The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 15, Ed. 1 Friday, November 20, 1981 Page: 5 of 16
sixteen pages : ill. ; page 20 x 14 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
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Massie outlines field
by Jay Grob
"If history is the study of the
past, then biography is the study of
people who lived in the past,"
explained Pulitzer Prize-winning
biographer and journalist Robert
K. Massie to a group of between
100 and 200 people in the
Chemistry Lecture Hall Monday
night. Massie, who received the
Pulitzer Prize for biography in
1981 for his work Peter the Great
and has also written such notable
books as Nicholas and Alexandria
and Journey, delivered the annual
Ervin Frederick Kalb Lecture in
History with his talk entitled "The
Art of Biography."
Biography when done well, can
combine not only the suspense and
drama of a novel, but also, and more
importantly, can incorporate the
story of one person in a complete
historical context, according to
Massie. And while the limitations
of history do <> permit fewer
freedoms to writers of biography,
Massie admitted that verifiable
history also keeps the biographer
from getting carried away and
ultimately acts as a "safety net of
reality."
The reality of biography is also
what makes it attractive to the
readers. "Good biography is
powerfully seductive, but it is
true," said Massie, adding later
that "It is reassuring to read what
others have ordered and what they
have conquered, even if they only
' have conquered themselves."
Massie also revealed that he
disapproves of the work of
historical novelists like Gore ▼idal
and Norman Mailer because they
create too much outside of the
actual history, especially the
dialogue. He criticized not only
their work but their motivation,
saying "These writers are not after
truth, but effect."
Though Massie has concen-
trated all his biographical work to
date on powerful Russian leaders,
he noted that there is an increasing
trend among biographers to write
on the ordinary man. "Today,
people are not interested in great
men and goodness, but also in little
men and badness," he explained.
Robert K. Massie
But regardless of the subject in a
a biography, Massie insisted the
the biographer's purpose is to
teach, though the teaching need
not always be virtuous. "By
sharing in a person's life, we will
learn something about our own,"
Massie closed.
After the talk, Massie, who is
currently a visiting professor of
history at Tulane University,
announced his intentions for his
next book. "It will not be a
biography," he said. "I hope to
write a book on the Anglo-German
naval race immediately preceding
World War I, and I also want to
spend considerably less time on it
than I have spent on others."
Safety ideas started...
Students to be in commercial
by Robert Morrison
Students rushing to hand in
registration forms Friday
afternoon were redirected around
the walk between Lovett Hall and
the Physics Building to clear the
area for filming of a First City
Bank television commercial.
A film crew hired by the Rives,
Smith, Baldwin and Carlberg
Advertising Agency was at Rice
for about thirty minutes filming a 3
second scene which depicts
Brinkley Sprunt, Stephanie
Schroepfer, and one other student
walking with books in front of the
Admissions Office entrance to
Lovett Hall. The students, picked
by chance as they walked by,-were
offered S15 to appear in the
commercial.
The camaraman shooting the
scene was also the director of
photography for such notable
films as American Gigolo and
Ordinary People, according to
lorn Adkins of the advertising
agency.
Expected first air date for the
commercial is December 26.
continued from page I
councils regarding proper respect
for safety devices," stated Glidden.
Reiterating the importance of
clear hallways, Glidden recounted,
"1 was the second person in the
Chemisty Building after the recent
fire. I couldn't see my shoes even
with a 20,000 candle power lamp.
Believe me, we can respond faster
when bikes and surplus equipment
doesn't block our way in the
dark- and people can get out
faster. We can replace buildings,
but we can't replace people."
Although the implementation of
new OSHA regulations has caused
a backlog in safety equipment
supplies. Samfield prepared a list
of future safety improvements for
the Thresher. Over $10,000 will be
spent for new fire hoses and
nozzles. A new fire escape will be
constructed for the Mechanical
Lab while more fire detection
equipment is planned for
Anderson Hall. A new alarm
system, planned before the recent
fire, will be installed in the
Chemistry Building. The
Chemistry Labs will soon have a
storage area for inflammable
liquids, a chemical decomposition
facility, and special safety cabinets.
Safety showers and eyewash
fountains are planned for both the
Biology and Chemistry buildings.
To counter extinguisher pranks,
Glidden plans to move toward all-
solid "ABC" units that are less fun
to empty.
Tests have indicated that the
lead particulate level in the rifle
range is above permissable levels
during sustained use, so Samfield
hopes to have a ventilation system
installed. Brown College's roof
railings are among improvements
that are not required by law. as are
increased exterior lighting,
defensive driving, first aid courses,
emergency lighting, and sidewalk
pavement leveling.
Dregs, fools,
false alarm...
continued from page I
The "Executive Committee" as
listed on the notice were Grob,
Davidson, political science
Professor John Ambler, electrical
engineering Professor Sidney
Burrus, German Professor Susan
Clark, geology Professor Jean-
Claude de Bremaeker. history
Professor Tom Haskell, chemist
Robert Hauge, Spanish and
Portuguese Professor Maria Leal,
sociology Professor Elizabeth
Long, anthropology Professor
George Marcus, political science
Professor Elizabeth Sanders,
biology Professor Ron Sass, Eng-
lish Professor Meredith Skura,
and mathematical sciences Pro-
fessor Richard Tapia.
Barthelme to lecture
The third Presidential Lecture
presents novelist and short-story
writer Donald Barthelme
Monday, November 23 in the
Chemistry lecture hall at 8 p.m.
Rice writer Max Apple will
introduce Barthelme.
Barthelme. who is currently
Thresher
changes
official
As of October 30, the Rice
Thresher officially became a
Friday paper. Difficulties with
press deadlines forced us to change
printers and adopt our new 16 inch
high format. The paper is now
being printed by The Forward
Times Publishing Company, Inc.,
serving as Distinguished Professor
of English at the niversity of
Houston, won the National Book
Award and the National Institute
of Arts and Letters Award in 1972.
Barthelme's first novel Snow
White, published in 1967. enjoyed
critical success. The Sew York
Times described his latest work.
Sixty Stories, as one of "the finest
examples of art in modern times."
Barthelme's reading is open to
the public free of charge.
ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES
WITH GULF OIL CORPORATION
Gulf Oil Corporation, a major energy company, has job openings for all types of
graduating engineers who are interested in building a career in crude oil and gas
producing operations.
Duties include drilling, equipment installation and maintenance, subsurface reservoir
studies, economic evaluation of producing properties, well stimulation and
reconditioning, and enhanced oil recovery operations.
Training courses will be provided to accelerate career development in oil and gas
producing and drilling operations. Positions are located in the Gulf Coast area.
Excellent employee benefits.
A GULF RECRUITER WILL BE IN THE RICE PLACEMENT OFFICE ON
DECEMBER 2, 1981 TO INTERVIEW INTERESTED PERSONS.
MEDICAL^ CENTER
SECRETARIAT
Term papers
Theses
Dissertations
Word Processing
Statistical Typing
Secretarial Services
Notary
Office Space
S
Nikki Pinto
(7l3i) 790-0947
Fannin Holcomb Building
6900 Fannin. Suite 103
Houston. Texas 77030
CONTINENTAL ANNOUNCES
THE ARMADILLO RARE. '19.99
STAND BY FOR THE LOWEST FARE IN TEXAS.
You're gonna see a lot fewer
armadillos out on the highways.
Because Continental just made flying
around Texas affordable for anyone
who's not in a hurry.
- f Our new Armadillo Fare is good
on nonstop flights from Houston
to Austin. Midland/Odessa and San
Antonio. From there, you can arma-
dillo to another Texas city for another
twenty bucks.
Just show"up at the airport and
stand by for an unfilled Coach seat.
Chances are good you'll get on the
flight you want. You can check lug-
gage. But only one carry-on. please.
While you wait for your plane,
be careful not to sit on what appears
The Proud Bird
to be an unaccompanied leather carry-on.
You Wouldn't want to offend an arma-
dillo, would you?
Good ol' Continental sure wouldn't.
fo Austin: 8:15am. I():55am. 4:05pm. 7:30pm
To Midland/Odessa: 10:40am
loSan Antonio: 7:30am. 10:50am. 7:40pm
Flights subject to cancellation due to
flight controllers' work stoppage.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES#
The Rice Thresher, November 20, 1981, page 5
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Davies, Bruce. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 69, No. 15, Ed. 1 Friday, November 20, 1981, newspaper, November 20, 1981; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245487/m1/5/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.