Garden City Community College - Broncbuster Yearbook (Garden City, KS)

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4? my , , a 4 Students learn to appreciate MCBILITY On Nov. 12, the Student Government Association sponsored Handicap Awareness Day as a communi- ty service project. SGA chose this project in the hope that the community would become better ac- quainted with the plight of the handicapped person in day to day activities and appreciate their own health a little more. Over 75 students and com- munity businesses par- ticipated by donning crutches, braces and wheelchairs during the three hour event. It began at 9 a.m. in the Library Lounge where Mayor Ward Loyd proclaimed Nov. 12 as Handicap Awareness Day. From there, students and community members went about their morning as usual, only this time with slight encumberances. Many participants found that many of their usual day to day tasks were not easily ac- complished. College Coordinator and SGA sponsor, Bill Bryan, found that the simple task of entering the Academic restroom, while confined to a wheelchair, was not feasible. Other doorways were just barely wide enough to get through but your fingers scraped the door frames, Bryan said. English Instructor Kathy Isaac found it extremely dif- ficult to teach her classes. I am used to moving around a lot while I teach and the wheelchair made that kind of mobility almost impossible, Isaac said. I like to mingle with my students and go to them if they are having difficulties. That day they had to come to me. I felt very constrained in the wheelchair, Isaac said. Students came to appreciate the problems that many tem- porarily handicapped people l face. Sophomore Brenda Schiltz put on a neck brace and a walker and found it dif- ficult to carry a book bag from class to class. I had a test to take that day and I found that I couldn't see the top of the desk because of the confinement of the neck brace, Schiltz said. I had an extremely difficult time manuevering with the walker, and trying to get into the restrooms was equally dif- ficult, Schiltz said. Handicap Awareness Day opened the eyes of many on campus. President Dr. Thomas Saffell and the Board of Trustees implemented plans for renovation to make the original buildings on cam- pus fully accessible to the han- dicapped person. Let me show you-james Diamond explains the finer points of maneuver- ing a wheelchair to Pattie Goodman. She was a participant in Handicap Awareness activities. + Z A 'ref 4 rf. W .ww 3, 1 f. , 'ng' 22:1 f: l 'fi' 1 li, , ,gl A In if 'U' pw. tl ' MMA! 4 zniwiuial. r 'La iffmw-H . I 'M ff ., .4 . 5, , , 'K ' , ,ff,,w.. 'Q I I Kd , A.Q,i'i'sThu M'

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Difficult subject dealt with in children's play 'THE ARKANSAW BEAR' The Arkansaw Bear, presented to ap- proximately 1200 grade school children in afternoon matinees and to the general public on Feb. 26 and 27 focused on death. Director Skip Mancini explained that the play dealt with a subject seldom discussed with children. According to Mancini the play was well received by audiences. Following the per- formances the director, cast and crew received many letters, cards and postcards from young admirers. The play revolved around Tish, played by Laura Kreie, who was told about her grandfatheris approaching death. She then ran to her favorite tree and made a wish on the first star visible that night, asking why Grandpa has to die? The star's answer involved a fantasy world of circus characters including a mime, the World's Greatest Dancing Bear, the Ringmaster and the Little Bear. The mime was played by Melissa Jensen, the Dancing Bear was portrayed by Buddy Rhddes, the Ringmaster was played by Mitch Near and Kathi Tibbets was the Little Bear. Dancing Bear was about to be called to the Great Center Ring-a metaphor for death. Not wanting to die, Dancing Bear tried to escape the Ringmaster. I think l've got it-Kathi Tibbets, the Arkansaw Bear, finally learns the dance steps taught to her by the Dancing Bear. The star was played by Cherlyn Lane. She was lowered from the ceiling by a swing. Every day she weighed in and the appropriate amount of weight was added to the fly system. Special effects were a highlight of the play. Realistic fog was a part of the set. .Children,s theater doesn't have to be done with special effects, but I feel the children's shows we do here should use all the special effects we can. I think it was a very impressive show visually, Mancini said. In one hand, Lane held a wand with strands of fabric glued with pieces of mir- ror. I felt it would be really neat to have her fly in. I wanted something to happen with the star when it came in. That's why I decided to go with the mirrors, Man- cini explained. At certain points in the play a follow spot was shined on her. The wand acted as a prism and filled the auditorium with rapidly moving strands of light. The technical effects gave images that will stay with the children for a long time, Mancini said. All special effects were cued by stage manager Dianne Wilken. She gave up to 100 cues per performance. By using headsets and a flashlight, she cued the light, sound and other technical people. Technicians included Keith Odgers, stage carpenter, Matt Haag, lighting board operator, Kip Kelly, follow spot, Kevin Moss, sound crew chief, Maloyd Wilson, practical sound and keyboards, Jeanette Shafer, makeup and Gay Morgan, costumes. Odgers designed the programs and posters for the production. The programs contained a Victorian hand puppet as well as a paper bear complete with various costumes. The programs were a big hit with the kids, Mancini said. The children's theatre provided an op- portunity for everyone in the Garden City school system to see a production sometime during their grade school years. Arkansaw Bear-Cast members pose for recogni- tion at the close of their performance. I don't want to go-Dancing Bear, Buddy Rhoades, puts off the inevitable fdeathj by refusing to go with the Ringmaster. Student Life!Arkansaw Bear 55