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Show iystem Hun y Legislature S Duck feeding is a sport these days. As Paris Smith throw H f: 3 ft- rr t i .o trig i fs ftJ1 WEBER STATE COLLEGE j I O i H I O i i O iLzrih i - i U LJ LJ I J I i J LJ ij. p ; I OGDEN UTAH Ji Backstage Report Talking With by Mike Tuba Charlton Heston, a long time actor with such movie roles as Moses, Michaelangelo, Ben-hur, Anthony, Thomas Jefferson and John the Baptist was on the Weber State campus Thursday to speak at the Convocation. Before the convocation, Heston held a brief press conference in the Browning Center Dixon Room. Dressed in black, Heston appeared much taller than his 6 foot 2 inch frame. He moved through the crowd of journalists, student officers, and others freely pausing to shake hands with each individual. When asked about his trip, he said, "I feel fine," and explained that he had slept on the airplane. In order to be successful, a person has to be able to sleep on airplanes or in dressing rooms, he said. "I have a natural born talent for that," he added. Heston, who received $4,000 for appearing at WSC, said he likes to put on these "seminars," because it helps him "maintain some kind of person-to-person communication with college and high school students." Heston said he had been asked to "part the audience," but his practice efforts before the convocation could only lower the orchestra pit. "I Vn fx."- - popular campus ducks in the WSC pond, the gulls saw Mark Welch and the action and swooped in for a free popcorn to the meal, too. Photo by Mike Smith. May 5, Volume can't do it without the stick, and I didn't bring it." Heston admitted Moses has been contacted to play Heston in a movie about the actor's life, but there are problems with negotiations at the present time. In a more serious moment, Heston said that when he "walked barefoot down Mount Sinai" to play Moses he got a "good feeling." "I am a Christian," he said, but indicated this was a private part of his life. When asked which movie he hopes to be most remembered for he said "I haven't made it yet." When Heston appeared on stage a few minutes later he received a long, standing ovation from the audience, some of whom had waited nearly two hours to get into the convocation."I value it particulary," Heston said about the crowd response, "as I was introduced as Mr. Evanston," referring to a slip of' the tongue by the ASWSC. Heston was born in Evanston, Illinois. Heston then introduced a reel of short, "potato chip" scenes from several of his movies which included "Peer Gynat," his first move at age 16, "Dark City," "The Naked Jungle," and "Ben-hur," among others. The last few kJ 1981 42 Issue 47 eston scenes portrayed Heston engaged in healthy kissing. "That's to show I know how to do more than part the Rea Sea," he quipped at the end of the reel. Claiming to be probably the only American actor to play so many roles of different nationalities, Heston spoke of "the good fortune I've had in playing a wide variety of characters." "I have never made a movie or a play with which I'm completely satisfied," he said, adding that a person should "do pictures that will teach you something." Responding to a question about his stage productions, he said he tries to act in a play every other season for the challenges and learning experiences. He received another big round of applause when he mentioned the possibility of bringing a play to the Browing Center which he said was "a lovely theater". "I don't get audiences like this every day," he remarked. In conclusion, Heston thanked the audience for going to his films. After receiving another standing ovation, Heston waited on stage to shake hands, but didn't sign autographs. He was scheduled to take a 4 p.m. flight back home. by Shonda St. James Now that the legislature is out of session and the issues have died down, one wonders whether the legislation which passed the 44th Utah State Legislature actually "hurt" the Utah Education system. According to Roger Rawson, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the education system has been "hurt" in two areas. The first area affected is educational facilities, which did not receive enough funding to operate properly. This means larger classes and doing away with "fringe" programs. One might say this puts emphasis back on the basics, yet it does not look at the society it is advocating such drastic changes in. Our society needs people trained in skills with practical experience or class-room simulated skill, such as those offered through Weber States Skill Center and several other On-Campus programs, he said. These are being denied necessary operational funds. "Taxpayers are no longer willing to pay for Utahs' Educational system," stated Rawson. "They are overlooking the fact that education is a social benefit. As a society, we are now too selfish to provide for the next generation." The second area where education is "hurt" is in the Circumstances Unknown "It's the best problem I've had all year," ASWSC Cultural V.P. Jim Alvey said about Thursday's convocation overcrowding. Large audiences are encouraged. The situation created hostility among many disappointed students. The problem developed at this convocation because of the size of the Val Browing Auditorium and the number of people who wanted to see Charlton Heston. The Auditorium holds 1,788, and more than 2,000 were cramped in. And nearly that many more were turned away by auditorium officials because of the fire codes. "If I had thought there would be so many people, I Today's Signpost Faculty Awards 2 Dental Hygiene 3 Editorial 4 Nursing Program'.'.'.'.'.'. 6 Sports .... 7-8 salary it is willing to pay to teachers. Qualified teachers are seeking other jobs, if not permanently, then on a part-time basis. These either pay better or subsidize their income.Either situation reduces the quality of education. A six percent increase with a twelve percent inflation rate is not sufficent compensation for having a " noble" profession, he said. In looking at these two problems, Rawson pointed out that the legislature never looked at the question of how to adjust to the loss of facilities and teachers. "The deterioration of the system seems to be what the public wants. After all, they voted in the legislature that projected these cuts," Rawson stated. Rawson attributes this to either misinformed voters or voters who only voted on one issue and did not bother to research the candidates enough to determine their total fiber and impact on legislation. Rawson feels that a cut in the Federal Education budget is justified along with a cut in some aspects of Utahs budget, but Utah Education budget has never been allocated too much money, nor has there been waste in the system. would have made other arrangements," Alvey said. He explained the difficulties in pre-judging audience size. He said that other celebrities like Susie Chaffee, Richard Morefield and Rosie Greer did not fill the auditorium. Alvey said that he had no doubt that the room would be filled, but he had no idea that so many would be turned away. With hindsight, he said that he would have checked I.D.s to allow students in first if he had known about the community interest. He also said that the Dee Event Center could have been used for about $500, if the need had been known. Quotables: "An army of deer com- manded by a lion is more to e feare! tnan an army of ons commanded by a deer- -Chabrias (c. 400 |