Augustana College - Rockety I Yearbook (Rock Island, IL)

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28 uSThRTING RHEIW IN ,8? Starting Anew in '82 was a theme that not only represented the beginning of many coliege experiences, but also refleCted the change and innovation in the new student orientation program. This year's program in- troduced summer regismtion for incoming students. The result was a more relaxed and enjoyable introduction to Augusrana in the Fall. Besides peer group accivities concerning both academic and social aspects of campus life, the new students participated in speciai events such as Outdoor Education and Fesri - val tsz. A uaditional element of the orient:- tion program was Outdoor Education. Its purpose was to build group Cohesiveness through larger groups taking pant in an after- noon of outdoor games and activities. F6567 val ,82 was a new and exciting production involving the interaction between the new students, peer and faculty advisers; This ex- hilarating experience provided a foundation for the community feeling that makes Au- gustana a special piece. Student talent shows and faculty specialities also accented the first days spent on campus. The urientation program continued throughout the year. Outings and academic advising along with quarterly convocations were opportunities to keep in contact with Peer gmups. The main goal of the program is to introduce and acclimate new students to Augustana life and provide a positive be- ginning to a successful college Career. This is accompiishecl through a lot of hard work, dedication, people, and fun! Krisri Gustafsnn Orfemzn'on leaderjenny Beviagron demanslrzres the next a:livity to anorher group ofamzzed fresh- man partjctjnms.

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Native America Poet Visits Wednesday, Nuvemhet 3, roughly marked the 150th anniversary of the exodus of the Mesquaki tribe from Rock Island to Tame, Iowa. In commemoration of the occasion, the Human Relations Committee under the anaspices of Dr. Paul Olsen, and in collabo- ration with Dr. Char Hawks sponsored the visit of the young and talented American Indian poet Ray Young Beat to the Augie campus. The visit by Young Beat received tremendous response from members of the local community including a gtoup of sixth graders, faculty members and students. It was incidentally the first visit by a native American poet in recent memory and it was nnly fitting that a standing room crowd was on hand to listen to Young Bear read 1 selection from hsi book Winter of the Sala- mandet. Ray Young Beat was born and taised on the MeSquaki Settlement near Tama. Iowa in 1950. Unlike most Indian tribes who have Succumbed to modernization, the conserva- tive Mesquaki tribe have been able to main- tain their own language and their culture. Young Bear recounted his earlier struggle with the English language and the incident which led to his interest in poetry. After presenting what he thought was in essay, Young Beat was told by his teacher that what he had presented was more of a poem than an essay and since then his love for poetry blossomed. Like most Ametican In- dian wtitets. Young Beat's poems are demed from oral tradition of his people which he has interpreted into a written form accessible to those outside of native American Culture. He credits his grandmother for all the oral tradition materials which he used in wtiting his book and appropriately dedicates the very fitst poem of the collection Grand- mother to the wnman he lived with fat ten years and regards as pteserver and transmit- ter of tribal ways. By talking to Young Beat, one can com- mend him for his hunesty and frank Came ments. While he recognizes some of the causes of the destrubtion of his people, he pt0poses n0 solutions. He is very much at home when he is talking about his ancestms and the rich heritage of the Mesquakit Beaming with broad smiles, Young Bear ex- udes a feeling of pride. and strength. How- ever, beneath his cheerful disposition one could not help but notice the sense of so:- tow, exploitation and loss that his people have endured and probably ilcontinue to suffer amid the grim realities of modem American Life Perhaps of major concern to Young Bear which he made mention of Was the adulteta - tion of the Mesquaki culture by modemiza- tion ofwhich he used his own three-yeat old cousin who is addicted to television and the movie's Rocky. Young Bear was able to read only a small selection from his voluminous book which makes a general review difficult. However, Robert Gish 0f the University of Northetn Iowa wrote. For to read Wintet of the Sala- mander is to know the anguish of other- ness, the mistake of racial, class, economic and cultural ptejudice and stereotyping. It is to know the Mesquakies and Iowa and ever- yman evety place.' Gish continues, while much of the poetry is concerned with the values of the Indian and white cultures, there are also those which are considerations of the contemporary situation in general. It is both an unsettling commentary on the prob- lems of motietn America and a vivid demon- stration of Ray Young Beats poetic talent. In conclusion this writer commends all those connected with making Young Bear's visit possible. Special mention should be made of Dr. Char Hawks, Dr. Olsen and the Human Relations Committee. Students in- tereSted in the artifacts of the Native Ameri- can Culture mayI visit the Rare Books mom and lobby of the library. It is about time we get to know something about out Mcsquaki neighbors who once lived in pre- sent day Rock Island. Kort Osei PDQ. Bach The Liebesliedet Polkas, a humorous parody work composed by PDQ. Bach, highlighted the program of the Augustana Chair at the annual coffee concerts Tues, day, October 19. The informal concerts were iven in the Wcstetlin Hall lounge on campus. Refreshments were served, and there was no admission charge. Composed of 10 songs, the Liebesiiedet Polkas are a take-off on Brahms' Liebes- liedet Waltzes? The piano accompaniment for the PDQ. Each piece is for five hands, the Fifth hand appearing at various parts of the keyboard. The pianists wete Ronald Meme, Kathleen Murray and Dennis Loftin, all members of the music faculty. To open the program, Conductor Donald Morrison directed the choir in Songs of the Fleet, composed by Charles Stanford and based on five poems by Henry Newbolt. David Alt, assismnt professor of music was the baritone soloist. 27

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During die Orientation Leaders Talent Show, Brad Anderson and Maren Dokmo act out the highesr aspiration: of all incoming freshmen. Yeah, and I heard zhar he gives really hard quiz- 2:5 EVERY WEEK, and I don't wanr an 8:00 any- war! 29