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

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Habitat fa Hmmmhi IF I HAD A HAMMER. Milton Glor volunteers his time at the Habitat House. Photo by Chris- topher Rohllng. FORTIFYING FLO- RENCE. Jennifer Wesley helps former Habitat House recipient Henry Jackson hit the nail on the head. Photo by Chris- topher Rohling.

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An exciting and emotional debate over women ' s suffrage and echoes from a past love affair made Votes for Women by Elizabeth Robins a night to remember for audiences. The production ran from Novem- ■ber 5-8 in Norton Auditorium. For the first time, the stage was set up in an arena-style setting. Rather than seeing the actors through the frame of a proscenium archway, the audience was seated full circle around the stage, which made for an interesting variety of viewpoints. The action, based in England in 1907, hinges on the debate over women ' s suffrage. Miss Vida Levering, played by Kim- berly A. Fuller, is working to help women gain the right to vote. While trying to convince the people of London of the necessity of voting rights for women, she is confronted with poignant memo- ries of a past affair. Geoffrey Stonor, played by B.D. Peace, has to face the pain and agony that he caused Miss Levering years ago. When she became pregnant with his child, Geoffrey left her in order to keep his inheritance. Now. in 1907, Geoffrey, a mem- ber of the law-making establishment of England, is confronted by the question of women ' s suffrage, and by his past with Vida. In the final act of the production, Geoffrey admits his mistake and asks for forgiveness. He seems to favor women ' s suffrage, perhaps in order to ease his own conscience. According to Dr. John O ' Connor, director of the pro- duction, The campaign for women ' s suffrage represents a semi- nal political and social development in both the United States and England. Votes for Women!, first produced in 1907, is one of several plays written in early 20th century which uses the suf- frage campaign as an impetus to explore many issues beyond the demand for the franchise. Elizabeth Robins anticipated the ' new ' feminist movement in the 1960s. Robins represents one of the many ' forgotten ' women who, throughout the centuries, have provided a ' voice in the wil- derness ' in women ' s struggle for equality. My use of the religious allusion is not accidental. Robins and women like her have ap- proached their commitment to feminism with the zeal of Biblical prophets. The ' end ' finally came for the English suffragettes in 1928, when all women over the age of twenty-one were given the franchise Dy Kevin Whisenanl LISTEN UP. (center) Mr. Trent listens care- fully as Miss Levering tries to sway Lady John to her view of women ' s suffrage. Photo by Christopher Kohling. HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Miss Levering ad- dresses townspeople about the necessity for women to have the right to vote. Photo by Christopher Rohling. 23

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7ZaLsinq the 7Zccfi UNA ' s campus chapter of Habitat for Hu- manity allows students, faculty, and commu- nity leaders hands-on involvement in a chari- table cause — helping the recipient family to build its own home. Janice Glor, faculty advisor, notes that Habitat for Humanity is an international or- ganization, which has a legislative structure. Of the campus chapter, she says, The UNA chapter got started in the spring of 1995 and we built our first house the following fall. Interest and par- ticipation have picked up each year. Each house has been co-sponsored with community groups under the umbrella of the local Shoals Habitat affiliate, which now has 27 houses to its credit. The UNA chapter, however, also has its sights set on a long-term goal, which is to be able to sponsor a house on its own one day. UNA Habitat built its first house in the fall of 1995 on Park Street. House Number one became the home of the Percy Russell family. A gift of a place to live, in a time when it is not available, for most families is the greatest gift of all, said Glor. A pattern emerged from that point on and a house is now built every fall. In Habitat ' s second year, the Debborah Thomas family was the recipi- ent, and a house was built for the Connie Ingram family this year. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit or- ganization, and the local chapter depends for its operating expenses on fund-raisers, in- cluding an auction held yearly, which brings in an average of SI. 000, and a yard sale, which this year brought in S 1 ,500. Mrs. Glor appreciates the help of everyone who par- tc Uoc, In a time token It Is net aoa ' d- gifo cfo all. - Janice tflo , aboisc? 6q }ebcl (Ztebilli ticipated in these two activities, and would like to encourage more involvement. She feels that the money raised goes to a great cause. The cost of building a home is esti- mated at between twenty- six and thirty thou- sand dollars. Mrs. Glor and other participants report that the four thousand dollars raised by the various fund- raisers is used in its entirety. She believes that Habitat helps to pull together people who might not other- wise be meeting each other on a day-to- day basis. Members of the fac- ulty and stafff come out to offer their help in painting, carpen- try, wiring, and the other skills that go into the construction of a home, under the expert eyes of local (mostly retired) vol- unteers. All skill lev- els are welcomed, Mrs. Glor said. A stepping stone to complete campus participation was the involvement of fraternities in the projects of this year. which chapter President Stephanie Logan de- scribed as an encouragement. Participation in the weekly meetings on the part of frater - nity members has been both encouraging and helpful. Further encouragement came to the lo- cal chapter in the form of an anonymous donation of $75 and an anonymous dona- tion of $100, which were considered a gift from the heart. Mrs. Glor shares her gratitude for all the help by saying that she appreciates all the people for their support of Habitat for Hu- manity. She feels good in saving that such a community project can unite people for the common goal of working to help eliminate substandard housing. 25