Newsletter_19790808.pdf

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Part of The Evergreen State College Newsletter (August 8, 1979)

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Published by the Office of College Relations/Library 3114

August 8, 1979
BOARD REDUCES FEES FOR STAFF

Evergreen's Board of Trustees Thursday voted to reduce the tuition rate for fulltime college employees seeking to enroll in part-time courses. The move, prompted by
new legislation adopted during the past session, gives employees of more than six months
duration the opportunity to take up to eight credit hours at approximately a 40 percent
discount from the fees paid by non-employees.
Trustees considered a proposal to waive all tuition and fees for employees
studying part-time, but vetoed the idea after finding that 'waived' students could not be
counted as part of the enrollment and could only enroll in programs of their choice if
space was available. Current college policy grants full-time staff a half-price rate for
part-time studies. The new policy reduces that rate by an additional 40 percent
(Thus, eight hours normally cost $96; currently staff pay $48; new policy cuts that to
$30).
A request from Alumni Association President Chris Meserve for a similar fees
reduction for Evergreen graduates was tabled by trustees, who then moved to adopt a
legislatively mandated reduction in tuition and fees for Vietnam era veterans. That
•eduction cuts $9 from their tuition by returning the fees to the level charged
October 1, 1977 ($153 for full-time students), and requiring the rate to remain constant
until May 7, 1983.
MCLANE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

Negotiations with the McLane Fire District continued at Thursday's meeting. Chief
Charles Allison asked the board to consider the effects of inflation and the district's
need to meet fire fighters' wage demands as it considers the district's request for
$123,000 for the 1979-80 school year. The district, which has threatened to cut service
to the college by September 1 if negotiations aren't successfully completed, says
Evergreen is offering $107,000 toward its total budget, exactly the same amount it paid
last year. Allison pointed out that the college's student firefighter program had already
been cut from ten to six students and that to cut the program any further "would cause a
safety problem." The college has emphasized that the $107,000 is all that the legislature
allocated to Evergreen for fire service and further, as President Dan Evans noted, "even
if we paid nothing, McLane would be legally obligated to provide emergency service."
Allison told trustees he "didn't blame the college or the board" for the financial
problem, but felt the legislature was culpable for consistently overlooking the costs of
fire protection.
Trustees asked the administration to continue negotiating with McLane, but did not
set a specific dollar limit for those negotiations. If agreement cannot be reached, the
college may consider establishing and operating an independent fire company which, according
to one proposal "could cost less than the McLane contract," and would be similar to the
company located on campus and operated by Washington State University.
In other business, trustees approved two more changes mandated by the legislature:
one raising the mandatory retirement age for state employees to 70, the other setting
limits to participation in the TIAA-CREF (Teachers Insurance and Annuity AssociationCollege Retirement Equities Fund) for exempt employees. They also approved an acrossthe-board salary increase of 5 percent for exempt employees effective September 1.
Trustees will consider, at their September 20 meeting, a proposal for selectively
distributing an additional 5.6 percent salary raise for exempt employees which will "correct

- 2-

distortions and inconsistencies in our salary policy and, via step increases, recognize
meritorious service.
TSAI NAMES "AFTER THE FALL" CAST

Fourteen Evergreen students have been selected to appear in the Summer Repertory
Theater production of "After The Fall" this month. Directed by Evergreen faculty member
Andre Tsai, the theater group will stage Arthur Miller's highly acclaimed autobiographical
drama August 23-26, beginning at 8 o'clock each evening in the Experimental Theater.
Headlining the all-student cast are Tom Gorski of Lacey, who plays the Miller-like
Quentin, and Linda Mathews of Tacoma, who plays his former wife, a movie actress whose
career resembles that of Marilyn Monroe. The two will combine talents with 12 other
student actors for the two-act production which offers what director Tsai calls "an
examination of conscience," where action takes place in the mind of Quentin, a man who
strongly resembles the playwright.
First produced in 196A, "After The Fall" has been called "the most nakedly autobiographical drama ever put on public view," though Miller denies that interpretation.
Nonetheless, viewers will find strong similarities between the past Quentin re-examines
and the life of Miller. For example, Tsai points out, both the playwright and his main
character were asked to "name names" by the House Committee on Un-American Activities and
both were married to famous actresses who later committed suicide.
Assisting Tsai with the production, which highlights the Summer Repertory Theater's
third season, are set designer Peter Waldron and lighting technician Ben Fuchs.
Tickets will be available at the door of the Communications Building beginning
at 7:30 p.m. August 23-26.
HICKMAN STAGES ONE-MAN SHOW

More than one hundred color and black and white photographs fill the Second Floor (
Gallery at Evergreen through August 9 as part of the continuing series of displays by
the Summer Photography Institute. The new one-man show is the work of former Evergreen
staff photographer Craig Hickman, a co-director of Portland's Blue Sky Gallery and
visiting instructor in Evergreen's summer photography program.
Hickman's exhibit traces his professional development over the past seven years,
including more than 70 playful, poloroid photos in one series, a half dozen large black and
white photographs, and more than 30 large color works of both Pacific Northwest scenes and
a variety of imaginative glimpses of ordinary settings.
LEISURE ED INSTRUCTORS SOUGHT

Persons skilled in the arts, sports or a variety of other leisure time activities
are invited to apply for part-time instructing positions in the Leisure Education program
at The Evergreen State College.
Sandy Greenway, director of Evergreen's Leisure Education program, says each
quarter the college offers some 40 workshops
ranging from dance to woodworking,
mushroom identification to tennis
to students and Olympia-area residents for nominal
fees to "enrich their leisure time, not to generate academic credit."
This fall, Evergreen seeks part-time instructors to direct workshops in such arts
as painting, calligraphy, stained glass, woodworking and lapidary. Instructors are also
needed for sports and recreation activities, including kayaking, swimming, diving, weight
training and aerobics.
Other workshops for which instructors are needed Fall Quarter include modern dance,
lifesaving, Water Safety Instruction, mushroom identification, bridge and chess.
Greenway says applications for the positions must be in the College Recreation
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Center at Evergreen by Friday, August 10, for Fall Quarter workshops. Persons interested
in teaching Winter and Spring Quarters may also apply with Greenway at this time.
For complete information, call the Evergreen Recreation Center, 866-6530, weekdays
during regular working hours.

- 3"UNITED DREAM" PROMOTING FIRST HIT

For Karen Kramer and Thorn Farris "Initial Changes" isn't just the name of a joyful
bouncy tune airing daily over KGY radio in Olympia. It's the first step in what could
be major changes in their young lives.
The two Evergreen students started their recording career just last fall
as
a study project with faculty musician Donald Chan. They wanted to find out more about
composing and recording music
and to see if they could actually produce a song
that "would appeal to listeners of all ages, and make them happy," says Thorn, a 22-yearold senior from Kennewiek.
"We wanted to learn how to use Evergreen's eight-track studio as a recording
tool," he recalls. "We wanted to compose an instrumental piece that everyone could enjoy."
With the advice of Chan and Seattle producer Norm Durkee, a former Evergreen
visiting faculty musician, the two combined talents with drummer Tom Nault, an Evergreen
student from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and formed "United Dreams," a trio which they hoped
would enable them to achieve their ultimate goal
to become self sufficient in the
recording business.
TIME OUT TO MARRY

To do so, they felt they first had to know more about all factions of the recording
business
from composing to performing, engineering to promotion and distribution.
By December their song was polished and poised for success. It just needed marketing,
so the two began studying promotion and publicity techniques. Then spring came
and
like thousands of other couples their age, romance blossomed into an April wedding and
the need to take time out from studying to get used to matrimony.
This summer, the two returned to Olympia, ready to promote their song. But, first
they had to make sure their tune sounded as good to the "real world" as it did to their
:riends. So they took "Initial Changes" to Dick Pust, program director of Olympia's
KGY radio.
"I liked the song as soon as I heard it," says Pust, a 15-year veteran of radio.
"I've picked a lot of hits over the years and think I can objectively recognize the certain
commercial quality a song needs to become popular."
"The song," predicts Pust, "could become a national hit if it's promoted right."
He bases his forecast not only on his own professional reaction to "Initial Changes,"
but on those of his listeners.
"Nearly every time we play it, we get positive phone calls
often asking where
they can buy a copy."
NATIONAL EXPOSURE NEXT?

The reactions to the song
which was recorded before the popular "Music Box
Dancer" instrumental it somewhat resembles
have given the young artists the catalyst
they needed to seek regional, perhaps even national exposure.
"We've already talked to stations in Seattle who are interested in playing it, to
a record company which hopes to press our tape into a record this month, and to a
Texas distributor who wants to promote the piece to some 90 stations throughout the
country," Thorn reports.
By composing, arranging, performing and engineering their own song, they've
eliminated many of the customary "middle men" in the record business. They've already
taken steps to obtain licensing from Broadcast Music Incorporated which will enable them
to receive payments each time their song is played. And, they've become confident that
their song will be recorded within the next few weeks on both tapes and records for nationwide distribution.
From there, the two hope, "we'll soon hear our names on Casey Kasem's (American
Top 40) show," the ultimate acknowledgement in today's popular music business.
If Dick Fust's judgment holds
and remember, he's the first one locally to push
"Music Box Dancer" which subsequently became a pop chart favorite
the "united dream"
of Karen Kramer and Thorn Farris may be realized with "Initial Changes" far more quickly
than they'd ever hoped.

- 4ORGANIC FARM OPEN HOUSE SET AUGUST 18
The public is invited to an Open House at the Organic Farm August 18 from 11 a.m. to
5 p.m., sponsored by the students and faculty of the "As You Sow" academic program. Inforl
workshops on home gardening, composting, mulching and other topics will be offered, and
students will be available to discuss research projects and farming methods used on the
ten-acre farm on the west end of campus.
Refreshments will be provided, including farm-grown vegetables and iced herb teas.
Signs will be posted at the campus entrance to the farm Saturday and visitors are invited
to enjoy the five-minute walk through the woods from Parking Lot B to the farm. Parking
at the farm will be available for senior citizens and handicapped persons. For further
information call 866-6161, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
NEWS BRIEFS
****** The accreditation team from the Commission on Higher Schools of the Northwest
Association of Secondary and Higher Schools has postponed its visit to Evergreen this
fall, due to a scheduling conflict. The team, headed by Dr. Paul Bragdon, president of
Reed College in Portland, was originally scheduled to be on campus October 17-19, but has
rescheduled for October 24-26.
****** The Development Office reports proceeds from the Phone-a-thon Spring Quarter total
more than $7,500, including one gift of $1,000 and another gift of 21 shares of stock.
The staff, headed by new director Susan Washburn, who came aboard July 2, hopes a final tally
of $10,000 will be met by the end of the month.
****** Alumni Relations coordinator Paul Roberts reports plans are being finalized for
Evergreen's first alumni reunion September 28-30 on campus. Activities scheduled include
an arts and crafts fair, music festival, business meeting, and a spaghetti dinner.
Additional details will be announced in September.
****** Two Evergreen photographers will share the Second Floor Library Gallery August 13-2/
in a varied display of black and white works. Bob Haft, Evergreen library slide curator,
will present more than 20 photos he has taken during the past two years on both coasts of
the United States. His show, called "Minor Mysteries," features a variety of subjects.
Jeffrey Coffelt, a Bellingham senior at Evergreen, will stage an exhibit focussing on
"Bayview," an Olympia home for developmentally disabled adults. His show is the culmination
of a year's study and offers viewers a look at how residents of Bayview live.
EVERGREENERS IN THE NEWS
Former Vice President and Provost Edward J_. Kormondy has accepted an appointment as
vice president of the University of South Maine, which is headed by the brother of Evergreen
faculty member Ron Woodbury. Kormondy has also published two articles during this past year:
"College Biology as a Science and a Profession" printed in the April edition of The American
Biology Teacher, and "Ecology/Economy of Nature
Synonyms?" published in Ecology,
produced by the Ecological Society of America.
Faculty Biologist Linda Kahan has extended her academic leave an additional year so
she can continue working for the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. And,
Faculty Member Hap Freund, who has been on leave for the past two years, has resigned.
Newly hired at Evergreen are: Richard Good, custodian, James Wussler, security
guard and Bill Polfus, editorial consultant for the Office of College Relations. Five
others have left the campus team: secretary Marcia Hanson, nurse practitioner Janet
Wolfram, costumer Jean Elliott, legislative analyst Molly Phillips (who was employed by
the Office of State College and University Presidents) and accounting assistant Mathew
Raymond.
Director of Facilities David Wallbom has been named by President Dan Evans to
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assume responsibility as "compliance coordinator" for Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of mental and/or physical handicaps.
Wallbom replaces Dan Weiss on that assignment.