| Show Drum circles offer an alternative for students with freetime by Amber Saupan staff writer Do you get tired of doing the same kind of recreational activity over and over again? Are you looking for something new to try? How about going to a drum circle Yes a drum circle Most people look at you rather strangely when you mention going to one ofthese because it does sound rather peculiar and most peopledonot knowwhatadrum circle is Forallwho fit into this category here is the best definition and description available since a drum circle is not defined in a dictionary A drum circle is literally a circle of people who are sitting and or standingwhileplayingamusical instru- ment usuallybelonging to the percussion instrumental family They are held almost every Sundayonce the seasons getswarmand continue until itgets too cold They start to pickup around noon and continue to gostronguntil6or7in the evening They start outwithorriya few peopleplaying andatthe height of thedaytherewillbearound40to50 people playing instruments The two mainplaceswheremostCEU students whoattend the circles go are in Liberty rarkinSaltLakeCity and inMoab "A drum circle is a circle of unity and friendship said one CEUstudentwho isafrequentattcndeeofthediumcucles "Itisplacewhereyou can get in touch with yur inncrwrif a? e!l asbcing in vnc with the others around you" Another wayof putting thiisa drum circle isaplacewherepeoplecango to relieve themselves from the everyday stresses that are inflicted into their lives Theycandothisbyeitherpar-tidpatin- in makingthebeautiful g natu- ral music that comes from the innersoul or they can dance in the middle of the circle or they canjust sit around theoutsideon the grass and take in the calming music and the sweet scents of all the different inscence floating around on the nothaveinstnimentsoftheirown "Ev- eryone is very caringatthe drum circles theyjustwanteveryonetohaveagood time and torememberthat we are the same and that we should trea t me respect as we would want others to give to us" commented anotherstudentwhoisanadvocate of thedrum circles There area lot ofother things going every-bodyvviththe- sa drum breezes From a distance an observer would say that the drum circle looks and sounds kind of like a tribal gathering of Native Americans or like that of a wild tribe one might find hidden in thedeep jungles of Africa There is some truth to this espedaUysirrc themusicsounds othenshuddleinsmallgiuupsandwatdi every oneelse There are always a few simi- VjW lar to the kind of music you would expect tohearat a tribal gathering The majority ofthe people groupsplayingwithasepaandinthe distance there area few tnssinga Frisbce hack and forth There is always free 1 V played - thedrum circle concept whileotheisplaylndianceremo-nia- l bass drums Therearealso manyother instruments people play like tambourines rain sticks acoustical guitars d ried peoplewlwwould liketoplaybutdo circle gadwringbesides the actual play- ing of drums On the inskleof the circle you will find manypeopledancingto House Bill 7 may benefit CEU by Barry Maxfield staff writer House Bill seven "Tuition Waiver Amendments" passed during the 1997 state legislative session and signed into law by governor Leavitt may have some benefit for CEU 4 The amendments section of the state aide doubles the number of out of state tuition waivers for students coming from out of state to Utah schools from 200 to four hundred each school year Brad Kingoollege employee and statercpresentativefbr the Price area says: "The bill actually amends the tuition waiver portkmof thelaw ftir higher educatkmthepurpose is toextendanareanearthecollegesand universities that border thestateofUtahthereasoningbehind it is thatakit of thesesmaller communities thatdomost of theircom- 53B-8-10- mcrcein thestateofUtahandpayakitofsalcstaxand many and thestateline across paypmperty tax ownpropertyjust these so peoplearemuchmoredoselyalignedwithUtah then thestates in which they live" The bill which was sponsored by Representative John 1 lickman of St George received overwhelming support by Utah lawmakers with only a few dissenters from areas with large universities such as the University of Utah According to Brent Haddock Vice President of Academics at CEU the benefits to CEU are unclear at this time as the law is so new and the language is somewhat ambiguous is some areas A concern also voiced by King who says "The big question now is how the Regents decide to address this and make the definitions and that's what we are still waiting for" ’President reflects on school year forensics team wecould really get a good team that could really make some changes (in the way bills are written and proposed) and get some people ready for UIA" The accomplishment on UIA this year was in the passage of three key pieccsof legislation The first called "invest" allocates money for student services such as tutoring and advising the second that passed was voter registration when a student registers for school and the bill which brings sancthird was the tions against any student caught viewing pornography while using college computer equipment since the equipment is state owned "This is a really effective way of getting things done in higher education from a student's stand point" says Knott He feels that the student government working relationship with administration is excellent with high praises for Dr Jones who Knott says really cares about hy eel students and Jay Andrus who Knott praises highly for his fairness and impartiality He says that the new student government has a 1 good start because of the record breaking election le wishes that the new students government will become heavily involved in UIA also in the governing structure and college senate "It is important to increase student involvement and I hope that the new student body government will continue the web page so that people can look at it from databases to see what is happening at school 1 would really like to see ASCEU have it's own web site that is separate from the schools All in all Knott summarizes the year as a pretty good year and was happy and honored to serve the student body meetnewpaipleandtonvike new friends is always available the main idea behind ms gourds flutes and otherinstnimunts that blend well with thesoundsof the olhcrinstrumcnts A kit of the people bring ex tradmms and things for those food incence sticks burning and the op n idiie lund-uibuy portumty Of hemp accessories aiurse the opportunity to whoplayinthediplaydrums A wide variety of drums are Somepeopleplaybon-gosothersplayAhicandru- themusicorasonestudentput it "We let our bodies go leaving our spirits free to move anyway they want to aintorting our trunk and limbs we sway twirl and jump to the music of all of our souls" The term that best describes the kind of dancing that goes on inside the circle is what many people call "hippie dancing" which is basically what this one student was describing On the outside of the circle you will see many people sitting around onblanketsoron the grass engaging in a number of activities Some seem to be in deep meditation with themusic The main type of people whoattend and participate at thedrcles would beclas-sifie- d as "hippies" However there are also many other types of people who come to observe These people would be those walking tfvough thepark(mostdrumcirclesareheld in parks) tourists and people who have driven by and decided toship and check it out "IhavesecnfamiliesofNative American and African American listening to I if is it of like a kind music wonder reminderofsimilarevents in their cultures "said BarbieStoffcoaSaltLake Community Collegestudent "I have also seen some people in theirchurch ckithesbormwadrum and join inplaying forawhile" Race nor age seems to matter at a drum circle You will see many people from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds Some include Spanish African American Native American Latin American Caucasian etc Devon Angelo a former resident of Jamaica said that he likes to go the drum circles because they remind him of the jam sessions he and his friends had back home As far as age goes there is no limit The majority of the circle goers are between the ages of 16 to 26 But you can still see many young chil Advertise in the Eagle to get the market share of the best student body in the worldl Only $4 a column inch dren running around the circle and dancing inside of it A lot of these children belong to parents whose parents were original hippies of the '60s One of the circle's youngest boy participants is a named Dameon who has his own little drum and tambourine which he plays while he dances around the inside of the circle There is also an older gentleman who everyone knows as Bob who attends the drum circles regularly When asked why he smiled and said "I like to see the youth gathering together for a good cause They are learning to respect and love each other for who they are instead of out shooting each other because one of them wore the wrong colors or waved in an offending way It is about time people saw that not all of this generation is bad" The driving point behind having a drum circle is to get together with people and leam to become one with them thus becoming friends "Every once in a while the rhythm in the circle willbecomeall jumbled andnoonecandancetoit Wehave to stop at this point and remind everyone that it is a 'drum circle' not a drum solo and that everyone has tolisten toeveryoneelse's voices (rhythms) as well as their own so that we can all play in unison and harmony" said Chris Farr one of the circles main players When you meet someone at the drum circle which you always do you do not shake hands you hug instead "Hugging is more personal and is a sign of brotherly and sisterly love" mentioned a teenage boy known as Teddy Bear "After all we are all brothers and sisters anyway" So if curiosity has gotten to you by now about attending a drum circle you should give into it and attend one There is not really anyway to describe the true atmosphere or feelings you can get from attending a drum circle so you will just have to try it for yourself Next year's Eagle newspaper is looking for an advertising sales person to sell and create ads Contact Sarah in Eagle office for applications 637-21ext 5250 20 |
