Features
Daily hansan
Society
Friday, April 17, 1959
56th Year, No. 128, SECTION B
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
RARE VIEW OF JIMMY—Dean Green and paint. Our Russian-racing engineers apparently protege without the customary spring coat of lack some of the rowdy habits of their forebears.
Fine Arts Dean Now Sure KU Is 'Friendly' Campus
By Saundra Hayn
New courses, new majors, new techniques of performance, and a new building are all innovations to the School of Fine Arts.
Perhaps the greatest change was the time when Thomas Gorton became the school's dean.
Nine years ago, Dean Gorton described KU as being "friendly." Today he is more convinced of his first impression than before.
"I think that this campus is friendly to the arts. This makes it possible for them to survive and to thrive," he stated.
Dean Gorton, who is a composer and pianist as well as head of the department of piano, gives one the impression of a sober Santa Claus as he sits smoking a pipe in his office overlooking the new Summerfield Hall.
"This new plant has given us facilities to develop new programs and to increase the effectiveness of the existing ones," Dean Gorton explained.
Changes Made
Dean Gorton listed some changes:
"Students seemed to feel that they
would rather not be segregated but would rather sing in mixed groups, so we discontinued the men's and women's glee clubs."
Now the University Chorus performs bigger works such as Handel's "Messiah" or Mendelssohn's "Eliiah," each year, he said.
"We try to include more liberal arts content in our professional program. I think that a musician should first receive an education. He should get some basic training and, by the time he gets his university degree, be ready for specialized training." Dean Gorton emphasized.
"One of our two new music programs is the high school string clinic which occurs each spring. Also, this year we held our first 'Symposium' for modern American composers." Dean Gorton continued.
The Arts Seek Breadth
Some of the majors offered by the School of Fine Arts since Dean Gorton became head are art history, music history, wind and percussion instruments, viola, trombone, and bassoon.
Plays and Composers When he is not at work, Dean Gorton says that he enjoys playing
The School of Fine Arts is changing to meet the challenge of the times. Perhaps the most general difference in the school is the larger amount of liberal arts courses required for graduation.
Most of the school's professors agree that there is an ever-increasing need for breadth, even in a professional diet.
In addition to the liberal arts program, several workshops have been added to the school's curriculum. There is now an opera workshop, an oratorio workshop, and a workshop in advanced conducting.
Music majors have an ever-widening choice of fields. History of art, music history, viola, trombone, bassoon, carillon, and harpsichord, are all fields of major study.
the piano and composing. As he mentioned that he has more time for these delights in the summer, he glanced somewhat ruefully toward the baby-grand piano in the corner.
The dean takes Mrs. Gorton and their daughter Judy, a sophomore in the School of Fine Arts, on an east coast trip each summer.
"I enjoy deep sea fishing. Besides, our families live there," he explained.
"I think that there is definitely a potential for growth here that is greater than where the arts have been established longer." he mused.
Dean Gorton said he thought that the attitude of the midwestern university toward the arts is very different from that of more traditional eastern schools.
Because he is so busy, it may be burrising to note that Dean Gorton is one of the few deans who signs such degree personally. He is also reputed to be quite an understanding fellow.
"He takes a personal interest in each one of the students and has effected a close relationship among members of the faculty." Charlotte Simon, one of the dean's secretaries said.
An Understanding Fellow
Dean Gorton, who is a past president of the Kansas Music Teachers Asn..has recently been elected president of the National Assn. of Schools of Music.
As an artist, his compositions include, "Piano Concerto," "Symphonny." incidental music to Eugene O'Neill's play, "Marco Millions," "Variations in Fugue for Symphonic Band," and a suite for orchestra, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
Before coming to KU, Dean Gorton taught at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester. N.Y., where he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in music.
Alumni to See KU Panorama
By Saundra Havn
As a former student or alumus returns to the University there are several items which flood into his mind.
First may come the visual image of KU. A sprawling array of architecture is a good way to describe it. From the northeast, one sees stone buildings with varying shades of red roofing. On warm spring days this panorama seems invitingly fresh with curving sidewalks interrupting large patches of green grass.
The twin towers of Fraser Hall herald the building which was once a proud landmark saluting the surrounding countryside. Now the structure holds sentimental value, but presents problems to students clinging precariously to the winding bannisters during school hours.
Strong Hall looms before most persons as a great sun-drenched desert cathedral. Constructed of yellow stone, the building stretches nearly a city block to provide space enough for classrooms, and business and administration offices.
Campanile Guards Lake
Classes in Strong should be among the more punctual with the World War II Memorial Campanile standing directly behind it, serenading the Kaw valley with the music of time passing. The campanile itself guards heart-shaped Potter Lake and the shrouded grove nearby.
Across a wooded dell is the Kansas Union. This houses the Hawk's Nest and gathering grounds for student organizations. The seniors of 1937 bequeathed, an aluminum awning to doll up the front, and disarrayed the English architecture until it now resembles an army camp wearing a horizontal snorkel.
On the opposite end of the green is Lindley Hall, famous for its blooming trees, and geology majors who claim to be obsessed with the idea that their predecessors created the famous "Rock Chalk" chant.
To the east of Lindley is generally found some project which the architecture students have settling in the ground.
Sprawling southward down the hill from Lindley is the Music and Dramatic Arts Building. Inside this rambling tomb of variegated design is the latest equipment for drama productions and musical performances. Here are located the University Theatre and Swarthout Recital Hall.
Wilt Built It
Perhaps the most memorable object on campus is the statue of "Uncle Jimmy" Green. Some citizens actually believe that the kindly-visaged, often multi-colored gentleman whispers stories about the shapely pretties who daily suffer the scrutiny of lawyers seated on the Law School stairs.
Across Naismith Drive is the "house that Wilt built," or Allen Field House. Smudged with ghoul-green lights at night, this largest building on campus often seats as many as 17,000 patrons.
These same students say that "Uncle Jimmy" tells his friends the same thing that the campanile bells proclaim. Others say he has grown philosophical, blessing his metal neighbor's ear with:
"I am not so intent upon getting away from our Kansas roots as I am in realizing that I have grown from them."
Campus Culture Agenda Full of Many Events
The cultural events scheduled each month at KU form staggering loads for those involved.
For example, last month's agenda included:
"Li'l Abner" on the KU Concert Course; the annual Rock Chalk Revue; a faculty recital; the opera, "Carmen"; the St. Louis Symphony; the LaSalle string quartet, and "The Great God Brown."
How does it happen that this midwestern University has become such a cultural plum spot? Many faculty members think it is because KU has an administration that favors and appreciates the arts.
Lewin Goff, associate professor of speech and drama and director of the University Theatre, said he thought that people had always been amazed to find that KU had so many fine cultural events to attend.
"The greatest advantage that we have is a young, active administration which is determined that KU will not get behind. The administration is moving ahead and setting the pace for the rest of the University," he said.
Jack Brooking, assistant professor of speech and drama and assistant director of the University Theatre, said he sometimes becomes discouraged because he feels students do not take advantage of the cultural opportunities afforded them.
"I think the administration is vitally interested and I think this is rare," he said.
For the past few years, the music and dramatic arts departments have worked together on technically professional productions such as "The King and I" and "Carmen."
Although it is a common belief that these productions are just "fun to be in," it is recognized by the faculty that they are hard on students.
To be in such productions, a student must sacrifice many of his normal habits and activities to a strict rehearsal schedule.
With the continued help of the administration, the productions will continue to reflect theatrical credit upon the University.