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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1981)
Local THE BATTALION Page 3 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981 riticism of Singing Cadets misses point, music head says :cessl er wall :hat win id merdli i lattery, Jisbelien nd coat t back lii dmost t morel my delti) ar arlierji herorij elimra ition, H* while tk quickly By CINDY GEE Battalion Staff Paul Hume didn’t know the whole story, said Robert Boone, director of vocal music at Texas A&M University, so maybe he shouldn’t have said what he said. Hume, a former professor of music who is the music editor of the Washington Post, described the Singing Cadets, as quoted in the Bryan Eagle, as “grown men singing pablum.” He was also quoted as saying, “It’s time you (Texas A&M) did something about music.” Boone said, “I have no ill feelings towards Dr. Hume, but I think he was wrong. He’s not really aware of what our function is.” Dr. Nancy Theeman, the accompanist of the Singing Cadets, said “all he’s done is review clas sical concerts, and he was director of a men’s glee club that performed classical music. I think when he came here that’s what he expected to hear. “We’re not doing serious music by choice, not because we can’t do it. Singing classical music doesn’t promote the University’s image.” Theeman said the Singing Cadets are at Texas A&M first as ambassadors for the University, i Margaret McCarthur, a humanities lecturer who teaches Texas A&M’s only music course, was at the meeting and said, “We were pretty well with him until he made that comment (about the Singing Cadets) in the last five minutes. I think he made them out of a misunderstanding of the Sing ing Cadets. He critiqued them like they were from a school with a music department.” She said the Singing Cadet’s program was well received; the audience was clapping and tapping their feet. “It was a shock to everyone when he made that comment,” McCarthur said. “He did not receive a lot of applause afterwards. I think the majority of people disagreed with him.” However, she added that he did say some good things at the closing banquet of the Texas Assem bly of Arts Councils. Boone said he thought Hume contradicted himself; because when he spoke to the music appreciation classes earlier, he said there is no such thing as good music; good music is music that reaches the audience. Dr. Clinton Phillips, dean of faculties, said he thought if Hume had been aware of the University’s prior efforts to institute a fine arts program, he might not have made the statement that Texas A&M needed to do some thing about music. Earlier Friday when Hume spoke to a group of about 50 journalism students, he warned them against critiquing music that they know nothing about. He advised the students to take as many music courses as they could if they wished to incorporate it into their journalism careers. He said he was surprised when a student informed him that Texas A&M only offers one music class. Phillips said any university that wants to insti tute a new program must prepare “massive” documents to seek approval from the Coordinat ing Board of Approval in Austin. He said the function of the group is to avoid duplication of programs around the state. He said the board’s view is that if a student wants music, he can go to North Texas State University or the University of Texas. They feel music is beyond the role and scope of Texas A&M which is primarily a school for agriculture, en gineering or sciences, Phillips said, adding that it might not be too hard to get one or two more music classes approved. “We have the potential to teach much more music,” said Theeman, who taught, coached and directed music for the music department at the University of Maryland. “The talent is in the peo ple who are already hired here.” If someone has always had an interest in music and wants to be a doctor, they shouldn’t have to give music up when they come to Texas A&M, Theeman said. Boone said he realized that the time students have for avocational interests is very limited be cause “they’re working their buns off trying to get a degree.” But he said music courses could be offered as a sideline in different departments. He suggested that music acoustics could be offered through the physics department, elemen tary music methods through the education de partment, or music history through the history department. Robert Boone and Singing Cadets Host families sough t for in t l studen ts By GWEN HAM Battalion Reporter Host families are being sought for e succtii i go().p] us international students the bead attending Texas A&M University, to ; strateg help teach them American customs Don!: and give them the feeling of having a some! home-away-from-home. m make! 'Students come to our office and say they want to go home with some body,” said Tina Watkins, interna tional student advisor. “We don’t ask families to allow students to move in with them. We just want them to take the students to football games, on picnics —just let them do some thing with an American family so they will understand our customs and ways better. ” The host family doesn’t have to check in for approval of activities. Contacts may be made as seldom or as frequent as both parties want. The program, which began a year and a half ago, is lacking volunteer host families. “We’d love to have more,” said Watkins. “What we need is a whole corp of volunteers for all facets — teaching how and where to shop, American customs and things like that. If we can cover their N fli { /? j; iet athertW )le is •ay I , Warm 0 I outk e for dwitl from ^ • pictui fi ranted** eak oal ' weath ;a/ bul* 1 Each W ,j bereft , n da*j talion, W ;talioh W n pen ii perse 1 ’ 001 led on ^ BuildW to the”* .Rights? 77843' basic needs immediately, as soon as they get off their plane, they don’t have all the anxieties and can settle down and study better.” There is no limit of students a family may host, said Watkins. Gen erally, they’ll just want one but some want more. In fact, one family re quested five or six. Languages may be a factor wor rying prospective host families. “The language barrier isn’t a big problem,” Watkins said. “We match languages only if we re asked. It isn’t necessary because most of the stu dents have studied English before coming here. Even if the students aren’t fluent, it helps to be around an English-speaking family in order to pick it up just by hearing normal conversation.” There are quite a few more prog rams underway involving different activities, sponsored by groups, to make new students more comfort able in their new home. Working with the host family program, Hospitality International is a program where six couples prepare a meal once a month for 30 to 35 students on a rotating basis. Another Farenthold to speak today Former State Legislator Sissy Farenthold will speak today at 8 p.m. in Rudder Forum. Farenthold, who placed second in 1972 for the Democratic nomination for vice president of the United States, just recently completed a four-year term as president of Wells MAKE IT WITH JUAREZ TEQUILA GOLD OR SILVER IMPORTED & BOTTLED BY TEQUILA JALISCO S.A ST LOUIS. MO . 80 PROOF CAREERS INTERNATIONAL and DOMESTIC OFFSHORE DRILLING * What is the Drilling Industry? * What kind of career does Offshore Drilling have to offer you? KEYDRIL cordially invites undergraduate majors in ENGINEERING to attend an informal gathering to discuss these questions FEBRUARY 10, 1981 7 P.M. TO 9 P.M. ROOM 404 RUDDER TOWER Refreshments will be served. Y/a Are An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F group of couples take three to six students for a meal once a month, allowing them to get to know one another on a more personal basis. Church Women United also pre pares international students a meal during all three orientation prog rams at the first of the semester. International students aren’t the only ones gaining from the program, Watkins said. The host family has an opportunity to open up a whole new world. They have a chance to learn more about the world, its customs and its people. We’re tooting our own horn . Battalion Classifieds Call 845-2611 F* FRENCH’S SCHOOLS 4 Convenient Locations After School Pick-up Infant, Day Care, Kindergarten & Private First Grade Tap-Ballet Classes nnnn State Licensed 690-99UU Almost better than Grandma’s. College. She was Democratic candi date for the governor of Texas in 1972 and 1974. The program, sponsored by MSC Political Forum, is entitled “Sissy Farenthold: A woman of many facets.” Admission is free. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY WEDNESDA Y & THURSDA Y FEBRUARY 4 & FEBRUARY 5, 1981 We will be interviewing individuals with degrees in these fields: (Contact your placement office for additional information and interview appointments). B.S. Electrical Engineering B.S. Mechanical Engineering B.S. Civil Engineering B.S./M.S. Nuclear Engineering B.S. Chemical Engineering B.S. Industrial Engineering B.S. Electrical Technology B.S. Construction Technology B.B.A. Accounting B.B.A. Marketing B.B.A. Management Houston Lighting & Power, the nation's 6th largest utility company, serves more than a million homes, businesses, and industries—and, we’re continually growing to meet the new demands. The result is we can offer college graduates a broad spectrum of career opportunities in a variety of fields. If you are unable to interview at this time please send resume to: M.T. Robin Recruiting Director Houston Lighting & Power Company P.O.Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 or call (713) 228-5035 THE POWERFUL CAREER CHOICE Houston An Equal Opportunity Employer M F/H/V ower