing space, and most fluent population nearby, but out- of the same name). With the aid of McGilliard, a Pacific Lutheran alum, notably, is confined by a ceiling of side a major urbancenter—they nar- the Blackpowder Rifle Association got her MFA in Dance from the only nine feet. But she appears to be rowed their choices to Williamsburg, and authentic war regalia, they pit- University of North Carolina and adjusting quite well to tight spaces— Virginia, Golden, Colorado and Gig ched their battle on the side of the teaches dance primarily, but also no claustrophobia for Jodi. Harbor. The cozy fishing village on hill. A greatly spirited production, its directs the Young Performance Cir- "It all requires an ability of Puget Sound won out. The rest is impetus got the project going. But it cle (children's theatre) and acts and organization and of functioning on history. has remained an uphill battle. choreogrrohs locally. Husband different levels," she shrugs at the After disbanding an earlier at- They couldn't find an indoor play- Please Turn to Page 7 suggestion that computers and theatre seem an unlikely combina- tion. "They're both basically the same thing, a matter of organiza- tion." Currently in its fifth anniversary season, The Performance Circle con- tinues to grow and mature in the goals of its founders. The seeds of the company's conception began in 1973 when Artistic Director George McGilliard and his wife, Kathy Lynette, gave up their teaching jobs flee at SUNY-Genesco College in upstate April 9, 1981 Vol. 3, No.I 19 rail Faculty Seeks Grade Consistency By Leslie Taylor The issue of grading consistency, awarded over the past year has risen average deluding students by mak- Dr. Droge finds a lack of con- a concern of both students and pro- from 3.00 in 1979 to 3.03 in the fall ing them believe their performance sistency creates grade inflation, fessors, has been the subject of of 1980. may be better than it really is. Pres. causes a higher overall grade point deliberation by the Academic Stan- While this increase is not a cause Phibbs feels grades should "corn- average, and results in devaluating dards Committee for the past year. for alarm by the committee or the municate adequate information to the grade point average. As an in- Their concern that grades become administration, the issue of con- the student about their perfor- dividual's grades are usually con- less useful to the student, the sistency is most certainly raised. mance" and not mislead them to sidered to be reports prepared by University, and graduate schools Both Pres. Phibbs and Chairperson think they are doing "A" work or are the professor for someone else, such unless rigorous criteria are maintain- of the Academic Standards Commit- capable of entering graduate, as a future employer, consistency is ed is shared by President Phibbs. tee Dr. David Droge believe a lack medical, or law school when they very important. Also, because SAT A recent report prepared by the of grading consistency can be may not be as well prepared as other scores are decreasing every year registrar shows the average grade reflected in a higher grade point students. while grade points rise, most graduate schools do in fact look more at entrance exams such as the Clapp Awarded for Dedication SAT than at the actual grade transcripts. Norton Clapp, well-known in- Board of Trustees in 1932 and has ticed law in Tacoma before joining The committee's concern is main- dustrialist and chairman of the been its chairman since 1967. His Weyerhaeuser in 1938, where he re- taining a grading policy where University of Puget Sound Board of leadership was instrument in mained until he retired as chairman grades are valuable tools used to dif- Trustees, today received the second developing the University into one of the board in 1976 (except for ser- ferentiate between students' in- annual Distinguished Service Award of the leading private institutions in vice in the U.S. Navy, 1942 to 1946). dividual performances. The Commit- of the Association of Governing the Northwest, according to Dr. The University of Puget Sound tee has come to the conclusion that Boards of Universities and Colleges Phillip Phibbs, UPS president. Norton Clapp Law Center, a University-wide grading standards at its annual conference in New Progress made under Mr. Clapp's downtown Tacoma complex housing are impossible because it impedes Orleans. leadership includes adding students the law school, a comprehensive law on academic freedom. Grading con- Mr. Clapp, the former president as members of all Trustee commit- library, facilities for the Washington sistency will be maintained through and chairman of Weyerhaeuser Co., tees, spearheading the drive to im- State Court of Appeals and office other means such as circulating was chosen from among 150 univer- prove academic quality, dramatical- space for attorneys, was named for reports that show the average grade sity trustees nominated for the ly increasing fundraising and, in the Mr. Clapp at dedication ceremonies awarded on each level, the average award. The University of Puget early 1970s—when most universities last fall. It is the only facility of its grade awarded in each department, Sound received a $5,000 grant from were expanding—committing UPS to kind in the nation. and the average overall. Standard Oil of Ohio, sponsors of remain a small university. The Distinguished Service Award, Droge explains this will serve as a the award, in recognition of Mr. Mr. Clapp is chairman of the the most prestigious honor for comparable function, allowing in- Clapp's service. Mr. Clapp received board of Laird Norton Co. and has university trustees, recognizes dividual professors and departments a piece of Steuben glass. served on the boards of 19 other cor- leadership that strengthens a univer- to judge their criteria against that of "A leader leads and a great leader porations, including Sea-First and sity, Improves the effectiveness of a other departments. This does not im- succeeds," Governor John Spellman SAFECO. A philanthropist as well, governing board and promotes ply that professors are now being said of Mr. Clapp. "Norton's suc- Mr. Clapp is international president understanding of higher education. too lax or too harsh; Droge em- cesses are all the sweeter because he of the Boy Scouts of America and in Separate awards are given to phatically states, "We (the pro- has achieved his vision for the 1975 received the Humanitarian trustees of private and public univer- fessors) agonize over grades In an at- University of Puget Sound not award of the National Council of sities. Edward Carter, trustee of the tempt to be fair." President Phibbs through coercion but through gen- Christians and Jews. University of California, received does not feel the CPA at this school tility. No man could be more deserv- Mr. Clapp was educated at Oc- the Distinguished Service Award for Is "out of line with other ing of this award." cidental College and the University public universitie' institutions," but hopes consistency Mr. Clapp, 74, joined the UPS of Chicago Law School. He prac- can be maintained.
<<