1987_05 The Daily Collegian May 1987

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The
Daily Collegian
^r     California State University. Fresno   ^**?*r-
Monday, May 11,1987
California State University, Fresno
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Young actors face talent test
DramerrDepartment hosts thespian workshops
By Mark Murrey
Staff Writer
high school students. Ron     Huizing,     drama     coach     from    students' acting.
Terry Miller, a drama professor at CSUF    Yosemite     High     School     in     Oakhurst,        Competitions  and  workshops   were  alto
who organized the event now in its third    brought  along  seven of his  students  who    held for music. One of the judges, George
CSUFs   Drama   Department   hosted  an    year, oversaw about a dozen area schools. had    been     selected    during     a     school    Coujoazo,   a   music   professor   from   CSU
estimated 200 to 300 aspiring actors and        "We're basically a regional deal," Miller   competition « Chko, said the students performed well,
musicians • Saturday who tested their mettle   said. i"The   schools   would   be   in  busing       Huizing    said    events    like    this    are        "It's   surprising  how   well   these  young
in   workshops   arid   competitions   for   area   distance." important because they raise the level of    people can play," he said.
When judging the performances,
Coujoazo said he did not necessarily look
for how well the students played, but
rather how well they did the things that go
into music, like tempo and articulation.
When judging the students, Coujoazo
said he had some close calls, but
sometimes the best ones would clearly
stand out.
"It's nice* to have cut and dry situations,
but it hardly ever happens that way," he
said. Y
========£!
"/ encourage them to pur¬
sue theater as a recrea¬
tion rather than a profes¬
sion"
—Ron Huizing
Glenn Uoon/ The Daly Cdepan
High School drama students from all over the valley converged on CSUF Saturday for a day of performances and
workshops. An improvisational workshop had two students performing an impromptu ministry scene.
Huizing said he does not encourage his
students to become professional actors. He
claims tnere is too much competition and
too many starving actors in the world.
"I encourage them to pursue theater as a
recreation rather than a profession," he
said. If they get picked out of a
recreational situation and go on to rhe
pros, that's fine."
Huizing said the chances of succeeding
in drama an about the same as becoming a
professional baseball player.
One of the students involved with rhe
workshop, Lisa Patrick of Roosevelt High
School, said she has no intention of being'
an actress. "It's just a hobby." she said.
Patrick said her event was improvisation
— instant theater.
Miller said the judging during the
competition was intense "so it would mean
something to the student." '
Miller said another purpose of the
competition was to give some recognition
to the high school drama teachers.
"Being a high school teacher must be
the hardest job," Miller said. This is a
way to say 'You're.doing excellent work.' "
Experts educate public about AIDS
CSUF symposium reviews complications of the virus, coping
By Don Coleman
Staff Writer
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
does not discriminate; it has affected the
lives of more than 35.000 men, women
and children; and it is • not a silent killer,
according to authorities who spoke during
a syirrposjnm titled "Everybody's
Problem," Trkraday.
"It's not a moral issue. It's a public
health issue," said Marilyn Mitchell of the
Fresno County Public Health Department.
Some of the psychosocial, legal, public
health, disability and life insurance issues
associated with the disease were also
djyiK«H during the symposium.
Katherine Lord of the Centers for
Disease Control in Atlanta said that as of
May 4. there has been 35,2;9 AIDS cases
reported, of which 494 were cases
involving children. She classified the
afflicted as having contacted the disease as
follows: 66 percent through homosexual
or bisexual contact; 17 percent through
intravenous^ drug abuse; '8 percent from
those who fell into both of the above
eategories; 4 percent through heterosexual
contact; and 1 percent due to hemophilia
or other coagulation disorders.
'Lord said that additionally there were
687 cases in which people contracted rhe
disease after heterosexual contact with
someone who had the disease; 653
reported cases in which the afflicted did
not have other identified risks but were
born in countries such as Central Africa
where the disease is transmitted through
heterosexual contact; and 691 cases
through blood transfusions.
Allen Gilmore, a co-worker of
Mitchell's at the Health Department, said
part of his job as community outreach
coordinator is to inform, educate and to
"make aware that AIDS is a problem in
Fresno County."
Kay Van Der Ford, director of the
Central Valley AIDS Team, said there have
been 46 reported cases in the county- Of
those, she said .40 were homosexual or
bisexual males; five were intravenous drug
use-s and another contracted it through
sexua) contact with someone who had
AIDS.
A panel discussed some of the issues
confronting victims of AIDS and those of
their families and friends. Describing'
Hospice of Fresno, R.N. Pat Harmon said,
"The goal of Hospice is to decrease pain,
to provide support for the victims and
their families, and to be able to let them
die with dignity."       *.
Historically. Harmon added, "Hospices
have-dealt with cancer patients. Working
\ .
with AIDS patients is relatively new and
complicated." She explained the
complication by saying most of those
diagnosed have been self-sufficient,
"independent men who are experiencing
conflicts between two families. In some
cases, they don't qualify for medical
assistance It's a very explosive situation,
what we have learned is it's about love and
caring." , •
One AIDS issue concerns everyone — it
is the solvency of insurance companies,
said Richard Nilmeier, vice president of
legislation and regulation for the
California Association        of        life
Underwriters. He explained, "California is
one of two states, along with the District
of Columbia, that prohibits any insurance
testing, for AIDS. The problem then
becomes escalating premiums."
People with good health receive a
standard policy, those with a health
impairment may be required to pay a
higher premium, Nilmeier said. But
companies can not ferret out those who
have AIDS, and Nilmeier said the inability
of insurance companies to test means that
some of the victims of the AIDS virus are
taking out substantial insurance policies
prior to dying.
E.W. Stude, coordinator of the CSUF
Rehabilitation   Counseling    Program,   said
there is a lot of misinformation in the
community. "A lot of hysteria goes along
with it," he said.
See AIDS, page 5
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