The Linfield Review

Future of the Observatory remains unclear

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:48:25 +0000

Braden Smith – Culture editor. When the Observatory closed and merged with the Catty Shack at the beginning of the year, a number of Linfield students were angry, or at least upset. It was obvious that students wanted something to be done, although they may not have known exactly what.
Now, the issue has been directly addressed during the last Associated Students of Linfield College Senate meeting on Nov. 9. Senior Duncan Reid, campus improvement committee chair, brought the state of the Observatory to the Senate’s attention and opened up the discussion for possible ideas of what to do with the vacant building.
Ideas included changing the Observatory back into a convenience store, retrofitting it into an actual observatory or using it as a book exchange center where students could buy and sell used textbooks from each other. It was also noted that turning the building into an actual observatory would not be possible because its location receives too much light.
No formal conclusion was reached, as the idea was simply introduced, but some of the latest Senate reports sent out included notes encouraging students to e-mail their ideas about the Observatory to Reid.
“Basically, we are putting together a survey to see what people want,” Reid said.
While progress is being made regarding efforts to resurrect the closed Observatory, there have also been talks within the physics department of building a new, functional observatory on campus.
The only mention one might find of this is on the research page of the physics department’s Web site, www.linfield.edu/physics/research.php.
According to the site, “due to the proximity of new dorms, the historic Linfield observatory was converted into a convenience store in 2002. Planning is currently under way for the construction of a new observatory.”
The Observatory, originally built in 1894, cost $2,500 and boasted a six-inch refracting telescope, provided by the A.W. Kinney Estate. (Kinney was a member of Linfield’s Board of Trustees from 1874-79.) It was moved to its present location in 1964.
However, because of the expanding campus, the Observatory came under threat of demolition in 2001. In general, an observatory cannot be located close to densely populated areas because of light pollution.
In response, rather than tearing it down, the Observatory was converted into a convenience store the next year. The aim was to provide students in the Hewlett Packard apartments, along with other students in the area, a place to purchase snacks and other assorted items.
Since this conversion, planning has taken place to build a new observatory. The initial problem has been simply finding the right location: The building needs to be close enough for students to use it, but not too close so as to be at risk for light pollution from the city.
“We have spent a lot of time and study to identify a new site,” Bill Mackie, professor of physics, said.
After finding the right place, planning was underway.
“Formal plans were drawn, and we had the start of donations: some cash, as well as commitments for materials,” Mackie said. “I have a copy of the plans in my office. Unfortunately, nothing has happened.”
Members of the physics department were not available for further discussion on the subject, namely explaining why nothing has since happened.
Although seemingly at a standstill, progress has nonetheless been made, so students can expect a possible observatory in the future, as well as a revival of the closed Observatory.
However, if the Observatory is turned into something new, and an actual observatory is built, the question remains: Which one will be “The Observatory”?

Smashed window, sexual abuse: campus crimes abound

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:46:53 +0000

Chelsea Langevin – Senior reporter. After three windows were broken on campus the night of Halloween and the college learned of a grand jury indictment for a McMinnville citizen at the local nail salon Nov. 6, Robert Cepeda, director of Linfield College Community Public Safety & Security, reminded us that we are more capable of helping each other by studying our surroundings.
A peak in crime on and near the Linfield campus has once again motivated students to be cautious and alert.
“If you hear or see something, let someone know,” Cepeda said.
At approximately 1 a.m. Nov. 1, junior Garrett Garceau said he remembers seeing the flashing lights of LCCPS near the Vivian A. Bull Music Center and rushing to make sure nothing was seriously damaged.
“There was a hole roughly two feet tall and one foot wide that went through three of the four panes,” he said.
However, because the last pane was still intact, the interior room was protected.
“I can’t say why anybody would want to vandalize the window, but I attribute it to either some drunken person on a rampage or an intended theft of some of the items in the band room,” Garceau said.
The Vivian A. Bull building’s window was not the only one vandalized that night, Cepeda said.
A window in Walker Hall, as well as one in the Linfield Bike Co-op near LCCPS’ building, were also smashed open, he said.
Not only are these crimes frightening, they are also costly, Cepeda said, with the music building’s window costing nearly $5,000 to replace.
To offset climbing insurance rates and high replacement costs, Cepeda said it is imperative that witnesses contact LCCPS or McMinnville police immediately.
“We can check it out, and, if it turns out to be a timely thing, we can see a potential suspect,” he said.
In these cases, however, no suspects have been identified.
On the outskirts of campus, an alleged crime of a greater magnitude also poses a threat to Linfield students and faculty, as a McMinnville resident has been indicted on two counts of sexual abuse and one count of kidnapping.
The resident, Dam Ngoc Pham, is the owner of the Solar Nails salon in the Albertson’s place near campus.
While the crime was alleged to have occured July 28, 2009, it is still a relevant threat because of the number of Linfield students, faculty and staff who could have potentially attended that salon in the period between the crime and the indictment, Cepeda said.
The victim reported that the crime occurred when she was the last customer of the evening, according to the e-mail sent to the Linfield campus by Cepeda.
In situations such as these, Cepeda said it is important to follow your instincts.
“If your gut is telling you something is not right, follow it — what do you have to lose?” He said.
Cepeda also stressed that Ngoc Pham has not yet been found guilty. Rather than labeling the salon as a dangerous place, he said we should consider the case a reminder to be more cautious.
“Americans tend to be so trusting and so kind, and they don’t think past what could happen when they are receiving a service,” he said.
Overall, Cepeda said we should always remember that we have the choice to avoid potentially dangerous places or situations.
“Anyone can use his or her best judgment and just stay away,” Cepeda said.

Wildcats take byte out of IBM competition

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:45:38 +0000

Yin Xiao – News editor. Linfield students competed in one of the world’s most prestigious computer programming competitions in a decisive regional round Nov. 7.
Teams of three were challenged to use their programming skills to solve 11 complex, real-world problems within a grueling five-hour deadline in the Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest sponsored by IBM.
“The goal is to be fast, exactly perfect and not to make any mistakes,” Daniel Ford, assistant professor of computer science and coach of the Linfield teams, said. “Compared to the huge schools in Oregon, we did a good job.”
This year, two Linfield teams participated: Robert Ferrese, Sam Shryrock and Erick Loden, all juniors; and junior Julianne Upton, senior Tamir Lkhamsuren and junior Katherine Grainey.
Lkhamsuren, computer science major, competed in the contest for the first time. His team solved three problems, an improvement on the past three years Linfield has participated.
The problems were difficult, he said, and he was under constant pressure. He said he was proud of the team, although it made small errors that prevented it from completing two other problems.
“Linfield [placed] second best of Oregon colleges, although we didn’t have a program that was able to spend several months [preparing] just for the contest,” Ford said. “The University of Oregon also should be respected. It was one of three teams that solved five problems, which is same amount as [one of three teams of] Stanford University.”
College students from 90 countries on six different continents attended the contest. The contest comprises several levels of competition: local contests, regional contests and the world finals.Large universities usually have local contests first to select the teams that will represent them.
Regional rounds began in the United States on Oct. 18 and will continue through December, continuing on from continent to continent. Only 100 three-person teams will compete in the finals Feb. 5, 2010, which will be hosted by Harbin Engineering University in Harbin, China.

Power Shift West jolts student interest

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:43:32 +0000

Lauren Ostrom – Feature editor. Florescent light bulbs, clean refrigerator coils, recycling and “tray-less Tuesdays:” These are just some of the small strides Linfield has made toward conserving energy and making a difference in the environment. We all know that the world is in dire need of fixing, and several students are taking steps to do something about it.
Linfield students gathered with other young adults from Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana and Alaska at the University of Oregon from Nov. 6-8 to learn more about helping the planet cope with climate change as part of the Power Shift West conference.
The goal of the conference was to help attendees learn more about what is being done to help the environment, as well as how to help with this effort. They also had the opportunity to converse with other people who are involved with conservation efforts.
More than 15 Linfield students listened to guest speakers, participated in workshops and panels and took action with their fellow peers against climate change.
Motivational speakers, such as Alli Chagi-Starr and Lela Brown, attended the event and offered wise words to the young listeners. They both engage in the environment efforts and encourage others to become more involved.
One of the students who attended, junior Avalon Fox, said the conference had a wide range of workshops.
“There was a workshop called ‘The Beehive Design Collective,’” she said. “It’s a group of artists from Maine. They do projects for causes. The last cause they did was due to coal, because they’re actually blowing up mountaintops to get the coal. They contribute in their own way, through art.”
Power Shift West also included workshops discussing policies and a legislative climate bill that is under consideration by Congress. Other workshops focused on little changes, such as cleaning the coils connected to the refrigerator, that people can make in their everyday lives to conserve energy.
Another participant, senior Duncan Reid, said the conference was one of the best experiences of his college career.
“My favorite part was getting together with other students that are passionate about what I am passionate about,” he said. “Everyone had so much energy.”
Reid is also working on a project to build a new “green” bike shop with other Linfield students. The bike shop will feature energy-efficient solar panels on its roof.
Anyone who is interested in getting involved can visit www.psw09.org for more information regarding Power Shift West.

Swine flu continues to spread

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:42:30 +0000

Dominic Baez – Editor-in-chief. While supposed cases of the H1N1 virus have bounced around Linfield for the last few months, most have been mild to moderate. Students, faculty and staff members are sometimes confined to their rooms or homes, feeling sore and tired. However, most spring back in a few days, ready to go. This is not the case everywhere, however.
Nearly 3,900 people in the United States, including about 540 children, are believed to have died from H1N1 during the first six months of the epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Nov. 12.
The figure was based on a detailed analysis of data from dozens of districts across the country using a similar method to calculate estimates of ordinary seasonal flu deaths.
An estimated 22 million people in the United States have contracted the virus, resulting in nearly 98,000 hospitalizations through Oct. 17.
At the moment, 41.6 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine are available, three million more than last week. The Department of Health and Human Services has ordered 75 million doses of the vaccine for delivery by year’s end.
However, production delays have stymied these plans, resulting in criticism of production methods. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Nov. 10 revealed that “Americans are starting to lose confidence in the government’s ability to prevent a nationwide epidemic, though a narrow majority continue to say that the government and private industry will eventually produce enough of the vaccine to inoculate everyone who wants it.”
As for Yamhill County, Yamhill County Public Health has ceased taking vaccination appointments for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu until it receives additional supplies of both. According to a Nov. 7 story in the News-Register, “Spokeswoman Sarah Bates said the H1N1 vaccine is currently being offered only to people in high-risk groups — pregnant women, children 6 months to 5 years of age and parents, siblings and caregivers of infants under 6 months.”
The department is also out of seasonal flu vaccines, but it is expecting new shipments soon. However, the Linfield Student Health Center still has seasonal flu vaccinations. They cost $30.
Private clinics, including the health center, and pharmacies have yet to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
According to the Oregon Health Division Web site, 21 people from Yamhill County have been hospitalized as a result of the H1N1 flu since Sept. 1, and there has been one fatality.
H1N1 vaccinations are free; the federal government is paying for them.
For more information regarding H1N1 and what Linfield is doing about the epidemic, visit www.linfield.edu/flu.

Turkey day is too far away

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:40:36 +0000

As this is the Review’s last issue before Thanksgiving Break, let us take time to discuss all the joys of the holidays.
After all, ‘tis the season to be exhausted, sickly and overstressed.
School has been in session for 11 weeks. Eleven weeks without rest, apart from Labor Day, that is. And we have one more week to get through before we can take a breath.
Yes, the question of scheduling a weeklong Thanksgiving Break instead of a Fall Break has come and gone, but, considering the effects that three straight months of studying have had on students these past two years, it is relevant all the same.
With any luck, this answer isn’t set in stone, because, from our point of view, the negatives outweigh the positives in this case.
A week at Thanksgiving may provide those students who live outside of Oregon more travel time, and students in general get to spend more time with their families, but personal well-being during the months preceding should still be considered.
For one thing, only three weeks separate the end of Thanksgiving Break and the beginning of Winter Break; that isn’t much time to wait for a few extra days off.
In the working world, employees don’t get summers or Fall Breaks off; the majority of these workers, however, aren’t full-time students who are presented with loads of knowledge that they are expected to comprehend.
Toward the end of the semester, whether through their own procrastination or the nature of their courses, students are faced with an increase in exams, readings, papers, etc. As the days get shorter, the hours seem to quicken.
Not to have too much of a “Days of Our Lives” “sands-through-the-hourglass” moment, but time really does fly during the last few weeks of the semester, raising stress levels right along with them.
We are all taught that sleep is essential for learning because it allows the brain to make connections between bits of information and, therefore, increases our ability to comprehend.
On a larger scale, Fall Break accomplishes the same thing. More than just a time to play catch-up, it allows for better understanding, and isn’t that what education is about?
Yes, we only have one break during Spring Semester, but Spring Break falls in the middle of the term, not at the end. Its rejuvenating effects are much better placed.
Aside from mental exhaustion, the threat of both H1N1 and seasonal flu strains is higher this time of year. Without this respite, student are more likely to wear their bodies down to the point that they are more susceptible to illness.
On an interpersonal level, stress, sickness and friendships certainly don’t mix well, and this buildup of tension can take its toll outside the classroom, as well — intentionally or not.
As relationships can also be a point of stress in themselves, once again the vicious cycle continues.
Looking across campus, the increase in class absences is certainly evidence that students are run-down, even if it is too soon to tell if this calendar switch has had any adverse effects on grades themselves.
This is not to say that students weren’t stressed when there was a Fall Break, but, for now, we think it was a better solution.
So enjoy your break, because it’s been a long time coming.

-The Review Editorial Board

ASLC Notes: No ink for ad space

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:39:23 +0000

Chris Forrer – for the Review. Let me propose a hypothesis: With the highly contested health care reform bill still going nowhere in Congress and his approval rating dipping lower by the day, President Obama decides he needs to gain more public support through the media. He gives the editor of The New York Times a call and says, “Hello sir, this is the President of the United States. I need to whip up some support for my administration. Seeing as I run the country and all, I think I should be allowed to run whatever I want in your newspaper.”
What do you think the editor’s response would almost certainly be?
“Mr. President, NO, YOU CAN’T.”
Seem far-fetched? It shouldn’t. Your very own Linfield Review fell prey to a similar scenario more than a decade ago. Then-ASLC President Devon Frenchko pushed for the right to run whatever he wanted in the Review, and former editor-in-chief Jennifer Jones refused. Eventually, Jones wore down and agreed to let ASLC buy a column that it could essentially fill with whatever it wanted. The result was the ASLC Notes.
An editorial ran in the Oct. 23 issue of the Review that described the editorial board’s dislike for this column and its desire to move it, cut it down or even get rid of it altogether. The board also asked students to write in with their personal views on the ASLC Notes and what its future should be.
In this student’s humble opinion, the ASLC Notes column is a load of crap and needs to go post-haste.
I have a lot of problems with the column in general.
First of all, the former president pushing for his own space in the paper is the most unconstitutional thing I’ve ever seen a student government try to pull. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution expressly prevents the government from doing anything to restrict the freedom of the press.
Refer back to the example about President Obama. What President Frenchko tried to do (and succeeding in doing) was to force the press to run his cabinet’s opinions, a direct violation of the First Amendment. For that, former President Frenchko, I call you a disgrace.
To be fair, Jones didn’t help herself any by caving into Frenchko’s request. She earns an equal slap on the wrist for allowing such a violation to occur. But I digress.
The second reason the ASLC Notes should get the boot is that it has devolved into a page-long advertisement for all the crap ASLC happens to be sponsoring any given week.
Look, you guys put up hundreds of fliers across the school and send out e-mails to every student on campus. Why, then, do you need to waste space in the Review that could be used for articles by student writers seeking to better their journalistic abilities and report on something that actually matters? Because that’s how it’s been since 1995.
Originally, yes, the column was a report on the Senate and ASLC Cabinet’s meetings and actions so that the student body could get a glimpse of the decision-making process, but it has devolved into ad space. Ad space has no place on the opinion page, as the Review’s editorial stated.
If ASLC wants to keep the student body informed about its inner workings, it could just send out copies of its minutes and new polices via e-mail or make them available online. Either way, it sure beats wasting valuable Review space, especially considering its recent downsizing from 16 pages to 12.
The final and most obvious reason the ASLC column has to go is that it’s not being read. As the Review editorial implied, not many people read them. So, from a strictly business standpoint, why keep it?
ASLC is paying for the space, yes, but if that space could be used for something that will actually generate interest, the column needs to go.
All right, I’ve put in my two cents.
Ultimately, it’s up to the editorial board and ASLC to decide the column’s fate. I would like to say, however, that I’ll speak to anyone who needs to be spoken to, whether that’s the dean, the ASLC Cabinet or whoever else needs convincing. And, if any valued readers out there disagree, which is entirely within your rights, shoot me an e-mail (cforrer@linfield.edu), and we’ll talk.
Live long and prosper.

Karats, cookies and culture: a Libyan wedding presentation

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:38:29 +0000

P.J. Wilson – for the Review
Senior Nadia Abraibesh shared the experience of attending her cousin’s traditional Libyan wedding to students and faculty members in a packed Jonasson Hall on Nov. 10.
Abraibesh explained the engagement, wedding and post-wedding process of a traditional Libyan wedding, which is different from traditional Western ceremonies.
“Weddings are extremely important and are extravagant in Libya,” Abraibesh said. “Even if the family doesn’t have the money to make it as extravagant as it wants, it will sell everything to make sure that it is.”
During the engagement process, the males on the groom’s side, minus the groom himself, go to the bride’s house and ask for her hand. Following her acceptance, a formal meeting takes place to discuss details about the couple’s match, such as where the pair will live after the wedding.
The next day is called the Fatha, or the document signing day, where only men are present to sign the marriage certificate. Fatha also serves as the day of the official wedding announcement.
Next, the family prepares for the wedding by cooking and planning the festivities, as the wedding usually happens two to three days after the documents are signed.
There are then three days of the wedding itself: Rummi, the day the groom’s family dresses up in traditional clothing and gives gifts to the bride’s family; Henna, when the bride’s family dresses up in traditional clothing and places an 80-gram piece of gold in the hand of the bride, a gift usually from the groom’s mother, and puts henna on her hands, wrists, ankles and feet; and the actual wedding ceremony.
Although her family was dressed in Libyan clothing, the bride, Nadia’s cousin, wore a traditional Western gown for her wedding.
After the wedding, there is a Tsndeer, or a sitting, in which the bride and groom dress up in traditional clothing and sit together while people bestow them with blessings and gifts. After the post-wedding comes a honeymoon. The couple then begins its married life.
“Even though it is frustrating that I don’t speak much Arabic, it was still a great experience, and my family went out of their way to try and communicate with me and welcome me,” Abraibesh said.
Along with the presentation, attendees enjoyed traditional Libyan cookies prepared by Abraibesh’s mother. Photos of the family dressed in traditional Libyan clothes were also passed through the audience. Video clips of the wedding were shown. Throughout the presentation, family friends helped explain the traditions of Libyan weddings and volunteers went on stage to try on traditional clothing to give the audience a taste of what a real Libyan wedding is like.
“I wanted people to learn about another culture,” Abraibesh said. “I think it is important for people to hear about traditions and customs that occur in other cultures.”
Overall, the audience was engaged and interested in all that was being presented.
“It was really interesting,” freshman Tessa Hanson said. “I’m in anthropology right now, and we’re studying marriage, so it’s cool to see it in action and get kind of a firsthand experience.”

Fall band concert plays on audience’s emotions

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:35:23 +0000

Heather Mcgehee – for the Review The Fall Band Concert, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at McMinnville’s First Baptist Church, will feature emotionally charged tunes and a guest appearance.
The concert has a stellar lineup of pieces: “I Am,” a piece by Andrew Boysen, will be the most moving song of the concert. In January 1990, a baritone saxophone player, Lynn Jones, died in a car crash and was later immortalized in the song. Its title is taken from a poem, also titled “I Am,” Jones wrote only days before his death.
The composition is unusual because it is an aleatory piece. This means that parts of the song are left to the devices of the musicians, who play it within loose musical guidelines. For this reason, the performers’ reviews are mixed.
“I think that if you listen to it and try to appreciate it, you can,” freshman trombonist Lynette Cole said.
Her less-than-wholehearted appraisal of the piece reflects the opinions of other band members, as well. Some, however, feel quite differently.
“I heard it on a CD and decided it was my favorite band song ever,” junior Audrey Rasmussen, whose recommendation was largely responsible for the song’s selection, said.
Her earnest enthusiasm for the song was unwavering.
“I love this piece,” she said. “I feel like it tells a story.”
Other pieces also garner nothing but praise from the musicians. One chief piece among these is Johan Halvorsen’s “Entry March of the Boyars.”
“Oh my god! I love it so much,” Cole said. ”I bought it on iTunes. I listen to it every day.”
A final treat for concert attendees will be the performance of guest soloist Tony Clements. A highly accomplished tuba soloist, Clements joins the band for “Concertino for Tuba and Band,” a piece by Frank Bencriscutto.
The First Baptist Church is located at 125 SE Cowls St. For more information, please contact Donna Root at droot@linfield.edu.

Talkback provides varied response

acody — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:33:57 +0000

Kelley Hungerford – assistant editor. Audience members young and old exited the Ford Theatre reluctantly near midnight Nov. 6. Conversations, some muted and some animated, continued on after the post-play discussion following the theater department’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House.”
“We could have gone on another hour or more,” Janet Gupton, associate professor of theater and communication arts, said. “I think we raised more questions than we found answers for.”
The talkback began at 10:30 p.m. and lasted a little longer than an hour. An entire section of the theater’s seating was filled with people eager to discuss the play, written in 1879, within the context of “The changing face of the American workforce: Women, careers, family and sacrifices,” the topic of the discussion.
“I think part of our mission for the department is that when we choose plays, classic plays like [“A Doll’s House”] that still have relevance today, it’s to add that extra educational element to our plays,” Gupton said.
The talkback audience largely comprised community members; the few students who were there were mainly part of the play’s cast and crew.
Besides the actors and actresses, discussion panelists included McMinnville residents Kathleen Bernards, a certified public accountant who owns her own practice; Ronni Lacroute of Willakenzie Estate, who is a Linfield trustee; Tanya Tompkins, Linfield associate professor of psychology; and David Bates, a local journalist and stay-at-home father.
“I realized that I didn’t want this to become a panel without a male voice,” Gupton said.
Bernards said she was pleasantly surprised that so many men were present for the talk.
“I feared it was going to be a bunch of us women talking about our gripes and how much progress we made, and I’m glad it wasn’t that,” Bernards said.
As a panel member, senior William DeBiccari, who played Nils Krogstad, said he felt more inclined to speak on the panel because he is a man.
“It didn’t faze me at all,” DeBiccari said.
Part of the impetus for the discussion was a report by Maria Shriver, titled “A woman’s nation changes everything,” but Gupton said that, while the report happened to coincide with the production, “A Doll’s House” wasn’t performed because of it.
“It was kind of a serendipitous, happy accident that it came out at that time,” she said.
Topics brought up at the talkback included the effects of today’s economy on women, mental and verbal abuse, single-parent concerns, portrayals of women and men in the media, male and female responsibilities today versus 50 years ago and balancing motherhood and a professional career.
In fact, juggling such a life appeared to be a common challenge for several panel and audience members.
“I stayed within the doll house and managed to come out anyway,” Jo McIntyre, a McMinnville resident and reporter, said at the discussion. “In spite of what happens, you can always go somewhere.”
McIntyre, along with other women present, frequently brought up the implications of the do-it-all woman on family and careers. Gupton said that, a lot of the time, perceptions of familial roles are changed to accommodate this lifestyle.
“Overall, the whole imposing of gender roles can be detrimental to both men and women in ways that we don’t always foresee,” she said.
Bernards said the range of ages of the panel members helped put feminism and sexism in perspective in the context of the last few decades. Lacroute is about ten years older than her, Bernards said, and Tompkins is a bit younger.
“You could see the progression of how the doors open wider,” Bernards said. “What we were trying to say at the panel was, ‘How did we walk through some of those doors since then?’”
Brenda Marshall, professor of theater and communication arts and the department’s chair, concluded that some doors remain closed to women and others, such as nonwhites, because today’s societal structures are behind on public opinion’s thoughts on the issue.
Freshman Caitlyn Olson, who portrayed Kristine Linde in the play, agreed.
“I think we’re pretty gender neutral,” she said in a later interview, adding that attitudes concerning gender inequality needed to change in Ibsen’s time — the late 1800s. “We’ve moved past that but need to structure our world to accept that.”
The student actors made many key points throughout the talkback, and some revealed personal information about their families, including having a single mother or older parents.
“Two students mentioned the positive impact in their lives of having parents who were quite a bit older,” Bernards said. “That was something I hadn’t thought about.”
DeBiccari said the discussion was informative but incomplete.
“There was some very good information, and some of it was like, ‘Wow, why are we listening to it?’” DeBiccari said. “I just feel like the talkback itself was — what’s a good word — unfortunately elementary.”
He said a lot of his frustrations stemmed from the late hour after performing.
But the late night didn’t seem to bother most attendees, and Gupton, Bernards and Olson all said they thought the talkback was a success.