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Columns
• Editorials
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Cbe Battalion
Page 2 College Station, Texas Tuesday, November 9, 1965
Tuesday, November 9, 1965
• Opinions
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Features
CADET SLOUCH
by Jim Earle
‘Death Of A Salesman:’
Aggie Players Production Stirs Thought
“I’ve never worked as hard in preparing for an exam—
I’ve been up for three nights looking for old quizzes!”
By GLENN DROMGOOLE
Battalion Editor
The sign outside Guion Hall
read “Death of a Salesman.”
In four words, the plot of the
Aggie Players’ season premiere
had been disclosed.
But no one phrase, no one sen
tence, probably no one critique
could fully explain Arthur Mill
er’s creation which began a one-
week stand Monday night in
Guion Hall.
What transpired in two and a
half hours was a collection of
philosophies about man’s purpose
in life — a collection which a cast
of amateurs put together into a
remarkable production.
Tagged as “the finest Ameri
can play of this century” by Di
rector C. K. Esten, “Death of a
Salesman” could well be the best
Aggie Players production ever.
It entertains, but more import
ant it probes into basic concepts
of American society and makes
the audience think about values of
life, fame, wealth, happiness, edu
cation, morality, love, personality,
work, perplexity, nature and —
of course — death.
Ten students, a staff member,
a student’s wife and a College
Station girl provide the questions
as they portray:
Willy Loman — the salesman
about whom the play is centered.
Harry Gooding, an architect for
the Texas A&M System, takes
over as a father whose dream for
life lay with his elder son. An un
successful salesman, a rejected
father and a perplexed old man,
Willy is certainly no hero. Good
ing, however, is. He keeps the
play moving with expressions of
joy, love, anger and confusion
that demand audience empathy.
Linda Loman — the salesman’s
wife and referee of family spats
between Loman and the number
one son. Mrs. Aileen Wenck plays
Mortimer's
Notes
The Maritime Academy:
Another Frankenstein?
Where is the Texas Maritime Academy
headed ?
During its initial year of 1961-62 the
future did not look very bright for the
A&M branch on the Gulf of Mexico. The
legislature in Austin saw fit to hold up
the appropriation money until the last con
ceivable moment. The academy still re
ceives only 11 or 12 per cent of the funds
asked by the A&M administration for its
budget.
However, better days appear to be
ahead. The “Texas Clipper,” the academy’s
own ship, was received last spring. Con
struction will probably begin within the
year on the pier and slip for the ship to be
built on Pelican Island in Galveston Bay.
TMA has received 40 acres of land there
to build its new home. The Moody Founda
tion of Galveston has announced a gift
of $1 million to be paid the academy in five
one-year installments.
THE BATTALION
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a university and community newspaper.
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airman ; Dr. David Bowers, College of Liberal Arts ; Dr.
Robert A. Clark, College of Geosciences; Dr. Frank A. Mc-
Kobert A. Clark, College ot Geosciences; Ur. r rank A. Mc
Donald, College of Science; Dr. J. G. McGuire, College of
Engineering: Dr. Robert S. Titus, College of Veterinary
Medicine; and Dr. A. B. Wooten, College of Agriculture.
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yes
sal
EDITOR GLENN DROMGOOLE
Managing Editor Gerald Garcia
Sports Editor Larry Jerden
News Editor Tommy DeFrank
Photographer Herky Killingsworth
Amusements Editor Lani Presswood
In June the first graduating class will
pass into the maritime industry.
It will be a great day for Texas A&M
University.
The cadets of TMA don’t seem to be
quite as happy about the whole thing
as the administration. Sure, there are
more social opportunities in Galveston than
in College Station. Sure, there are two
nursing dorms nearby with a junior col
lege on the way. Sure, Houston is only 90
miles away.
The cadets in command positions feel
that the academy is drawing or being
drawn too far away from Texas A&M.
All the evidence is in little things but
little things add up.
Why aren’t the cadets allowed to wear
senior boots ?
Why are the old tan uniforms being
phased out, giving way to the black trous
ers and white shirt that the cadets call
the “penguin suit?”
Why, a thousand times more? One
of the cadets talked to some TMA fresh
men now on campus and found they were
told by some advisors they would do better
without the Corps of Cadets. Why?
The academy marched in during last
year’s football season and paraded with
the Corps of Cadets during Corps trips.
This year, the students will not be able to
march because they cannot make the trip
compulsory for underclassmen. The result
ing unit would be embarrassingly small.
Why?
There are no activities planned to link
the two campuses in outside activities.
Why?
Capt. Bennett Dodson, superintendent of
the academy, has said that once the faci
lities can hold them, the freshmen should
be moved from A&M to Galveston.
It appears that a separate institution
is being created. The practicality of move
cannot be reasonably contested because of
the separate campuses. But, where does it
leave the student who has been oriented
toward Texas A&M ?
“There is so little down here, we have
to cling to something,” said one senior.
“The thought of senior boots, rings, foot
ball games, anything. What will we do
when we aren’t considered Aggies any
more ?”
Steps should be taken now to see that
A&M does not again do the building work
for a school and then have it pull away
from the system. Who can forget the
Arlington State statement, “We don’t
want to be Aggies ?”
Is a Frankenstein being created?
FOR THE RECORD: Aha, ye
who believed Jan Peerce would
flop at Town Hall were wrong. . .
More than 2,500 persons gave
the opera tenor a standing ova
tion, much more than the Letter-
men received. . . .
By the way, the Lettermen
were disappointed with an SMU
audience last week. . . .
“We get a standing ovation
everywhere,” they said. . . .
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it ? . . .
The Fountain Room in the MSC
will start staying open ’til 10
p.m. beginning next Monday to
accommodate late coffee drink
ers. . . .
Also in the Fountain Room to
day and tomorrow will be a movie
of Ed White’s space walk. ...
The flick is scheduled every
hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. . . .
The 14-minute film is in full
color. . . .
Congressman Olin E. “Tiger”
Teague said late Saturday he ap
preciated the Corps of Cadets’
scheduled review in his honor. . . .
The review had to be cancelled
Thursday because of heavy rain
but the College Station Congress
man was grateful for the
thoughtfulness extended. . . .
Jan Peerce, having to compete
with “Tiger” for spectators, re
ferred to the “Congressional
Clambake down the street” for
hindering some Town Hall pa
trons from attending his show. . .
Skip the skin flicks one night
this week and see “Death of a
Salesman.” You’ll like it. . . .
See Ya ’Round—Mortimer.
the consoling and ever-faithful
wife, reaching the pinnacle of her
performance with a soliloquy to
her dead husband in the dramatic
final moments.
Happy Loman — the younger
son, a carefree would-be playboy
whose only worry in the world
seems to be the fast buck and the
faster woman. More of a “chip
off the old block” than his dad
cares to realize, Happy is vividly
portrayed by Tim Lane whose
flaming red hair adds a little
color to an otherwise rather dull
character.
Biff Loman — the idolized, yet
cursed, elder son whose return
home sends his father into alter
nating frenzies of hope and de
jection and ultimately results in
the death of a salesman. Kirk
Stewart, who at first glance
should have been cast as the
playboy Happy, does a creditable
job as an ex-football great, a
34-year-old who has accomplish
ed nothing more than working as
a ranch hand.
Outside the family, the other
characters have primarily sup
porting roles with Howard Wag
ner, Ben Loman and The Woman
having perhaps the most influ
ence on the plot.
Wagner, the self-centered boss
of Willy Loman, is certainly the
villain. In a furious scene, Lani
Presswood becomes almost hated
by the audience as he ridicules
and then fires Loman.
Ben Loman, Willy’s older broth
er, emphasizes material wealth
each time he appears and finally
advises the salesman to kill him
self. Karl Rubinstein’s appear
ances as Ben’s ghost are grip
ping, almost frightening.
The Woman, a squealing pros
titute, is the play’s vital link.
Without her, dissension between
father and son wouldn’t have de
veloped and there would have
been no conflict — and, indeed no
play. Mrs. Marie Crook’s hyenic
laughter and loose dialogue first
provides sex and comedy relief,
later adds the necessary signifi
cance.
The other supporting charac
ters helped keep the play alive
and added small parts to the plot,
but lacked any specific promi
nence. Harry Howell’s commend
able job as Charley, Steve Thur
man’s portrayal of Bernard, Mrs.
Lyn Brown’s limited appearance
as Jenny, Mrs. Jan Gannaway’s
and Heidi Spitz’s roles as prosti
tutes and Leon Greene’s charac
terization of Stanley all deserve
praise.
The play moved rapidly after
getting off to a ratheL slow start,
and ended on such a dramatic
note that it took the audience 13
reconds to respond.
“Death of a Salesman” has
meat. It stirs some serious ques.
tions, leaving the answers to the
audience.
Those questions, those answers
will continue each time the cur
tain opens nightly through Sat
urday at 8 p.m.
Humble PR Man
To Explain ‘Tiger’
Jim Lyles, a member of the
public relations staff of the Hum
ble Oil Co. in Houston, will
present a film and lecture of his
firm’s “Put a Tiger in Your
Tank” campaign at 7 p.m. Tues
day in Room 6 of Nagle Hall.
The meeting is sponsored by
Alpha Delta Sigma, national ad
vertising fraternity. Jud Rogers,
president of ADS, said Monday
all interested students will be
welcomed.
Gerald Garcia
Campus Political Clubs
For years Young Republicans
and Young Democrats of Texas
A&M have asked for campus
sanction but instead have had to
fight administration policies.
Each time one files for campus
recognition they get the same
cold shouldered response: “The
university cannot recognize your
club because of House Bill 86,
Article V, Section 2 of the 58th
Texas Legislature and the Ad
ministrative Order No. 3, Section
11 of the Rules and Regulations
of the Texas A&M University
System.”
House Bill 86 states:
“None of the money appropri
ated by Articles I-IV of this Act,
regardless of their source or
character, shall be used for in
fluencing the outcome of any
election, or the passage or defeat
of any legislative measure.”
Administrative Order No. 3
states:
“All employees of the Texas
A&M University System are ad
vised to acquaint themselves with
the provisions of the state laws
with reference to participation in
political campaigns. No property
under the control of the Texas
A&M System will be used for
political campaign meetings or
speeches or in the furtherance of
any political campaign, nor used
in any way for any political of
fice.”
The university argues that stu
dents would have to meet in cam
pus buildings which state money
helped build.
This is very true. State money
was used and is being used by
A&M. But why then do 18 of the
22 state-supported colleges and
universities recognize political
clubs ? And all 18 schools pro
vides campus facilities for the
clubs to meet.
A&M, Arlington, Texas Tech
and Texas Woman’s University
are the only four state-supported
colleges and universities that do
not recognize political clubs.
The A&M System could exper
iment and tryout the plan adopt
ed by the state teacher colleges.
In Feb. 29, 1963, these colleges
adopted 17 stipulations which pol
itical clubs are to follow.
If the clubs follow these regu
lations, the college recognizes
them. When a club disobeys the
rules, it is dropped from the col
lege roster.
A&M System administrators
would probably say they cannot
adopt these rules because of
Order No. 3.
But gentlemen if you would
read Order No. 3 very carefully,
the second word in the regulation
would tell you that this does not
apply to students. The rule reads,
“all employees” and students arc
not employees, but rather “em
ployers.”
“Political clubs can be and are
usually an asset to the institu
tion when the political groups
feel the institution is generally
favorable to their operations,"
George L. Morton, Dean of Men
at Sam Houston State College,
explained to a Battalion reporter
last year.
Student political groups would
help this institution so they
should be given “freedom” to
meet on campus and should be
recognized by the university.
Drew Standing Ovation
Peerce Scored With Aggie Audience
By RON MUMFORD
Battalion Staff Writer
“You’ve got to sell yourself to
the audience. If you don’t, there
is something wrong with you,”
said Jan Peerce, famed opera star
after arriving Thursday night.
The next night, during his Town
Hall performance, Peerce sold
himself to the tune of a rousing
standing ovation and an encore
that turned into another per
formance.
Peerce, who makes half his per
formances at colleges all over the
world, described the Aggie audi
ence as “excellent, tremendous.”
“To face an audience like this
is wonderful, I would come back
tomorrow. Better still, I think I
will just take them along with
PEANUTS
By Charles M. Schulz
PEANUTS
THIS IS A LETTER FROM THE DAlSV
HILL PUPPY FARM ..THEY (JANT YOU
TO COME SACK, AND MAKE A SPEECH
THEY FEEL YOU AAI6HT HAVE
SOMETHING TO SAY TO THE YOUNGER
D06S...HOO) ABOUT IT?D0 YOU THINK
YOU COULD MAKE A SPEECH ?
1 FRIENDS,
ROMANS,
COUNTRYMEN..'^
TO THE DAISY HILL PUPPY FARM ...
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO YOUR
BANQUET THIS SATURDAY NI6HT..IT
WAS NICE OF YOU TO ASK ME...
me,” Peerce commented.
Starting with “Where’er You
Walk,” from “S e m e 1 e”, and
throughout the entire perform
ance, a roaring applause greeted
America’s most noted tenor.
Concerning the Lettermen’s
condemnation of the A&M audi
ence, Peerce said, “You don’t go
around condemning your audience
— maybe your guitar is out of
tune.”
During the performance, more
than 2,500 persons listened to
Peerce boom out one song after
another — from Italian opera by
Giuseppe Verdi to popular songs
by Richard Rogers. The perform
ance went on uninterrupted, ex
cept for a few “hoo-wahs’ by a
group of freshmen. The “hoo-
wahs”, which peeved the Letter-
men so, were welcomed by Peerce.
Thursday night at a press con
ference, he was informed about
the unique expression of approv
al. “I guess if I hear these funny
sounds that means I’m in, right?”
he asked.
After the main performance,
Peerce broke the seriousness by
singing Old Mother Hubbarb —
opera style!
A quick witted man, Peerce
called the Olin Teague dinner
which was the same time as his
performance, “that congressional
clambake they are having to
night.”
Peerce told of the different
types of applause and audiences
he had encountered during his
worldwide travels.
“Perhaps the strangest audi
ence I have performed for was in
JAN PEERCE
. . . encore
France. I sang in a church filled
with many dignitaries. One, for
instance, was the Queen of Bel
gium. After my performance,
there was no applause, the people
only shuffled their feet. Whistles
in America means that the per
former has the approval of the
audience, but in Europe, whistles
mean a bad performance.”
Peerce said audiences in the
United States are similar.
“But,” he added, “when you
get to Texas, that’s different.
When a Texas audience likes you,
they love you — they yell, they
scream, they really make you
feel it.’
Concerning the current status
of opera in this country, Peerze
said, “We are doing OK. In the
last ten years, the desire of the
people to hear music has grown-
It’s looking up.”
Peerce has made appearances
in Israel, Japan, Russia.
“I guess about the only place
I haven’t been is the Congo.” In
May, he will tour St. Louis,
Mount Vernon, Detroit, Cleve
land, Carnegie Hall, Montreal,
Madison Square Garden, Pitts
burg, Miami, Vienna and Amster
dam. This week he will appear
on the Johnny Carson Show and
Nov. 22nd on the Steve Law
rence Show.
The opera star discussed the
Beatles: “There are artists and
there are entertainers. The
Beatles are out for the fun and
excitement that goes with their
sudden rise to stardom; they are
entertainers. Opera singers are
not sudden crazes overnight. They
have to study and practice hard
to really get somewhere in opera.
This makes them artists.”
Peerce drew a standing ovation
from an Aggie audience, received
“ho-wahs” from freshmen, and
was brought back for an unre
hearsed second performance. As
he left the stage, he looked at the
crowd and said, “This has been
great, I hope you will ask me
back sometime.”
It might be arranged.