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Show B5 Castle Valley Review, February 2009 CEU NEWS CEU Theatre Presents ‘A Man for All Seasons’ Susan A. Polster, Ph.D. College of Eastern Utah Theatre is in rehearsals for A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt, set to run Feb. 5-10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Geary Theatre. The play tells the story of Sir Thomas More, who defies King Henry the VIII’s desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Thomas More’s decision to stand up for his strong principles and beliefs places him at odds with the state that would have him simply “go along.” “Our production comes at a time when standing up for what we believe in isn’t the most popular posi- tion to take,” Director Corey Ewan said. “We’re at a point that we have to take a stand with what we believe to be right versus what is easy, to quote Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter film. I am always fascinated to see to what lengths people are willing to go to, at the risk of losing everything, to maintain their integrity. It seems today that integrity is becoming as extinct as the Dodo.” The play deals with some very heavy themes and yet there are moments of sweet comedy and tender emotions. Eastern Utah Theatre has been fortunate to assemble a strong cast of extremely talented individuals. Todd Olsen, director of admissions and scholarships, is playing Sir Thomas More. He has some unique insight into playing with these ideas. James Thompson and Rodney Scott, both teachers at Carbon High School, accepted the roles of Cardinal Wolsey and the Duke of Norfolk. Scott Westwood is playing the pivotal role of Thomas Cromwell along with Andrew Barrus as Master Richard Rich. Mitch Ewan plays King Henry VIII. Elizabeth Miller and Sarah Jones will play the roles Lady Alice More and Lady Margaret More respectively. Casey Walker, Michael S. Johnson, Dale Flink, Will Blackburn, Randon Kerr and Mae Goss round out the cast. “These people have made rehearsals a blast, I’m having a great time watching and directing them. I am grateful for their willingness to play hard and to work even harder to make this a very memorable production. Rehearsals have become a type of fallout shelter from reality and boy! We need it now more than ever,” says Dr. Ewan. The director hopes many will join them for the February production. “We hope it will keep you talking and thinking about long after it has closed,” Ewan said. Renowned Photographer to Present ‘The Art in Rock Art’ Renowned Utah photographer Craig Law will have his work “The Art in Rock Art” displayed in College of Eastern Utah’s Gallery East from through March 5. From Utah State University in Logan, Law is a project photographer who is well-known and highly respected A professor of art (photography), he served as chair of the USU Art Department from 1996 to 2001. He has won numerous awards and honors and his work is in numerous private and public collections including the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and the Utah State Collection. He is represented by Phillips Gallery in Salt Lake City. “Utah is fortunate to have many world-class prehistoric rock art sites. Our panels are a significant part of the cultural heritage of Utah and North America. And yet they are virtually unprotected. Many sites have been seriously compromised by vandalism and much of their information lost forever. Some are suffering from the effects of aging and weathering. “Other panels, especially those easily accessible, are in danger of further degradation. At this rate of deterioration, many of us fear our grandchildren will never have the opportunity to experience many of these marvelous works of art,” Law writes. Alarmed by the deterioration of Utah’s prehistoric rock art and understanding that there was no effort to record the totality of what was left of the Barrier Canyon-style rock art, the BCS PROJECT was formed by David Sucec and Law. They began documentation in 1991 (a non-profit since 1992) and as of September 2001, the PROJECT has photographed 212 sites with BCS images. The objectives of the BCS PROJECT documentation project are to record all Barrier Canyon-style rock art images, with large-format cameras for the maximum clarity and detail; produce archival photographic prints (gelatinsilver and ultra-stable color processes) for optimum viewing and study; to create a complete inventory of the documented sites; and to generate a scholarly description and analysis of the style’s imagery. The 24 Gallery East photographs by Law, were selected to represent the hundred he has taken for the project since its inception in 1991. The complete documentation (without specific locations of sites) will be housed in the Special Collections Division of the Marriott Library, University of Utah as a record and resource for scholars/interested public in the study of the Barrier Canyon style and Utah prehistoric rock art. An opening reception will be held Friday, Feb. 6, from 7– 9 p.m. in Gallery East. It is free and open to the public. Gallery East’s hours are Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. It is also free and open to the public. SUN Center a Growing Part of Campus Life at CEU The SUN (Serving Utah Network) Involvement Center of Service and Learning has been a growing and integral part of campus life and the student experience at the Price College for the past 16 years. The SUN CENTER for short traces its humble beginnings to 1993 at a meeting between then Dean of Students Jay Andrus, Student Activities Director Brad King, and Placement Coordinator Kathy Murray. Utah higher education institutions were meeting to promote a new national movement called Service Learning. Dean Andrus asked Murray if she would “volunteer” to be the lead person on the CEU campus and represent the college at some state-wide meetings. The rest is history. Fall Semester set new standards for success for the SUN CENTER. The 17 student leaders initiated and carried out 35 projects ranging from a local Angel Tree project for Christmas to a Newborns in Need project. The College of Eastern Utah Leadership consortium made up of CEUSA (student government), the Student Ambassadors, and Residence Hall Assistants each committed to 20 hours of service and provided a core of volunteers. The cumulative efforts of the SUN CENTER and other campus leadership groups provided invaluable service to the state and the communities of Eastern Utah. This fall semester nine hundred seventeen students at College of Eastern Utah provided five thousand eight hundred and twenty three hours of service. This is remarkable considering the total student body for fall semester was two thousand and eighty two. The estimated value of the combined service hours has been conservatively estimated at almost $110,000. Projects included the annual Bread and Soup Night which raised over $3,000 dollars for the local food bank. Bread and Soup Night brings students and community members to the college to eat bread and soup for a minimal donation. The meal is prepared by CEU Food Service with help from local chefs assisted by students, faculty and staff of the College. Twelve hundred and seventy people attended and were served a variety of soups and fresh bread. Other projects benefitted local elementary and junior high students, the veterans of Foreign Wars, Nine Mile Canyon, and the Second Chance Wildlife Rehab Center. Volunteers also provided Thanksgiving dinners for international students who had no Thanksgiving plans. The Parkdale Care Center, Children’s Justice Center, Carbon County Animal Shelter and Emery County Recreation also benefitted from SUN CENTER volunteers. The communities and charitable organizations were not the only ones who benefitted from the volunteer experiences. The students who participated indicated personal growth and satisfaction from their service. Monica Alexander of Helper, Utah stated: “My volunteer experience was hard. I had to juggle a lot between school, work and getting the volunteer hours done. When I did get that time in, it felt good. It made me realize that the simplest things you do in life can mean the world to someone else.” Ben Bjornson of Salt Lake City put it this way: “Being a volunteer was a great experience. It made me realize that my actions can benefit someone else. It really puts things in perspective when I think of it like that.” Upcoming activities for the SUN CENTER include a Volunteer Fair and Disabilities luncheon on February 10th. Opportunities for service will be showcased in an effort to encourage more students to get involved in volunteer- ism and service learning. Additionally the SUN CENTER and the Breakaway Club will be co-sponsoring their annual “Alternative Spring Break”. This activity offers an opportunity to interested students to do meaningful service with what otherwise might be less productive time. Active Re-entry of Carbon County, United Way of Eastern Utah and Utah Youth Service through their Marathon Grant have partnered with the campus groups to provide financial means to return to the Navajo Reservation and do work to improve accessibility to housing for people with disabilities, construct bathroom facilities and improve watering systems. SUN CENTER Director, Kathy Murray stated: Not only do students who get involved develop a love for service, but the College recognizes students who give two hundred hours of service and take eight credit hours of regular academic classes which have a Service Learning component as a class requirement with a special Service Learning Distinction at graduation and on their permanent college transcript.” |