University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

Page 21 text:

r. Lee Allison ' s work is really piling up on him. Thiity-five computers were delivered to the University entei ' s gome looni. whuh is now the Atddemn Resource Center. Photo by Shannon Wells . New Academic Resource Center gives students an edge by Kristi Gooch There ' s been a big change at the University Center game room. The sounds of clacl ing billiard balls and pinging pinball machines have been replaced by the humming of computers as the Academic Resource Center has become a reality. Twenty-five IBM comput- ers and ten Macintosh computers plus a knowledgeable staff are in place to help students with their studies. The ARC was created to provide a single focal point for coordinating remedial and academic enrichment programs for students. Alice Dill is the director of this tremendous undertaking. She also serves as a coordinator for faculty members who will be volunteer- ing in the ARC. She spent the past summer visiting a number of other universities who are already successfully operating similar cen- ters. She absolutely believes that the new center is of great benefit to the students. Our mission is three-fold, Dill said. First of all, self-help programs are available on the computers; software recommended for the textbooks are accessible, and there ' s software for writing papers, speed-reading, and reading comprehension. Secondly, the ARC serves as a primary point of contact for students and faculty. The students will be able to meet teachers in a relaxed way, Dill said. Faculty volunteers are there to aid students who need assistance. Thirdly, student tutors are available. Wanda Gholston is head of the tutoring program for the ARC. One area in the resource center is designated for the specific purpose of student tutoring. Once tutors are assigned, students can meet with them in the center rather than the library. Students can work one-on-one with other students for help with their more difficult classes. Also honors students can work with their peers and use the enrichment computer programs. Dill said, It ' s more than just a computer lab. Diligent work and research have gone into transforming the game pit (with its recessed floor) into a pit stop along the road to academic success. Studatt Ji t 19

Page 20 text:

The big step forward Total automation puts UNA ahead UNA students, faculty and staff are see- ing some major technological devel- opments that will continue over the next two years, according to G. Garry Warren, dean of information technologies. Approval was granted for the total automation of the campus by the Board of Trustees on December 2, 1992. One of the major functions of the new system is to permit students to register for classes by telephone. Other expected bene- fits of the automation are voice and elec- tronic mail capability, interactive video and teleconference drops, and distributed access to electronic records and databases. Plans for several faculty computers, a general purpose computer laboratory, financial software and two computer pro- grammers are being finalized, Warren said. As a consequence of this new capabili- ty, said President Robert L. Potts, students and faculty at UNA will have access to infor- mation and data on a equal basis with their counterparts at any other progressive insti- tution of higher education in the United States. According to Warren ' s memorandum, 43 Macintosh and MS-DOS personal comput- ers, several printers and two modems are being installed in faculty offices. An academic general purpose computer lab has opened on the second floor of Collier Library which includes 30 personal computers (Macintosh and MS-DOS) and eight printers. ...UN A will have access to information on an equal basis with any other progressive institution in the United States. Installation of an upgraded university mainframe computer is being completed. Warren said the replacement is needed due to maintenance problems and the increased power needed for the new software and database loads. The university-wide Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Committee made recommendations for the project, based on studies of academic and administrative computing and automation needs. The academic computing study commit- tee did a superb job of analyzing and reporting campus-wide computing needs which crystallized a great deal of thought and discussion on this matter, said Potts. The campus automation is being funded through a 20-year low rate of interest on municipal revenue bond rates. UNA received an A rating for a $3 million bond issued by Moody ' s Investors Service, Inc.. The university achieved a highly competi- tive interest rate on the bonds and sold them all the first day they went on the mar- ket. According to Potts, The costs for this issuance were appreciably lower than those achieved by many other academic institu- tions which had larger bond issues and should have had lower costs. by Laura Jane Jenkins Getting a feel for the system, Lisa Cox tries her hand at one of the new computers on the second floor of Collier Library. The center is a real asset to students working on class assignments. Photo by Lary Akers. Faculty volunteers Dr. Bob Young and Dr. Bob Foster help students with the finer points of the new computers ir Stevens Hall. Photo by Shannon Wells. I? Stadaa i(e

Page 22 text:

Stage presence Theatre department tackles some difficult characterizations With the rehearsals over, the sets painted and the programs print- ed, an air of excitement and ner- vousness loomed in the heart of every cast and crew member. It was opening night. The UNA communications and theatre department presented Anton Chekhov ' s play Uncle Vanya. Set in nineteenth century Russia, it is a story of love, deceit, hope and lost dreams. The play focuses around one family and their coming of age, new beginnings and painful realizations. The play ' s most noticeable feature was its contrasts between tfie old and the young. The older characters in the play had become bitter because many of their dreams and aspirations were never realized. At one point, the title character, Uncle Vanya, played by William A. Barnett, said, My nights are spent in a viscous fury of the life which I ' ve let slip away from me. I could have enjoyed everything in life. I enjoyed nothing. In contrast, the younger characters have faith in the future. Sofya, played by Jennifer Steen, said, Dear Uncle, God will have pity on us. And we shall look back on this new life with tenderness. Steve Knight, who played the part of Telegin, said, This play has been a lot of work. Chekhov is very difficult. But we pulled together and gave it all we had. I think we accomplished a quality produc- tion. We decided to do Uncle Vanya because it has been so long since one of Chekhov ' s works has been performed at UNA, said director Dr. John O ' Connor. Chekhov is considered by most critics as an outstanding playwright because his works are insightful as well as humorously ironic. The characters in Uncle Vanya are so demanding... At first it was a problem for the mem- bers of the company because the characters are so demanding. We ' ve reached the level of characterization that is transparent enough for the audience to understand, O ' Connor said. The cast gradually discovered that the characters they portrayed in the play are some of the hardest they have ever attempted, but they are doing a great job. ' Uncle Vanya was performed Novembei 11 through November 13 in Norton Auditorium. In addition to the fall production th theatre and communications department presented Volpone (or The Fox), a play by Ben Jonson. Elaborate make-up and plo twists were a big part of that production. According to Jim Davis, director o Volpone, the play was a wonderful succes! for a number of reasons. We had a grea time putting this classical piece together, especially enjoyed the costuming. We had c wonderful make-up artist, Debbie Stracner who was indispensable in that aspect o ' getting the show ready, he said. Speaking of makeup, Beth Phillips, whc played a hermaphrodite, found being cos turned with one male half and one femah half a tough challenge. It took forever jus to get everything on, my mustache on and my hair slicked back, while the other half ol my head is ail frizzy. It was a lot of fun. Volpone was performed in April of the spring semester. by Deborah Detrick and Michelle Rupe Fighting to the finish, Corvino, played by Brad Letson, and the courtroom bailiff, played by Rod Sowizrol, duel to maintain order while Celia, played by Jennifer Steen, and a Lady-in-Waiting, played by Annette Parham, watch in horror. Photo by Shannon Wells. 20 ScuJaa As part of the Albert S. Johnston Endowment, th English Department and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival presented Shakespeare ' s The: lam ' mq of the Shrew to the students and the communi- ty. Photo by Bill Savage.