MAY 12, 1972
Letters to the Editor
I'm writing concerning the senior superlatives. I was listening to a few guys make their lists. There were a couple who did it the right way and others who sat there and pulled kids to pieces. They picked at every little fault. If they didn't meet up to their standards, they weren't put on the list. Don't these "high and almighty" guys have faults of their own? Are they perfect? They have no right to judge anyone. Sure, they're entitled to an opinion, but they shouldn't voice them if it's going to hurt someone, unless they're sadistic.
I'm not a senior, but when I am a senior, I know I wouldn't want people pulling me to pieces and making fun of the way I am. You know, it's kind of funny to hear these kids. They demand so much; and if you don't meet their demands, they pull you apart, call you names, anything to belittle you and make you feel rotten. It's these same kids who feel they are mature enough to meet the responsibilities of having a smoking lounge and open campus. How can they meet those responsibilities when they can't even meet the responsibilities toward their fellow man? Most of you say what responsibilities are those? Well, if you can't figure it out, I won't bother telling you. What I will say is this: for all teachings about loving your fellow man, the golden rule, and all this brotherhood society, we surely did not learn much. Why is it that there's a Brotherhood Week? Why can't everyone be friends? Brothers? Well, it's everyone's fault. Everyone pulls everyone else to pieces, finding other people's faults and not even looking at themselves.
The kids say senior superlatives are compliments. Are they? I wouldn't want to be called a cheesebrain, sexpot, fickle, or a flirt. To me, senior superlatives are dumb. It may be comic to those doing it, but it's not comic to those being hurt. I'm not hurt by being picked on, but I am hurt by the attitudes of these kids.
Name Withheld by Request
Dear Editor:
I'm writing in regard to the excellent art show that was held last week, Thursday.
I felt it was put together very well and that the students of Maine West have much talent to offer the world.
Many of the pieces showed much time and creativeness put into them by the students. And it showed that the youth of today are not as bad and unworthy as many older people make us out to be.
The photography section seemed to be smaller this year than usual, but many of the other exhibits made up for the loss of pictures.
My only complaint is that I don't think that it was mentioned enough to our parents, about the fair. Sure the students were informed about it, but many kids don't go home and tell their parents about things like that. That is unless a big part of the student's work is put into the fair.
But all in all, I feel that the fair was quite good. And I think we all should thank the people who helped the fair to be so good.
Michele Rosa
I would like to say a word in favor of the Westerner for a change. Students should realize that it is an excellent paper. The page make-up is very good and the photography is well done. The headlines follow, most of the time, the rules stated in the book, "Scholastic Journalism," by Earl English and Clarence Hach, two experts on the subject.
Most of the time the paper is error free and the names, dates, and scores are correct. There isn't much filler material used and the stories are usually written well.
In closing I would like to say that the Westerner is one of the better high school papers that I have seen. Before most students become critical they should take a look at some of the other exchange papers around and then decide.
Chris Ladner
Dear Editor:
A recent letter to the editor from a parent made a criticism about Mame curtain calls and I quote, "I wondered at the time the cast was all on stage for their well-deserved applause as to why none of the behind the scene crew made an appearance." In reaction to this parent and to all others who do not understand the tradition of curtain calls for Mame or any future Maine West productions I offer these explanations:
When lights aid in establishing mood and visibility, when sets provide environment for the action, when costumes enhance the show, etc., then the audience member who applauds is applauding for every crew member, every staff member, and every actor when he (or she) offers appreciation in the form of applause. If the audience member feels the urge to offer applause when a leading character is taking bows, then the applause is traditionally for all technical and acting support, too, even if some audience members are not aware of the total effort that is necessary from all cast and crew to make the production worthy of applause.
Recent trends have been to offer no curtain calls at all, but to simply close the curtain and let the audience applaud the "whole production." I have never heard of a tradition for crews to take curtain calls, nor have I read about such a tradition in the history of the theatre. If this parent has information about such a tradition existing, anywhere or anytime, I would like to have the information regarding this phenomenon of theatre history.
If the person who ran the curtains or worked on property crew appeared in Maine West productions for curtain calls, it must have been a confusing appearance to the majority of the audience as to what, specifically, the individual did in the production. Maybe they could appear with a sign which states "I PULLED CURTAIN" or "I WORKED PROPS," but then I fear we would see nothing but signs on stage.
If an audience member is interested in who was responsible for specific technical functions, then I suggest reading the program. I further suggest to this interested audience member that, when you give applause, you are applauding the entire cast and crew. Any crew member who feels like a part of the "whole production" shares the applause you give, no matter what you have in mind individually when you applaud.
Ronald E. Mills