Westfield State University - Tekoa Yearbook (Westfield, MA)

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Count Basie The WSC Jazz Rock Ensemble sponsored Count Basie and his orchestra on December 8, 1975. Once again they provided the Westfield Community with a top name in entertainment. Even for non-jazz afficionados, Count Basie is a well known name. This band demonstrated a high level of professionalism and musical talent. Unlike the Maynard Ferguson band, Count Basic ' s orchestra did not play much improvisational jazz. However each of the band members played at least one solo. There were also two vocal numbers near the end of the program. The band received a standing ovation and performed an encore. A triumph for the college ' s jazz studies program, and an impor- tant evening of entertainment for all music lovers. 2S

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Ferguson Brings House Down 24 Columbia recording artist Maynard Fer- guson graced the WSC campus with an unforgettable performance in a concert on October 21. Dever Auditorium was filled to capac- ity. Even those individuals who were un- able to find seats were content to stand in the back of the hall. As the house lights dimmed, twelve vi- brant young musicians exploded into a Jazz piece from Ferguson ' s latest album. Walking onto the stage with trumpet in hand, Ferguson greeted his many fans with an exhibition of his extensive tal- ent. The audience interupted him at in- tervals with cyclones of applause. It is no exageration to say that the band literally brought the house down. During one of their more resonant pieces, three ceiling tiles came thundering down into the au- dience. No one was hurt, and the band contin- ued to delight the audience with an El- ton John piece. In appreciation for a fine performance, the audience gave Maynard Ferguson and his orchestra a standing ovation.

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U. Mass At Westfield??? During November of 1975, Kevi l B. Harrington the Mass. State Senate, filed legislat on that would have abolished the State College Board of Trustee; and placed all ten State Col- leges under the University of Massac husetts. The bill was drawn up jointly by Harrington ' s office and t le office of U Mass President, Robert Wood. The supposed rations le behind the bill was to make Mass. public higher education mon efficient, of better quality at less cost. The students at Westfiel d could not understand ho Harrington ' s bill would accomplish this. Amidst flying rumors favoring at d opposing re-organization, a public forum was planned for Devei Auditorium on November 24, 1975. The open forum was to havt been used to relay whatever information that was available, to a iswer questions if possible and assess students ' feelings about the H irrington proposal. The forum panel consisted of: John Mahoney, SC Student Senate President; Pat Findlen, WSC Student Senate V ce-President; Deb Tosti, WSC Student Advisory Commission Repi tentative; Bruce Bishop, Bos- ton State College Student Goveri ment President; and Jimmy Steele, Framingham State College S udent Government President. These students, who had been work ng with the Student Advisory Commission to obtain as much infc rmation as possible, presented parts of the bill to those attending ind speculated on possibilities that were not clearly dealt with b) the legislation. Would Boston State and Mass. College ot Art be closed, as Harrington stated? Would campuses become specialized satel- lite schools of U Mass? Would our best faculty be transferred elsewhere? How much, if any, money would be saved? Why was no long-range study of re-organization done before filing legisla- tion ' J Would a degree that says University of Massachusetts State College at Westfield be more prestigious? WSC President Randolph, at a faculty meeting, took the opinion that Harrington ' s bill was a fait accompli and there were clear advantages for WSC in it. Yet he could not address the student ' s questions. The faculty was split on re-organization. Those who favored the bill could not answer the questions either, although they saw advantages from their faculty viewpoint. Those who opposed were asking main of the same questions as the students. As the 1975 Legislative Session drew to a close, Sen. Harrington, sensing rising opposition, withdrew his re-organization bill. The matter did not (lie there, however, as a slightly different version of the bill was to surlaee early in 1976. 26