Lawrence University Lux Alumni Magazines Communications Summer 1999 Lawrence Today, Volume 79, Number 4, Summer 1999 Lawrence University Follow this and additional works at: http://lux.lawrence.edu/alumni_magazines Part of the Liberal Studies Commons © Copyright is owned by the author of this document. Recommended Citation Lawrence University, "Lawrence Today, Volume 79, Number 4, Summer 1999" (1999). Alumni Magazines. Book 19. http://lux.lawrence.edu/alumni_magazines/19 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Communications at Lux. It has been accepted for inclusion in Alumni Magazines by an authorized administrator of Lux. For more information, please contact [email protected]. --n T 0 D A y SUMMER 1999 The Magazine of Lawrence University VOL. 79, NO.4 Lawrence Family T 0 D Editor Wee end Gordon E. Brown 920-832-6593 October 22-24, 1999 gordon .e. [email protected] u Art Director Marsha Tuchscherer Director of Public Affairs teven Blodgett Associate Director of Public Affairs and News Service Manager Rick Peterson Sports Information Director Michelle Burzinski Production Coordinator Debbie Gibbons Class Notes Writer Kathye Kochanowski, '99 Address correspondence to: Lawrence Today, Lawrence University P.O. Box 599, Appleton, WI 54912-0599 920-832-6586 Fax: 920-832-6783 Robin Sampson, '02, of Wauwatosa, with her parents at Family Office of Alumni Relations Weekend last year (address as above) 920-832-6549 Family Weekend, a Lawrence University fall tradition, will Fax: 920-832-6784 showcase students in the classroom, on the playing field, and [email protected] in musical performances and promises to offer a wide range http://www.lawrence.edu of activities for family members of all ages. Special thanks to Image Studios for The Friday schedule provides an opportunity for parents providing photography for this issue. to attend classes with their sons or daughters and to enjoy an Lawrence Today (USPS 012-683) is everting performance by the Concert Choir and the Chorale. published quarterly in March, June, On Saturday morning, President Richard Warch will September, and December by Lawrence address parents and provide an update on campus programs University, Office of Public Affairs, and activities. Following his formal presentation, the presi­ Appleton, Wisconsin 54911. Periodical postage paid at Appleton, Wisconsin dent and his staff will be available to respond to individual 54911. POSTMASTER: questions. In addition, parents will be treated to mini-courses Send address changes to Lawrence Today, and informational panels offered by Lawrence faculty members, Lawrence University, 115 South Drew while siblings enjoy age-specific activities ranging from a Street, Appleton, WI 54911-5798. cartoon breakfast to campus tours. Articles are ex pre sly the opinions of the The Lawrence Vikings will host the Ripon College authors and do not necessarily represent Redhawks in football at the Banta Bowl on Saturday afternoon. official university policy. We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length Saturday evening activities will include a Wind Ensemble and accuracy. concert, a DJ dance for the older siblings, and a "Halloween Spooktacular" that is sure to delight the younger children. Lawrence University promotes equal opportunity for all. For more information on Family Weekend, please contact the Dean of Students Office at 920-832-6596. SUMMER 1999 VOL. 79, NO. 4 FEATURES looking Back, Moving Ahead 10 President Warch Talks about Lawrence Past and Present Faculty Retirements 15 William A. Chaney, John M. Stanley, Theodore W. Ross, George E. Damp Distinctly American 19 The Threats to Liberal Arts Colleges The Professors' Picks 23 Faculty Suggestions for Summer Reading Whither the Euro'? 26 Commentary from Lawrence's Scarff Professor Play the Music, Speak the Words 28 Catherine Kautsky Melds Music, Spoken Word Big Band Jazz 29 Ken Schaphorst's 'Purple' CD Unexpected Good Fortune 30 Amateur Archaeologist Bequeaths His Collection Home, Home on Derangia 32 Lawrence Student Revives Radio Theatre Insect Detectives 33 Brad Renee and Students Study Prairie Bugs DEPARTMENTS On the cover Correspondence 2 In September, Richard Warch Inside La\vrence 3 will mark his 20th anniversary as president of Lawrence Sports 35 University, a tenure second Alumni Today 38 only to Samuel G. Plantz Lawrence Yesterday 52 (portrait), Class of 1880, president from 1894-1924. In the article beginning on page ten, President Warch compares past and present and suggests that, at Lawrence, plus l(a change, plus c'est Ia meme chose. CORRESPONDENCE Dear President Warch: and Randolph-Macon Women's in vocal performance, and now ["Dogfish and Sonnets"] is one of College in Virginia before moving teach musical theatre at a liberal the finest and most comprehensive to Middlebury College in Vermont, arts college. I'm sorry, Mr. Troy, analyses of the present condition where we have been ever since. I'm not an "actor"; I'm a musician and suggestions for the future aims My reason for spelling dlis out who sings and uses opera and musi­ of education I have ever read. is Mr. Schuetz's mention of Robert cal theatre to musically convey a I have been a pilot for many Frost and his "one-act neo-biblical dramatic situation. years, and there is an aviation drama" that lost out to "Cain" by In our popular culture's ever­ analogy that appeals to me: Howard Nemerov as a play for him present search for visual stimulation Ground-school training is but an to produce. Mr. Frost, it is no and emotional reality, have we introduction to a world of new secret, was inclined to be overly forgotten the musical side of the experiences. Once turned loose, the sensitive to "slights" such as this opera? It's the music and its expres­ young pilot begins to discover all one. Fortunately, he didn't know. sion of non-verbal communication the magic of discovery. Mountains However, to balance the scale, that separates opera from tallcing look small from above. The endless in 1946 and 1948, during the sum­ theatre. It's nice if an opera singer plains are not endless. New horizons mer sessions at the Breadloaf Grad­ can act adequately but far from the 'offer untold views of lands not even uate School of English (a part of most important aspect of the medium. imagined before. Middlebury College), Erie had Mr. When I was at Lawrence, I College is ground school, offer­ Frost's permission and was actually greatly enjoyed Professor Cloak's ing an open-sesame to wonders not encouraged to direct his two biblical plays and Professor Hopfensperger's even envisioned. Ground school - works, Masques - of Reason and of work - as straight tl1eatre! I also or college - is a platform or take­ Mercy. They had never been staged. greatly enjoyed being part of and off point. Good basic training is not Erie was eager to try, although watching Professor Koopman's an end in itself but only an intro­ the task was daunting. Mr. Frost opera productions - as a musical duction to wonders and satisfaction lived near the school in summer and medium. I have often held my alma and goals. planned to "check in" at rehearsals, mater up to my students as one of a Chester L. Roberts, '36 thus putting the entire staff and vanishing breed of musical theatre Shadow Hills, California student body in a state of nervous /opera programs directed by the tension. Would he like the results, musicians. I am sad to see it change. Robert Frost re-visited or the unthinkable opposite? Why aren't tl1e singers directing Upon reading the many touching Fortunately, he heartily the opera? tributes to Ted Cloak in the spring approved of the final performance Frederik E. Schuetze, '69 issue of Lawrence Today, I regretted (a campus-wide sigh of relief was Professor of Music, Bradford College that my husband, Erie T. Volkert, heard) and willingly sat for pictures Bradford, Massachusetts '35, could not have contributed his on stage afterwards amid the cast memories and admiration. He was and crew, autographing play scripts. When announcing the new /. Thomas too ill by then and died March 7, I think Ted would have been ('60) and Julie Esch {'61) Hurvis 1999. pleased that his good training had Professorship in Theatre and Drama, of The letter by Ralph Schuetz, rubbed off. Erie certainly gave him which Timothy Troy, '85, assistant pro­ '64, prompts these recollections that full credit for encouraging a career fessor of theatre and drama, is the first may be of interest to readers. in the theatre and for preparing incumbent, our spring issue failed to Erie, having been not only a him well. make clear that Professor Troy has student of Ted's and an actor in Mary Voecks Volkert, '39 served as a stage director for both dra­ many productions, was hired upon Middlebury, Vermont matic and musical productions. Patrice graduation to ftll in while Ted, Zoe, Michaels Bedi, assistant professor of and children were in the East on Musicians sing, actors act music (voice), and Karen Leigh-Post, leave. The one-year appointment I was saddened by Professor C '79, assistant professor of music became two, as Ted decided to Timothy Troy's article on theatre, (voice), continue to instruct the courses lengthen his stay. Erie was then musicals, and opera in the spring Introduction to Music Theater and encouraged to do his master's work issue of Lawrence Today - another Music Theater Workshop, making for at Northwestern University- the opera program taken over by a full teaching loads when combined with best theatre school around, Ted theatre director! their busy studio teaching responsibili­ was certain. Following that and a I'm trained as an opera singer, ties. Lawrence students have the bene­ wedding, we spent a year each at have numerous performances on fit, thereby, of both the singer's and the Huron College in South Dakota stage to my credit, have a doctorate stage director's perspective in preparing operatic roles.