Wednesday, March 19, 2003

by Pei Pei Liu
Co-Managing Editor

———–
In the first of two installments covering the new changes to admitted
student programming, the Daily Gazette looks at how Spec “Weekend” will
unfold this year.
———-

This spring, admitted students will have a different pre-frosh experience
than in years past. Instead of taking place over a weekend, the Admitted
Students Program will take place from April 23-25, Wednesday through Friday.
Additionally, the extra day of programming for students of color that has
traditionally preceded pre-frosh weekend has been eliminated.

The decision to shift pre-frosh orientation was largely a matter of
logistics, according to Tevera Stith, Associate Dean of Admissions and a
coordinator of Multicultural Admissions. With Passover beginning on a
Thursday this year, sandwiched by Palm Sunday and Easter, there were few
other viable weekend options. “We didn’t want to offend people by asking
them to come during a time many people spend with their families,” Stith
said. The admissions team also decided that the only available April
weekend overlapped with several other schools’ admitted student programs,
thus limiting the number of students able to attend.

But beyond logistics, Stith also felt that shifting admitted student
programming to weekdays presented a different and perhaps more helpful
perspective on the school.

“We’re always trying to think of things in new ways and generate new ideas
for programming,” Stith said. “Seeing the school on a normal weekday, seeing
current students going to classes and interacting with each other might give
prospective students a better idea of daily life. It might show them more of
the essence of the Swarthmore experience.”

Similarly, the decision to cut the extra day for students of color preceding
pre-frosh orientation also came about through a combination of practicality
and experimentation. While it was felt that high school seniors could not
reasonably be asked to take off four straight days from school in order to
visit Swarthmore, many in Admissions also thought that the entire group of
admitted students could benefit from being together for
the three days.

“We’re not trying to exclude those events that will support admitted
students in their own cultural community,” Stith said, “but we’re trying to
open up the idea that this [the entire incoming class] is a community as
well. We’re trying to look at culture in a holistic sense, and not
perpetuate later segregation.” Stith also pointed out that this would allow
all admitted students to witness and share in the various cultural
activities traditionally reserved for the students of color.

Students of color and representatives of the Intercultural Center groups
have voiced concerns to the admissions office not about the decision itself
but about the process leading to the decision. Several students have taken
issue with the fact that ADVICE and the individual IC groups were not
involved in the decision-making process and were not even alerted of the
issue until after the decision had been made. Jessica Pope ’05 of SASS said
that the group was “uncomfortable with the way in which this decision was
apparently made by a small body of individuals and was not brought to larger
student communities of color.”

According to Michelle Lo ’04, Admissions intern and SAO member, “The
decision on behalf of the admissions office to have all students come at the
same time for pre-frosh actually took everyone by surprise. No one was
informed of this decision, not even the student of color interns such as
myself.”

However, Lo added, “I also don’t believe that this decision was intentional.
I personally am under the impression that this change is only temporary, and
that to eliminate minority pre-frosh altogether is not something the
admissions office wants to do. Even if they do, I doubt that they would do
so without consulting the numerous student groups on campus that are strong
proponents of having minority pre-frosh.”

Stith acknowledged that individual students and student groups have been
voicing their concerns to the admissions office. “This is an environment
that celebrates collaboration,” she said, “and so we did have a long
conversation with some of the students who were particularly vocal about the
topic. We’ve been talking to students face to face and in meetings.”

Stith also said that as a new member of the admissions team, she is still
acquainting herself with the Swarthmore community and the precedents that
have been set, but she also stressed that “you can’t rely too much on the
old ways. It’s important to be open to creativity and new ideas. You don’t
know what works if you never try anything different.”

However, Stith did not rule out the possibility that this year’s changes to
pre-frosh orientation could be retained, depending on whether Admissions
feels the changes increased enrollment for students of color. She warned,
though, that it takes years to determine the impact of a new admissions
program, and even then it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of a
change in enrollment.

“There are a lot of ‘what-ifs’ here,” Stith added. “It’s impossible to
predict what will ultimately happen, whether the changes will be successful
or not. But it’s good to have these conversations and create dialogue
between student groups and the admissions office.”

———-
Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part 2 of the Gazette’s feature on
pre-frosh programming, which will outline Project SMART.

*****

by Alexis Reedy
News Editor

Swatties will be treated to a night at the opera this week. On Thursday and
Sunday at 8:00 p.m. in the lobby of Lang Music Building, the Swarthmore
College music department will be presenting Mozart’s opera, “The Magic
Flute.”

First performed in 1791, “The Magic Flute” is the story of a prince who is
sent on a journey to rescue a princess who does not really need rescuing.
There is love lost and gained, an evil queen desperate for revenge, a homely
man with a lust-filled heart, and a luckless bird catcher who just can’t
seem to keep quiet.

An opera like this has not been attempted at Swarthmore in a long time, or
perhaps ever, “to my knowledge,” says Juilian Rodescu, director of the
production. John Alston is conducting, with musical preparation by Debra
Scurto-Davis, costumes by Fatima Lavor Peters, and lighting by Greg Miller.

Though originally written in German, the opera will be performed in English.
“We didn’t think that it made sense to keep [the opera] in German. We wanted
the audience to understand what was going on,” said Rodescu. The translation
for the opera was mainly altered to “be less stiff,” he added.

In addition the magnitude of the production, the opera is being performed in
an intriguing space. Rather than reserve the  concert hall as usual, Rodescu
arranged to stage the opera in the lobby of the Lang Music Building.

“When I teach voice lessons here, I usually wait for my students on the
third floor balcony, overlooking the lobby,” Rodescu said. “I have been
watching this space for five years. It’s magnificent. It’s the natural place
to stage an opera. It’s so dramatic.”

Risers will be installed to face the wall of windows and front door to Lang.
The orchestra will be in the stairwell outside of the concert hall, and the
chorus will be on the walkway above the orchestra on the second floor. There
will be about 150 seats and room for about 200 people to stand. Black
draping will cover the windows and the glass door that will
serve as the stage entrance, so the front entrance will be closed off. Other
routes into the building will remain open.

The set for the opera is minimal, with no set pieces or scenery, and only a
few props. Rodescu explained that there were many reasons for the sparse set
design. “Changing the set around can be pretty disturbing in an opera. We
wanted things to be as continous as possible. Also, the space we are in is
just so wonderfully dramatic, we really didn’t need to add much more beyond
that.”

In the dress rehearsal/preview performance last night, I was impressed with
the costumes, particularly that of the Queen of the Night. The lighting was
a little off, but such technical difficulties should be cleared up by the
time of the official performance. And of course the main characters in the
opera are amazing singers. I was especially impressed by Emily Shrader as
the Queen of the Night, Adrienne Mackey as the First Lady in Waiting, and
Hollis Easter as Sarastro. Adrian Packel plays Papageno, the luckless
birdcatcher, extremely well. Packel adeptly performed the comic relief of
the role in full opera voice.

Rodescu joined in my praise of the student performers. “The students have
exceeded any expectations that I had. They are so bright and so on. They are
not even voice majors. There is no such thing as a voice major at Swarthmore
but these kids have been able to pull this off. This isn’t an easy opera to
perform, but they did it.”

———-
Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”
Thursday, March 20 & Sunday, March 23, 8:00 p.m.
Performed in the Lang Hall Lobby
Staged “in the round” with orchestra

Cast:
Pamina: Sara Posey (March 20) / Julie Gregorio (March 23)
Tamino: David Mister
Papageno: Adrian Packel
Queen of the Night: Emily Shrader
Sarastro: Hollis Easter
Monostatos: Ben Mitchell
Papagena: Tamara Ryan
Speaker: Scott Long
First Lady: Adrienne Mackey
Second Lady: Eden Wales
Third Lady: Blair Cochran
First Spirit: Maya Schenwar
Second Spirit: Chelain Goodman
Third Spirit: Blair Cochran
First Armed Man: Ben Mitchell
Second Armed Man: Kent Bassett

*****

Early morning on March 13 a jogger was tripped by a dog and broke her arm.
The owner has not been identified. Anyone with information is asked to call
the Swarthmore Polies at 610-543-0123.

Two vehicles in the past week have been stopped and the drivers charged with
driving under the influence. One incident occurred on Yale Avenue and the
driver was found to be in possession of stolen property. One occurred on
Drexel Place and the driver’s license had been suspended for previous DUI
offenses.

On March 17 a resident of Vassar Avenue discovered that his house had been
the object of attempted illegal entry. Nothing was missing, but doors had
been disturbed and screens cut.

*****

* On Tuesday Hussein rejected Bush’s ultimatum that he and his two sons go
into exile. Bush will make a speech at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday responding to
Hussein’s rejection and possibly announcing the start of the attack against
Iraq. Meanwhile American officials reassured Bush that the American troops
were ready for an attack.

* American military officials announced on Tuesday that Iraq is most likely
prepared to wage chemical warfare using supplies of VX nerve agent and
mustard gas. Despite widespread public opposition, France announced that if
chemical warfare did occur it would interfere on the side of the US.
Elsewhere in Europe, the British House of Commons gave prime minister Tony
Blair approval to take any steps necessary against Hussein.

* Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge outlined his plan for Operation
Liberty Shield on Tuesday. The plan’s purpose is to protect the United
States against potential terrorism in the wake of an attack against Iraq.
Liberty Shield consists of such safeguards as restricting flights over
certain US cities, monitoring the internet for signs of potential terrorism,
and inspecting food items from overseas.

* The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday that
the Oscars will most likely go on in the event of war. However the show,
which is scheduled for Sunday night, would take measures to ensure its
solemnity, including shortening the red-carpet portion of the night. In its
75 year history the awards have never been cancelled, though they have been
postponed three times.

*****

Anti-War meeting for students, staff, and faculty
Paces, 11:30 a.m.

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Dupont 133, 4:15 p.m.

French Film Festival: Taxi
Kohlberg 328, 7:00 p.m.

Discussion on the Life and Works of J.R.R. Tolkein
Hicks Mural Room, 7:30 p.m.

Maurianne Adams Discussion
Kohlberg Sheuer Room, 7:30 p.m,

Anomalous Picture Show: Mystery Science Theater 3000
Trotter 203, 7:30 p.m.

“Postres y Poesia” by Chilean poet Carlos Trujillo
IC Big Room, 7:30 p.m.

—–
This Thursday and Sunday at 8 pm, the Department of Music presents a
production of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. Performances will take place
in Lang lobby; an orchestra accompanies the all-Swat cast and chorus. This
opera includes: love, vengeance, a dragon, and Masons. In other words,
something for everyone. Come, and marvel at the precision conducting, the
fabulous hats, and, of course, the singing, which will be all out.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

Baseball (Ft. Myers, FL)
3/10 Wesley 7, Swarthmore 2
3/10 Wesley 11, Swarthmore 6
3/11 Denison 5, Swarthmore 0
3/13 #12 Ohio Wesleyan 11, Swarthmore 7
3/14 Salve Regina 10, Swarthmore 6
3/14 Salve Regina 10, Swarthmore 2
3/15 Hiram 10, Swarthmore 1

Softball (Tucson, AZ)
3/9 Central Methodist 12, Swarthmore 3
3/10 Swarthmore 13, Mount Ida 4
3/10 Concordia 7, Swarthmore 2
3/11 Trevecca Nazerene 15, Swarthmore 2
3/11 Peru State 12, Swarthmore 0
3/12 Jamestown 10, Swarthmore 1
3/12 St. Francis (IN) 8, Swarthmore 0

Women’s Lacrosse (Whittier, CA)
Swarthmore 11, Whittier 9

Women’s Tennis (Lexington, VA)
3/10 #2 Washington & Lee 8, #29 Swarthmore 1
3/12 #12 Denison 7, #29 Swarthmore 2

The Garnet trailed USP until the bottom of the seventh when they brought the
score up to 2-2. This was the Garnet’s home opener. Brandon King had
impressive hits and Jody Fischer scored on an RBI after a single.

Widener started with an early second inning five run lead in this
non-conference game. Val Maulbeck went 2 for 2 with a double and a run
scored. Stephanie Rogan also scored with an RBI from Val Marone.

Today:
Baseball hosts Neumann, 3:15 p.m.
Men’s lacrosse hosts Gettysburg, 3:30 p.m.
Women’s tennis hosts Muhlenberg, 3:30 p.m.

Tomorrow:
Softball at Neumann, 4:00 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason
in madness.”
–Friedrich Nietzsche

*****
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