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Brecht, Ionesco plays produced By LEWIS SILVERMAN On May 10 and 11, Alfred University Theatre's Footlight Cluib presented three one act plays by Brecht and Ionesco. This presentation, done in arena type stage in the mien's gymnasium, was part of the Cultural Programs Council events planned for Parent's Weekend. The first two plays done, The Beggar and the Dead Dog and A Day in the Life of the Great Scholar Wu, were written by Bertolt Brecht. The third and 1 last play 'done was Maid to Marry by Eugene Ionesco. The presentation of the plays was in a simplified, yet adequate, non-realistic manner. With a minimal amount of painted flats the arena stage was used in this abstract manner. Tyrone Guy's scene construction and painting were sufficient considering the intent of Ionesco and Brecht. Both these playwrights are making an intensive study of society and the individual; the simplified setting and the arena staging are perfect technical aids in promoting audiencecharacter relationship. The audience, in this open and bare staging, senses the doseness and the immediacy of the playwright's statement through this direct attachment to the actors. Make-up and costuming were factors that were, highlighted and exploited in a successful manner in creating the significant and prevalent mood throughout the three productions. The first two plays were distinctly Oriental while the third production was western and contemporary. In The. Beggar and the Dead Dog, Brecht portrays a heroic emperor, played by Daniel Cohen, overwhelmed and astonished at the frankness of a beggar characterized by George Lee. Cohen, as was the case in Volpone, presented a fine physical appearance for the role; however, the actor seemed to overact and blur his rapid' speech in an incomprehensible manner. Cohen, nevertheless, has a dramtic vitality that has been noted in all his roles in the Faotlight dub. This blurring is just a result of the rapidness and over-enthusiasm
Black power advocates define objectives By IRWIN BERLIN "We want everything that America wants — but more." This was the main definition of black power given by Minister Franklin Florence at last Friday's lecture in Howell Hall. The lecture was entitled "Black Power: Theology and Politics of a People." The speakers were Dr. Harvey Guthrie, professor of .Old Testajnent at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass.; and Florence, who was the first president of FIGHT in Rochester. Florence ably substituted for intended speaker, Dr. Charles Hamilton, who was in Chicago attending a sit-in demonstration. An interested audience listened as the two authorities expounded on black pow?r. and the problem that faces the white community because of it. With the death of Martin Luther King last month. Floretee told of a reassessment of position by the black community. King v/as assassinated by a white racist, again proving that violence is as American as cherry pie. 185 cities burned after King's déath, Amierica noticing for the first time the black community's use of violence. I rebutted this by pointing to the riots of the past two summers, but Florence said that v/hites have been more violent in the past than blacks ever dared to be. Florence warned that 1968 could well be the turning point of true violence. The black community is ready to do whatever is necessary to be free, shedding their own blood to secure human rights among "all downtrodden peoples." Blacks are fed up with integration, seeing that the white institutions did not want this. The blacks tried all the "ins," but never did get in. Franklin Florence Florence says that the possibility of a bloody revolution certainly exists, but that this fate rests in the hands of white America. Dr. Guthrie, as the theological consultant, would ascribe no significance to Florence's comments. He posed three academic assumptions made by white America in the past, all which can be summed up in one word: reconciliation. The role of th|e religious community has been to introduce Jesus as the healer who could "lay over the frustrations of life." Now the same community is faced with a disruptive issue which supercedes the former situation. Using examples from the Pible, Guthrie indicated that God has always seemed to be on one side or another, (the Isrealites leafing Egypt, and later the Zealot cult). Tradition, meaning justice and freedom, takes precedence historically, over reconciliation. Today the hierarchy "bf churches must engage in activities that are not compromising. According to Guthrie, those who are white, Christian, and western, have wrongly assumed that they were the makers of history. We are becoming aware that the vast world is not white, Christian, or western, but sometimes quite different. Black Power is a concrete reminder that cannot be escaped. It is not possible to resort to sentimentalities for solutions, Guthrie says, nor can we become despondent and seek solace in a bottle or in drugs. Guthrie said that while the religious community ,__has always tried to attack seriousness to the Biblical awareness of history, the black community (including Martin L. King), has taken the message too seriously. The imagery, today and in Egypt of Biblical times, is very much the same. Our new im-* age is like that in The Robber Barons, somewhat maudlin, but nevertheless correct. Guthrie is too abstract here for my liking; however, I accept his statement that we can work our way realistically out of this image. Guthrie warns that this cannot be believed cheaply. One cannot look at the United States in 1968 and reach an idealist answer. The lectures were fascinat- Dr. Harvey Guthrie ing, if not somehow frightening in their common sense evaluation of black power. Florence was often funny, but the humor was bitter and he got his message across. Both speakers referred to the New Testament passage of "Neither Jew nor Greek . . . all are one in Jesus." Florence said that black power has finally brought out the hypocrisy of the white community. "White folks preach one thing and practice another." He related some experiences he has had with religious leaders, who instead of having a "respect for the humanity of man," were compromising racists. "We have nothing personally against nigras. You have your Church; we have ours." To evaluate the lecture is difficult. It raised provoking questions, some of which were posed in the question-answer period that followed. For me the question of "why violegpe" has not been satisfactorily answered. During the riots that took place in Rochester following King's assassination, as well as during last summer's riots. Florence wtas one of the leaders asking the people to exercise control. But the blacks who are for unrestrained violence far outnumber those, who desire control. The white community that sympathizes with the black community and want to do something constructive, were advised by Florence to stay in their own neighborhoods. There is a distinct need to "un-brainwash" their white neighbors. To me, this seems the only course that is really open to America. Professors seen as expendable By LARRY S. FRIEDMAN An open letter to the Administration of Alfred University concerning faculty and student participation in demonstrations: I am writing this open letter in the hope that Alfred Univesity will not become lanother "Columbia." While the right to dissent cannot be denied, I do believe that the course of events wftiidh Wave transpired during the present academic year and which has culminated! in the demonstration this past weekend will eventually destroy the educational system at this University. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In praise of 'sandbox politics' To the Editor: The Political Affairs Club has been asked by several members of the Alfred community to write a rebuttal to Prof. Hils' letter of last week referring to Alfred's sandbox politics. Calendar of Events Tuesday Tennis: Rochester, home, 1:30 p.m. F & V. Forum: 11 a.m. CC, Alfred Debate Club, "Resolved 1 : Violence is a Legitimate Meamis to Achieve Civil Rights for the Black Men." Wednesday Track: U. of Rochester. OWENS Féast, Howell Hall, 6:30 p.m. Sophomore Declaration of Majors: 7 p.m., 34 Myers Hall Thursday Lacrosse: Cortland, Away, 3:30 p.m. GoM; [Brockport, Away, 1 p.m. Student Dissent Symposium; Parents' Lounge, 7:30 p.m. Friday Fraternity Spring Weekend Some contend that he was referring to the mock convention held on the 26th and 27th of April. Basing tMs leltter on the assumption tjhat this is what the good professar was speaking of, I wonder if he has managed to clean all of the sand from his fingernails. I would like to congratulate Prof. Hils and the S.D.S for the role they played in making the Convention as realistic as possible. Their actions at the various Convention functions were similar to those taken by radical groups at the real conventions in 1964 and What they will be doing at Chicago and Miami this summer. Prof. Hils has charged that your coverage was incomplete. The Fialt seemed to concentrate its efforts on a Convention involving over 500 people rather than such activities as a Teach-in composed of almost 200. I sympathize with Prof. Hils here, butt we must keep in mind that the FIAT LUX has only eight pages and is forced to delimit its coverage on some issues in order to report on what is of primary interest to its readers. The Convention's Executive Committee was also a trifle incensed over certain inaccuracies in your coverage. We decided against complaining abdut them, however, as there is no use crying over Spilt milk and it might also seem a frivolous attempt for free publicity for our organization. In conclusion, we belive that the S.D.S. has been calling for positive political involvement since its inception in Alfred. Two weeks ago the students nominated a man who they felt could run this country capably. They worked out a political platform which can be applied to the modern American scene. In short, they took positve political action to influence their fellow students, their community, and their nation. There was no violence; there was little negativism; but there was a" reaffirmation of American democracy on ithe part of all of those who became involved in the Mock Republican Convention. Respectfully yours, Jerry Kolisch Vice-President The Political Affairs Club of Alfred I further believe that a repetition of last weekend's incident should not be tolerated by this Administration. Such a total lack of respect for parents as well as for the entire ROTC contingent is entirely inexcusable. Interfering with the planned events of the weekend accomplished 'absolutely nothing except a total alienation of a substantial portion, if not all, of those involved in the Parent's Day programi. This event as well as others hlave prompted me to write this letter in the hope that if enough concerned individuals express their distaste for the methods employed by these demonstrators, the Administration will perhaps review its policy on demonstrations and the penalities involved. Faculty involvement Concerning faculty participation in these demonstrations, I assert my belief that the first obligation of any professor is to teach; NOT to indoctrinate, NOT to incite, NOT to demonstrate, and positively NOT to cancel class in favor of some demonstration. The teaching experience does not end with a 50 minute period, but rather continues outside of the immediate classroom. A professor's influence is as Strongly felt Over a cup of coffee as it is felt in the actual lecture hall. Every faculty member has the right to his or her own opinions and the right to dissent Should not be prohibited, but when Such opinions intentionally interfere with the students primary goal in college, I must take a stand. It must be remembered that the reason we are in college, is to learn, not to be indoctrinated and not to be told when we can attend class. I fully realize that I will inevitably be rebutted with the statement that dissent is also an integral part of the educational process; since it exposes areas of discontent in our society. This is in part true, but there is a time and a place for everything. While some students may prefer to demonstrate rather than attend class, I believe that I am speaking for the majority who wish to learn in the classroom, father than be coerced into attending a demonstration for an out-of-class pa-' per, or be denied the classroom situation by a professor who plaices a demonstration above his students. Desire to learn To such professors, I implore you to realize that the majority of students 'dies&re to learn and not to demonstrate. Every claSs you cancel deprives us students of one more period in a course which we have elected to take and which we have paid for. In addition, every time you involve academia with a demonstration, either by wearing your academic gown or by any other manner, remember that you are degrading the very source of your intellectual distinction. The Administration must realize that such professors, regardless of their teaching ability, are denying us our rights as students. If we are told that clalsses will not be held so that a professor may demonstrate, something is tragically wrong with . Alfred's structure. If teachers are allowed to incite students to show their total disrespect for parents, then again something is tragically wrong. "A If protest cannot be held af a time when others will not be affected, then the majority must suffer in favor of a minority. Expendable professors However, I feel that the Administration can and will do better. I believe that any professor who blatantly places his views above our interests; wlho intentionally denies the majority its rights should have his or her contract seriously reviewed. It may seem unnecessarily (Continued on Page 7) FIAT LUX Alfred, N.Y May 14, 1968 5
Page 1 and 2: Farewell seniors, the old order cha
Page 3: Music department to sponsor recital
Page 7 and 8: A Blue Key inducts 24 new members T

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