KUCAMPUS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
13C
Theatre group wants people to EAT it
By Mark Luce Kansan staff writer
Will Averill is willing to light with Paul Lim, associate professor of English — and the Lawrence senior often does.
The pair doesn't argue about grades but about plays, specifically Averill's "The Sea." It is one of the fall productions for the University of Kansas' English Alternative Theatre.
Lim founded the theater group in December 1989 to provide production opportunities for KU students and their original scripts. Too often, he said, local theater production organizations were not interested in doing new and local scripts.
Since its founding, the company has manufactured more than 60 full-length and one-act productions as well as staged readings. Many of these student works come from Lim's playwriting class, he said.
"I hope I can help young writers
develop their voice." Lim said. "In some ways writing cannot be taught. All I can do is help shape the piece, make it logical and stable."
For Averill, it is these teaching characteristics that helped him as he worked on "The Sea," a piece that explores relationships and gender through two characters trapped in an undefined space.
"We had a long argument about the name of the play," Averill said. "He didn't think it worked. But with Paul there is a continual give and take. He makes you learn by challenging you, through outside reading and class discussion.
"He serves more as a guide or an editor than a teacher, and this is very helpful."
Averill, who comes from a family that is active in community theater, said having his play produced would be beneficial.
"It's a wonderful experience to test the field," Averill said. "You never
know how something is going to play until it is actually in front of an audience. Whether people love it or hate it, it will be helpful to see it up."
Fellow playwright Bo Price, Lawrence senior, whose play "The Devil's Game" will be staged with "The Sea," said the theater not only gave students an outlet for their work but also taught the intricacies of staging a play.
"It is a very productive process," Price said. "You get the experience of working with actors, directors and designers while learning about dialogue and rewriting."
"After you are done writing, Paul will tell you what to consider in order to lead you in a better direction," Price said. "With Paul it is never a question of right and wrong. It's how to revise and make the play structurally better."
Price also echoed Averill's praise for Lim's teaching style.
Lim, however, is quick to deflect
such credit back to the student writers.
"I have been fortunate to inherit fine students from various departments," Lim said. "They have been willing to fight me, to challenge me, which always makes better work."
Financial questions arise when discussing public art in the '90s, but Lim said that an endowed fund from a retired history professor would help the theater. In addition, the group charges admission to some shows to ensure bills that get paid. But Lim said he was not in it for the money.
"I think that we provide something that fills a gap in the local arts community," Lim said. "We have done benefits for the Douglas County AIDS Association and are always doing plays by and about people of color and other minorities. We play to a special group, and I hope that we help serve the new and aspiring talent at KU."
How does a troubled KU student spell relief? SAC
Fall 1995 Student Assistance Center Workshops
YOUR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
SERIES:
Ir Time Management and Reading
1 to 3 p.m., Aug. 17, S140 Wescoe
7 to 9 p.m., Sept. 26, 4035
Wescoe
**12 Memory and Note Taking**
1 to 3 p.m, Aug. 18, 2140 Wescoe
7 to 9 p.m, Oct. 3, 4035 Wescoe
***Demonstration for Exercises***
Prep for Exams
7 to 9 p.m., Aug. 24, 4035 Wescoe
7 to 9 p.m., Nov. 1, 4035 Wescoe
Other study skills workshops offered born Sept. through Nov. Learning a Foreign Language Calculus: Taking Control Research Paper Writing Managing Test Anxiety
For more information, call the SAC at 804-4064.
By Meng Yew Tee
Kansan staff writer
Luke Hinson was back from the long summer break and was preparing to go to classes.
But a little hitch in his financial aid procedures caused a fee-payment delay. As a result, his pre-enrolled courses were automatically dropped.
The Harrison, Ark., senior, quickly tried to get to the bottom of the problem but found himself running from one office to another. Nobody seemed to know how to help him. Hinson was beginning to wonder if he would ever get the problem resolved.
After going to five or six different offices, he was referred to the Student Assistance Center. At SAC, a step-by-step battle plan was formulated to face KU's complex bureaucracy. With that plan, Hinson finally got his problem solved.
"I still would be walking around campus right now if SAC wasn't there to help me," Hinson said.
Hinson is one of the 180 students who visit the assistance center at 133 Strong Hall during an average week. Students bring all kinds of problems — from questions such as, "Where's the bathroom?" to "What do I have to do to withdraw from a class?"
Although Hinson was apprehensive about going to the center, he said he soon found out that the people there genuinely wanted to help.
The staff member who helped Hinson, Kimberly Grassmeyer, associate director of the center, even called Hinson later that day to find out if he had successfully resolved the problem. Grassmeyer also called the person that she had referred Hinson to and made sure that Hinson wasn't sent on another wild goose chase.
"For a change, I felt like a person instead of a six-digit number," Hinson said.
The seven full-time staff members at SAC take pride in helping individuals who come in.
Lorna Zimmer, director of SAC,
said paying attention to each individual and helping students understand
the university's rules and policies were the center's main priorities.
"I really do hope that students know that we are serious in helping them, not just in their classes, but also all other aspects." Zimmer said.
Besides the one-on-one assistance sessions, the center also coordinates several time-management, studyskills and academic workshops. In addition, the center helps students with disabilities, non-traditional students, and gay, lesbian and bisexual students.
Brian Runk, Lawrence sophomore and non-traditional student, took his struggle with an algebra class to SAC.
"I had not taken algebra for 20 years," Runk said, "and after that 20 years, algebra was quite a shock to me."
After Runk had failed the first two tests in his class, the center referred him to a tutor. Runk got B's on the next two tests and then aced the final one.
"Their staff is friendly and always is willing to help." Runk said.
STUDENTS LOOK FOR NOTHING IN THE PAPER.
Nothing works better.
Remember that white space can be an irresistible attraction to a pair of inquisitive eyes. Use it to your advantage when you place your next ad where students look first.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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