2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor: Equal chances for all
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Op/Ed
- Page 1 of 1
To the Editor:
I am writing in regard to Tiffany Kirk's opinion piece "Discrimination on campus not an act." As a Dance major and choreographer involved in campus activities, including a sorority, I feel it is important to clear up this misleading opinion.
I want to first state that in no way, shape or form do the Dance or Theatre departments discriminate against students who are involved in campus activities and/or part of a Greek organization.
Yes, the Dance Association asks questions about outside activities on audition sheets. What Ms. Kirk fails to mention is other important questions asked include "Are you auditioning for any theatre shows?" and "Are you in College Choir?"
These commitments are necessary to know for scheduling purposes. Given the extensive nature of the arts at Muhlenberg, rehearsal time slots and venues are at a premium and time flexibility is required.
If a rehearsal slot conflicts with another activity's schedule, obviously the student will not be cast - not because he or she is being punished for an outside commitment, but because being in two places at once is simply impossible.
Of course, just because a dancer didn't get cast in that particular piece doesn't mean other choreographers holding rehearsals at different times won't cast the dancer.
Rather than voice opinion, I'd like to state facts: I have been both cast in shows as a dancer and have cast dancers as a choreographer. Every time I audition, I answer "yes" to the question about being in a Greek organization.
I have been cast in quite a few pieces, regardless of my sorority membership. When meeting with the other choreographers to discuss casting, I very rarely looked at the answers to these activity questions, nor did any of the other choreographers.
The only time the answers were looked at was if the dancer had written an excessive amount of outside time commitments that would hinder rehearsal scheduling.
It should also be noted there are other considerations in casting more important than activity schedules such as technique, height, and look of the dancer in relation to the rest of the cast.
As Ms. Kirk wrote, being a part of a Greek organization "is something to be proud of and treasure." Well, I am proud to be both a member of a sorority and an active member of the Dance Association productions.
--Becca Ehrlich
Class of '06
I am writing in regard to Tiffany Kirk's opinion piece "Discrimination on campus not an act." As a Dance major and choreographer involved in campus activities, including a sorority, I feel it is important to clear up this misleading opinion.
I want to first state that in no way, shape or form do the Dance or Theatre departments discriminate against students who are involved in campus activities and/or part of a Greek organization.
Yes, the Dance Association asks questions about outside activities on audition sheets. What Ms. Kirk fails to mention is other important questions asked include "Are you auditioning for any theatre shows?" and "Are you in College Choir?"
These commitments are necessary to know for scheduling purposes. Given the extensive nature of the arts at Muhlenberg, rehearsal time slots and venues are at a premium and time flexibility is required.
If a rehearsal slot conflicts with another activity's schedule, obviously the student will not be cast - not because he or she is being punished for an outside commitment, but because being in two places at once is simply impossible.
Of course, just because a dancer didn't get cast in that particular piece doesn't mean other choreographers holding rehearsals at different times won't cast the dancer.
Rather than voice opinion, I'd like to state facts: I have been both cast in shows as a dancer and have cast dancers as a choreographer. Every time I audition, I answer "yes" to the question about being in a Greek organization.
I have been cast in quite a few pieces, regardless of my sorority membership. When meeting with the other choreographers to discuss casting, I very rarely looked at the answers to these activity questions, nor did any of the other choreographers.
The only time the answers were looked at was if the dancer had written an excessive amount of outside time commitments that would hinder rehearsal scheduling.
It should also be noted there are other considerations in casting more important than activity schedules such as technique, height, and look of the dancer in relation to the rest of the cast.
As Ms. Kirk wrote, being a part of a Greek organization "is something to be proud of and treasure." Well, I am proud to be both a member of a sorority and an active member of the Dance Association productions.
--Becca Ehrlich
Class of '06