University of Arkansas Monticello - Boll Weevil Yearbook (Monticello, AR)

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Sean IETN ¥ bg r “ROSSER eae ea, Student Life 57

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al eenat Left to right: Julia Lovett, David Wilson, Thomas Husak, Michael Reddick, Katherine King, Billy Hogue, Bart Fogartie, Lawrence Boswell, Larry Steel, David Stuart, Barbara Luke, Neal Woods, Chuck Campbell, Melvin Crockett, Dewayne Jeffers, Larry Ross. When Dr. Thomas Husak formed the Jazz-Rock Ensemble last September, he wanted to give his students the opportunity to participate in a truly American art form — jazz. “I wanted to give my students the chance to play, learn, write and study the only form of music that is truly an American creation,” said Husak. ‘‘Jazz is our music, and it’s just as important as any other.” Husak created the 19-member ensemble at the beginning of the school year. In the past several months, the group has appeared in concert in high schools all over south Arkansas, and made a 30- minute appearance on Arkansas Educational Television, with the hope of more television dates’ in the future. As indicated in the group’s name, jazz is not the only music the ensemble plays. “We try to play a wide variety of music that we feel is relevant to today’s tastes and attitudes,’’ commented Husak. “We range from rhythm and blues to traditional jazz and even some progressive country tunes. We also play what I call fusion pieces, fusing the sounds of jazz and rock together.” Most of the group’s tunes are Husak arrangements and many are his original compositions. He wants to teach his students to arrange and compose also. ‘“‘We do more than just play music and have a good time,” explains Husak. ‘“The Jazz-Rock Ensemble is a lab, a practical exercise in the study of contemporary popular music.” ; 56 Student Life

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FORUMS POUSSAINT RUSHER DEBATE William Rusher Dr. Alvin Poussaint, associate professor of psychiatry at Har- vard University and an expert on race relations, debated the use of affirmative action programs with noted conservative publisher William Rusher at UAM November 12. The debate was offered as part of the Winthrop Rockefelle: Distinguished Lecture Series. A leader in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, Poussaint is one of the leading authorities on what he calls “‘Black self- denigrating tendencies.”” His book, ‘‘Why Blacks Kill Blacks,” is considered the definitive work on the problem. 58 Student Life A native of East Harlem, N.Y., Poussaint completed his under- graduate study at Columbia College and received his medical degree from Cornell Medical College. He later studied psychiatry at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. William Rusher has served as publisher of William F. Buckley’s “‘National Reviews,”’ the country’s leading journal of conserva- tive opinion, since 1957. Rusher is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and was an associate for seven years in the litigation department of Shearman and Sterling, Wall Street’s largest law firm. Alvin Poussaint