Lycoming College Report, December 1983

              LYCOMING COLLEGE REPORT December 1983
'Hansel & Gretel' in tune for season
One of [he world's classic fairy tales, Hansel and
Gretel," sprang to life in Williamsport on Dec 4. as the
second presentation of Lycoming's 1983-84 Artist Series
staged in cooperation with the Greater Williamsport
C i immunity Arts Council.
Performed in the Capitol Theatre in downtown
Williamsport, Engelbert Humperdinck's 1893 classic was
presented as an opera by the Pittsburgh Chamber Opera
Theater and the United States Chamber Orchestra It
incorporated a chorus of "gingerbread children from the
Williamsport school district and angels" from the
Williamsport Civic Ballet
A crowd estimated at 1,500 braved some early-winter
weather to attend the performance, which was described
as "a glorious afternoon of opera' 1 by Dr Gary M.
Boerckel, chairman of Lycoming's cultural affairs
committee.
The singing was beautiful, the assistant professor of
music said. Several of their singers Are destined for
stardom. . .The sets were realistic and elaborate . The local
children did a wonderful job
"
Based on the audience's reaction to the 2' j-hour show,
he added, ' ll was another success."
While "Hansel and Gretel" entertained children with its
scenes of excitement and fear and colorful costumes and
settings, the opera also thrilled adults with a full range of
powerful music sung in English. It lived up to its billing as
"truly an opera that children and adults can enjoy together
and on separate levels."
Primarily a touring group for promising young
American singers, the PCOT was founded in 1978 by
Mildred Miller Posvar. a Metropolitan Opera star who
also directs the opera program at Carnegie-Mellon
University The troupe cooperates with local talents
wherever it performs, giving them an opportunity to
perform opera
The PCOT travels primarily in the mid-Atlantic states,
although it toured Europe in the summer of 1982 and plans
to return there next year for a four-week, three-country
tour The PCOT's major grand-scale production is "Hansel
and Gretel." But it also performs three other full-length
productions, four chamber operas, and a growing
repertoire of 40-minute adaptations of operas for school
children. These operas accommodate themselves to school
assemblies.
The next Artist Series presentation for 1983-84 is a
performance by The Gregg Smith Singers on Jan. 24 in
Clarke Chapel The ensemble has been described as
America's finest choral group.
Nursing enrollment signals popularity of B.S.N.
By Barbara I Dodd'85
Public Relations Aide
Since Lycoming launched its four-year nursing program
two yean ago, the interest in it by future nurses has made
it the third most popular major on campus. Why?
Three of the 68 students enrolled in the B.S.N, program,
each of whom has had previous medical training or
experience, say the program's popularity reflects a concern
circulating in the nursing profession. This concern is that
non-baccalaureate programs are becoming obsolete and
that in a few years they will be inadequate for a job in
nursing
Mink* McDermott, of Williamsport, enrolled at
Lycoming because she said The four-year program gives
you more opportunity to use your skills, and it's better for
job opportunities in the future."
McDermott already holds a certificate as an LPN. She is
fulfilling a desire to become a registered nurse.
The mother of three young boys praised the program
for its "well-rounded quality." She hopes eventually to
teach, so is taking courses in English, mathematics,
science, and computer science.
For Linda Potter, of South Williamsport, Lycoming's
four-year program is the way of the future."
A certified operating room technician. Potter was
working at Williamsport Hospital before enrolling at
Lycoming. She earned her certificate in 1968. but "always
wanted to be a nurse. When Lycoming announced its
program and began accepting students, her husband and
two sons encouraged her to apply.
1 wasn't sure at first, but the doors opened and
everything is working out. "she said. "1 want to be able to
help people in more ways then 1 could before, 1 want to
learn all the different aspects of nursing."
When Judy Cans, of Castanea, was considering going
back to college, she decided that a four-year program
would "offer more depth of understanding on the material
that must be covered."
Oris also holds a one-year LPN certificate She was
employed by the University of North Carolina I i
the vascular trauma surgery floor for several years before
returning to this area. She, too, wants to teach,
(Continued on Page 5, Col. 1)
Business executive lauds general education
The president of one of America's best-known
hospitality companies told Lycoming students in late
November that the best education they can get for careers
in business is one that produces well-rounded generalise,
not specialists
G Michael Hostage, president and chief executive
officer of Howard Johnson's, told several hundred
classmates of his son, lon.it han a Lycoming sophomore,
mat they should "gel a grounding in the
fundamentals. . particularly how to write and speak
Speaking and answering questions .11 ,1 special one-hour
lass period and ,ii another 60-minute to rum that
followed, Hostage said he did nut want to downplay the
Importance of business education
Rut he said I have no problem with psychology or
itha liberal arts majors] .1- a preparation for .1
area in business
Drawing on his own climb up the corporate ladder.
Hostage said Bate takes unpredictable rums so don't be
aged if uSe future looks fuzzy now itisnot
possible to really plan for the future as an undergraduate"
Theretore. he said, it is necessary to study a broad range
ot interests so "you can form those values that will help
youthrou^.!.
Even though it may not he possible to completely plan
the president said you can get an edge now'
if you follow a set ot bask principles
One of these principles, he said, is to "make a career
plan so you don't drift in a non-rational way "
That plan should include a geographic location for a
career, whether travel or family commitments are more
important, and whether you want money or prestige and
power
Hostage also urged students to "change from that first
|ob to a second in five to seven years... to broaden your
experiences, to get new exposure, so you don't get better
and belter at less and less
The Howard Johnson's chief added that "there is no
substitute for hard work the harder you work, the more
likely you are to succeed,"
Success is a journey not a destination," Hostage said.
1 here iv no su( h thing as getting there, there is no end of
new mountains you find happiness along the way. not at
the 1
- also stressed that "life becomes what you've
done very quickly, not your credentials It's nice to have
he said, but people forget very quickly what
degree you have ii you don't produce
After addressing the students. Hostage, his wife, and his
son ate lunch with the business and accounting faculty and
with Lycoming President Dr. Frederick E. Blumer.
Before assuming his current post. Hostage was president
of ITT Continental Baking Company, and an executive
with the Mamott Company and Procter and Gamble
G Michael Hostage