Appalachian State University - Rhododendron Yearbook (Boone, NC)

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CHANGES SOUNDS OF MUSIC The $7.1 million dollar Broyhill Music Center utilizes the latest in sound technology, pro- viding ASU with a true music showcase. ARTICLE BY CATHY METCALF PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAILA HIRES I miss the sound of music, said Mr. Bill McCloud, Music Department Chair- person. How can anyone miss the sound of music in a $7.1 million dollar music center filled with some 300 students singing, tooting, and plucking? The control of sound, however, is an outstand- ing feature of ASU ' s new Broyhill Music Center. McCloud explained that the Center was designed and built so well that he has to open practically every door to hear the ensembles rehearse. In I. G. Greer I heard every note and every word each instructor said. Although I miss the sound of music, I now enjoy concerts more because they are fresh and exciting. The latest in sound technology was used in the new Center which replaces the outdated I. G Greer facility. Each of the four floors is built into the ground as the structure climbs up the hill, a design which dampens the sound more effective- ly than sound-proofing material between the floors. The walls are filled with sterilized sand, and the small, empty rooms are strategically placed around practice rooms to help contain sound. Walls rest on vinyl cushions, and ceilings are hung with rubber insulators to eliminate the transmission of noise and vibrations. The 90,000 square foot building contains more than 30 studio offices and over 50 practice rooms. Each of the department ' s 100 pianos can be used at the same time, and no one will be bothering anyone else. There is a computer room for computer-assisted learning and testing, an electronic piano lab, instrument repair and storage rooms, and choral, instrumental, and music libraries. Our new library is 20 times larger, said Karen Hodge, a graduate student in music. I can remember when the choral music was kept in the closet of a professor ' s office in I. G. Greer. Within the music library are individual and group listening booths. The choral and instrumental rehear- sal halls each seat several hundred people. Both extend upward two floors, an accoustical design allowing a choral director to pick out a single voice in a group of 300 singers. The instrumental rehearsal room has an observation deck for audio-visual filming. For public performances, the Center ' s recital hall seats 150 and its concert hall, 500. Planning for the center began in 1969. Dr. William Spencer, Building Committee Chairperson, worked diligent- ly on this project and saw construction set underway in 1980. Through his determin- ation and hard work, ASU has a music building that will be up-to-date and appreciated for many years. The final touches are scheduled for completion in early 1985. By May of this year, a $250,000 organ should be in place behind the stage in the concert hall. This custom-built pipe organ from Casavant Freres of Quebec was designed in consultation with Dr. Max Smith, professor of organ and church music. Mr. and Mrs. Broyhill of Lenoir and their four children contributed the funds for the organ and provided major funding for the building as well. In the past, many ASU music graduates have enjoyed success in the areas of the music profession: teaching, performing, and business. If the new music facility is any indication of the future, ASU should see an increased success among graduating music majors. Marion Gmerek, a Flag Corps member, echoes the sentiments of all who use the Broyhill Music Center when she said, There ' s no doubt that it ' s a great improvement over what we had.

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CHANGES EDUCATION IN CRISIS With standards slipping and remedial classes filled to overflowing, has our educational system reached a crisis point? ARTICLE BY KRISTIN KOPREN Kids coming into college are not prepared for college reading. That ' s the opinion of Dr. Gary Moorman of ASU ' s Reading Education Department. Moor- man stated that although general reading levels in this country have risen, a decline has been seen in the ability to read high-level, critical material. This creates problems for America, because if we are to run a highly technological society, the basic minimum reading level is not sufficient. The problem emerged in the 1960 ' s as a growing social awareness developed. Inequity in schooling for blacks, Hispan- ics, and women was finally dealt with through an attempt to raise educational standards for these groups. Both Pre- sidents Kennedy and Johnson established equal educational opportunities out of a need for a high level of literacy, Moorman explained. Funding was pushed in this direction, and more people read at a minimum level than ever before. Thus, while the commitment was made to lower level readers, the critical reading skills suffered. Moorman citied the decline of average SAT scores over the past 13 to 14 years as evidence of this. He said that the decline has bottomed out at this point. He pointed out the contradictions that appear in our educa- tional system; general reading levels are up, while high level reading abilities have declined. Another factor that has affected the educational system is the high number of working mothers that has come about over the past decade. He explained that the schooling that is provided to younger children is basically just care with little education. With qualified people, Kids learn a lot before they come to school. ASU ' s Early Childhood Degree was created as an attempt to remedy this problem, however, Those people don ' t really have any jobs, said Moorman. ASU has been affected by the problems caused by this deterioration of reading abilities. When Moorman came to Boone four years ago, 24 of the incoming freshmen placed into Develop- mental Reading. By last year the figure had jumped to 34 . Moorman has seen a noticable decline in basic reading skills during that period. This idea is reinforced by the rise in the number of students enrolled in College Reading and Study Skills. Upon his arrival, there were 200 to 250 students enrolled in this course. The fall semester of this year saw 330 students in the classes, while another 250 took it this spring in what Moorman calls a noticable increase. College Reading and Study Skills classes are taught by graduate students. Speed reading and vocabulary are emphasized, along with college survival skills. These include time management, study techniques, note taking, how to read different type texts, and test taking skills. Moorman says that ASU is now more or less average, and catching up and becoming more like other colleges. He says that scores everywhere are falling, due to the fact that kids are not learning to read in elementary and high school. Joe Watts, Director of Admissions, says, Standards have not dropped here. Students most qualified to do the work here are accepted. The two criteria that are used to judge an applicant ' s qualifica- tions to perform here academically are achievement in high school and scholastic aptitude. Scholastic aptitude is measured by the SAT. Watts said the scores fluctuated, but there was not a definite decline. He said last year was the best in the past eight years. The director attributes the decline that did occur to the fact that there are a lot fewer students to draw from. He added that UNC Chapel Hill may also be dipping lower into the pool of applicants to meet its quotas. Appalachian at one time talked about not dropping the standards, but the school needs 1800 to 1900 (freshmen) to pay the bills, he said. Watts stated the goal of admissions is to maintain the levels of enrollment and qualified students that we now have. .