[Alumni-chat] bob devine and the ampitheatre

[Elizabeth Moloney]

Just have to chime in re: the ampitheatre.... it was repainted and  
renovated a number of years ago.  In addition to the surface graffiti  
you described, there were also structural problems which meant that  
while I was a student, it was declared off limits for use by the  
theatre dept.... I don't know if it was officially condemned by the  
town but we certainly weren't supposed to be using it!

This was prior to the goodman dedication (early 90s).  I went back  
twice after I graduated to be a guest artist and stage manage for  
Louise Smith in the theatre department and the whole thing was in  
much better condition (1998 and 2001).

I'm just curious when you were last there.  Aside from the facts that  
the disintegrating ampitheatre was host to many a great Photo class  
care of Dennie Eagleson, I agree that it was a shame that it got that  
bad.  But it was that bad before Bob was president so you can't pin  
that on him either.

Bob also doesn't have to spend anytime on protecting his legacy as  
the favorite president.  I for one will do that for him and shout  
from the roof tops that he was and is my favorite.    When I started,  
Guskin was president, when I graduated Bob was president and while I  
was a CM,  Crowfoot was president.  Need I say more?

I see the absence of a "tough, clear plan" is the failure of the BoT  
as a whole and the admin that has come along since Bob went back to  
teaching and civilian/non admin life.  From my point of view, the  
rushed instituting of the 5 year plan and "New Curriculum" and the  
pulling out of the rug from the faculty that was quick to follow is  
more to blame.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that post-Bob's  
presidency?

Having jut said "correct me if I'm wrong", if you want to reply only  
to convert me from Devine-fan-dom,  please refrain and let's just  
agree to disagree.

- beth '95





On Aug 1, 2007, at 5:31 PM, J. David Coldren wrote:

> ....I will never forget my deep sorrow when I visited the  
> amphitheatre in which
> I had spent so many happy hours and found it totally trashed; seats  
> missing;
> and the cyclorama marred by graffiti.....
>
> Finally, you take yourself much too seriously and waste valuable  
> time trying
> to protect your legacy as the students' favorite president and  
> professor
> instead of doing what a leader should: promulgate a tough, clear  
> plan for
> fixing whatever problems have you have identified (as well of those  
> others
> have pointed out) and set forth an actionable strategy for  
> implementing that
> plan....
>
>
> J. David Coldren '65