Page 8
University Daily Kansan, April 20, 1982
Author reads works to classes
By SUSAN BROSSEAU Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
The author read the final words quietly and with power. She removed her glasses and her red eyes verified the emotion that was in her voice. The audience sat deathly still—only hushed sobs broke the silence.
Irsen Olsen had concluded the reading of "Tell Me a Riddle," a story she wrote that won an O. Henry Award, as part of her activities as writer-in residence for the English department last week.
During her three-day visit, Olsen visited creative writing and literature classes, read from her works, spoke on the causes of creative silences in writers and led a discussion that caused how to prevent those creative silences.
OLSEN, ALTHOUGH highly acclaimed, is the author of relatively few published works. Her literary works are "Tell Me a Riddle," a book of short stories; "Yonnondo," an unfinished novel; "Silences," an epic in literature; and contributions to Ms. Harper's, College English and Trellis.
During her time on campus, Olsen
decried the waste of human potential. It was an important theme in her fiction as well as her speeches and discussions while visiting classrooms.
Olsen said she regretted the silenced creativity in humanity due to discipline, color and class, and the time-consuming work needed to maintain human life.
CREATIVITY IS born in every child, she said, and is almost unlimited in children and almost gone in adults. She creativity was not expressive only in art.
"Creativity goes on all the time. During my silence I was using my creativity, but it wasn't in the written word," she said.
She suggested finding new ways of recording creative thoughts.
"Maybe you need not think of a perfect story. There are many good thoughts. Why let them go because you don't have the time?" Olsen said.
But her major fear, Olsen said, was not the creative work that was lost, but the danger to humanity that the nuclear arms race had brought.
"What does any of it matter if we don't do something about these 50,000 atomic war heads?" she said.
what they could to change people's
money from a policy of nuclear
referent
"You have to reach the people who really believe that we have to have more bombs to keep the Russians from bombing us," Olsen said.
With increased knowledge, she said, those people could change.
SHE IMPLORED her audiences to do
"You must respect other people's
name. They said, 'You must
believe in them.'"
A college education, however, is not necessarily the way to increase knowledge that would lead to change, she said.
Olsen used Phyllis Schifley and her upcoming visit to the KU campus as an example. Olsen said that Schifley's observation did not show her how women lived.
"Her education was one of privilege, given by those in power to perpetuate that power," Olsen said. "I hate women like her, who take all the privilege about their lives and make a career out of women's tragedy."
But even Schlafly could change, she said.
"You must have faith in humankind," Olsen said. "I am a believer. I believe that people will act for what is right."
KU students will have a chance to make a commitment to music this week.
Music society seeks new members
Senate holding drive
INCREASING ARTIST'S fees and a growing concern that prominent artists would no longer come to Lawrence caused a number of music enthusiasts to respond to the need for contributions.
The Student Senate's cultural affairs committee is holding a membership drive for the Swarthock. The drive will run through Friday.
The Swarthout Society was formed two years ago to help support the KU Concert and Chamber Music Series.
More than 300 students, staff,
"The society consists of people who are interested in insuring the quality of performance in this area," according to Jackie Davis, director of the Concert and Chamber Music Series for the University and executive director of the Swarthout Society.
faculty and friends of the University have contributed more than $10,000 to help meet artists' fees and expenses, Davis said recently.
But the Society is seeking more student and senior citizen memberships, she said, and one purpose of these groups is to let these groups know they can join.
During the week, members of the cultural affairs committee will speak at many living organizations.
Mollie Mitchell, cultural affairs committee chairman and newly appointed Swarthout board member said, "We've also sent out letters to many of these organizations to help build awareness before we talk to them as a group.
"We want to encourage many of these living organizations to join the Society as a group. Then, hopefully, we can help them become interested students in those groups."
THERE ALSO will be a table in front of Wescoe Hall, where committee members will pass out Swarthout Society literature.
A student membership to the Society costs between $5 to $24. Members will receive invitations to special post-performance receptions, opportunities for special pre-performance discussion groups and a copy of the semiannual Society newsletter.
"I want students to be more aware of these benefits," Mitchell said. "That is why we are holding this membership drive. We want to build a better community in the arts available to them at the University and in the community."
The schedule for the 1982-83 KU Concert and Chamber Music Series includes the Ohio Ballet, the Kansas City Lyric Opera, the Beaux Arts Trio and the American String Quartet.
"I was pleased with this year's "schedule," Davis said, "and was delighted with the sold out performances. I am extremely pleased with this coming season and I hope even more people will attend."
Boyds Coina-Antiques
Classic Rings
Salt Lake Trade
731 Gold-Silver-Coin
Gold-Silver-Harmarpe
Harmarpe, Lawrence
Kansas 6044 913-824-8773
Join Jayhawk West
Be part of the
"1st Annual Happening"
coming in May.
"You'll like the changes!"
Now accepting $100 retainer-
depends on 1-2 B.Apt. for Fall.
* Indoor Pool
* Free shuttle bus
* Two jacuzzids
* 24 ir. Maintenance
Call today and
compare our rates!
842-4444
7 days a week.
524 Frontier Road
FRANK SEURER
KANSAS UNIVERSITY
KELLY KNIGHT
'82 - '83 ALL-SPORTS SEASON TICKET SALE
MON., APRIL 19-
WED., APRIL 21
in front of WESCOE HALL K.U.I.D.s REQUIRED-
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
TO FIRST 1,000 TICKET PURCHASERS.
Includes These K.U. Home Events:
TICKET PRICE—$45.00
FOOTBALL-ALL 6 GAMES*
BASKETBALL-ALL 14 GAMES*
TRACK-KANSAS RELAYS
(REGULAR SEASON GAMES ONLY—DOES NOT INCLUDE PRE OR POST-SEASON GAMES)
HOW IT WORKS:
Receipts will be issued to purchasers. The ticket office will have copies if you lose your receipt over the summer.
—Tickets may be picked up next fall according to the SR., JR., Soph., Fresh. schedule.
BLOCK SEATING in Football will be available by turning your receipts in together next fall.
Football-Only Student Season Tickets go on sale next fall.
Allen Field House Student Seating is limited to 7,000. Therefore, Basketball-Only Student Season Tickets will be available only if less than 7,000 All-Sports Tickets are sold.
—For more information—contact
ATHLETIC TICKET OFFICE
ALLEN FIELD HOUSE
1
864-3141