The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 47, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 27, 1973 Page: 2 of 6
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PAQi 2—THE NORTH TEXAS DAILY
Tuesday. November 27,1973
Singer Cites God, Music Career
As Steps to 'Well-Balanced Life’
Arden Hopkin is a dedicated Mormon
and music graduate student who tries to
lead a "well-balanced life and not put all
the emphasis on music."
Besides studying for his master’s degree,
Hopkin is assistant director of the Opera
Theater, a stage director and instructs the
Women's Chorus.
HE WAS also a Mormon missionary in
South America for two years, in prepara-
tion for which, Hopkin said, he saved the
money necessary to pay for the mission.
Hopkin promised to serve God and de-
vote himself to the ministry if “when I got
back, He would help me in my work.
“The promise I made to God more than
worked out,” he added. Six weeks after he
returned to the United States, Hopkin was
cast in the leading role of the Ralph
Vaughan Williams opera “Pilgrim’s Prog-
ress." According to Hopkin, the opera had
never before been performed in the United
States.
BRIGHAM YOUNG University, where
he was a student at the time, was awarded
the rights to do the premiere production.
Hopkin said his performance was also an
important personal triumph since only six
weeks were required for him to build his
voice back after two years of not singing.
While in South America, Hopkin said he
realized that although there are external
differences in societies, people are "basi-
cally just as sincere and interested as Amer-
icans are. I learned that the United States
is not necessarily head and shoulders above
everyone else.”
An Editorial
Coliseum Rent
Due Clarification
The Coliseum is under fire again. After hassles about drinks and eats in
the arena another problem has popped up: rent.
The SAU feels it is having to pay more for Coliseum usage than it should.
The rate schedule passed by the President’s Cabinet lists six categories of
rates charged in Coliseum rental, ranging from unsponsored private use
(highest charge) to university sponsored public service activity (lowest
charge).
If SAU were to sponsor an outside group (as in a concert), the second
highest charge would be made: operating expense plus 25 per cent of that
cost.
Brian Noble, chairman of the SAU Entertainment Committee, believes
the schedule will “lessen the bargaining power" SAU has in getting enter-
tainment groups to come to North Texas.
Marvin Smith, program coordinator of SAU, before the rate schedule
was passed said it would make SAU activities compensate for the loss in-
curred w hen other organizations use the Coliseum free of charge.
When the rate schedule was passed. President Nolen said there was “noth-
ing wrong" with it and that all that was needed was “clarification” of the
Coliseum Committee’s recommendations on prices. He noted that if the
SAU were to sponsor an outside group as in contracting a concert the
charge would be in the second-highest category of the rate schedule.
What the university approves of might get a bargain in Coliseum rental
and what the university doesn't approve of might not get a bargain.
If SAU could pay the price of sponsoring outside groups (the second-
highest rate in the schedule), there might be no problem: SAU would be free
from any kind of pressure the university may offer when it tries to schedule
activities.
By putting SAU activities into a category that would cost more than SAU
has, the university would have at its disposal a fairly effective means of
determining what entertainment groups students would be able to see and
could manage to get great public relations and not-so-great student rela-
tions.
GAIL GILMORE
The North Texas Daily
South Americans were searching
for something on which to build their lives,
he added. “People are academically orient-
ed in the U.S. They think of themselves as
self-sufficient. But the people in South
America are more willing to listen and learn
about God,” Hopkin explained.
Although he had no bad experiences with
religious intolerance in South America, he
said several missionaries of other faiths
were stoned to death.
Hopkin pointed out that while there may
be occasional risks involved in missionary
work, the Mormon Church has added many
converts in its 35 years of visiting other
countries.
“People can see that what we have to of-
fer is good,” he said.
THE MORMON Church also emphasiz-
es the necessity of a strong, cohesive family
unit within the home. "The important thing
about the family is that it does not disinte-
grate after death,” he claimed.
As a result of his belief in a close family,
Hopkin said his wife and two children
Benjy, 2 years old and Sean, 4 months -
have been a stabilizing influence in his life.
“We try very hard to set aside time for
family activities,” he added. “Once a week
we have ‘family home evening’ for family
planning sessions so we can keep closely
together.”
Hopkin admitted that there have been
times when his religious beliefs and family
life have conflicted with his school activi-
ties.
“IT H AS been hard, because of the many
important concerts at the School of Music.
I have ended up missing concerts I would
have liked to attend," he said
“I enjoy my service to God first, service
to family second and singing is third in
line," he added.
Several of Hopkin’s music instructors
have complained to him that he does not
spend enough time with his music.
“They may be right,” he admitted. "But
I do not feel good if I am not well-rounded.
And for me to consider myself well-round-
ed, I must spend as much of my time as pos-
sible with my family. I am not willing to
jeopardize my family for my work.”
BUT HOPKIN also said his religion has
helped him in other ways with his work by
teaching him to use patience and compas-
sion when dealing with people — particular-
ly in stage direction.
“In stage direction, there are two ways
to get people to work," he explained. “You
either instill fear, which gives quick and
immediate results, or you instill a desire
within people to do better.”
According to Hopkin, initiating a desire
in people may take longer but “the results
are more permanent. Every person is basi-
cally good and has the obligation to become
better,” he said.
Hopkin said his faith has taught him that
anger is a “tool to be used very sparingly."
“WE PEEL like if a person's self-image
is improved, we are performing a much
greater service than tearing it down with
angry words,” he said. “We believe we are
children of God with terrific potential."
Last summer he was hired as a staff
member of the Goldovsky Opera Institute
in Wheeling, W. Va.
For two years he was a member of the
professional cast of Casa Manana in Fort
Worth and has also sung with the Fort
Worth Civic Opera.
Music Man
Arden Hopkin, Denton graduate student, is assistant director of the Opera
Theatre, a stage director and instructs the Women's Chorus. Besides his
school activities, Hopkin is a dedicated Mormon and a family man who tries
to lead "a well-balanced life and not put all the emphasis on music."
Gemeral Berry
Somebody Hid the Good News
57th Year
North Texas State University
Denton, Texas
Produced by North Texas State University Printing Office
CHERYL COGGINS TRAVIS McLAUGHLIN
Editor Business Manager
Editorial statements of the North Texas Daily and readers’ letters reflect the
opinion of the individual writer and not necessarily that of the Daily, its adviser
or the North Texas State University Administration.
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PRESS
Represented by National Educational Ad
vertising Services
Two weeks ago, I read in Thursday’s
issue of the Daily that things were really
getting better for Black folks and Mexican-
American folks on campus. The headline
read "Better," the story implied "Better"
and the cutline under the picture said "Bet-
ter.”
“Man, we sho‘ must be having a good
thing here,” 1 told myself. “Boy, it really is
good to know we’re in such gooood, liberal,
academic surroundings, I always knew the
administration would make things better.”
NOT ONLY does this mean that all the
races are socially mixin’ it up in the univer-
sity-oriented functions, but it also means
that the curriculum is programmed with
ALL students in mind. Lucky Us, all those
things combined just have to mean “Bet-
ter!”
With this new "awareness,” and a news-
paper tucked under my arm to prove it, I
walked around campus spreadin’ the good
word to those who wanted to talk about
it, ’cause, you know, this is BIG news.
But when I stopped some of the Black
and Mexican-American brothers and sisters
and told them about the “good news,”
many of them didn’t understand where I
was coming from.
"GEE W HI/, man. that’s what the news-
paper said," I told a group of them. "You
know it wouldn’t lie to us.”
The expressions on their faces let me
know they thought 1 was crazy. "If things
are supposed to be better, then why aren't
they?” a Black student asked. By posing a
question, I could tell right away that he was
gonna be tough to convince, but I had to
try.
“Well...,” 1 said, unfolding the news-
paper, “It says here that things are getting
better. There’s...”
“FEWER THAN five Black instructors
are on campus," he interrupted. “Probably
fewer than that are Mexican-American
faculty members and even fewer than that
are on the administrative staff. So if the ad-
ministration wants to claim they’re righ-
teous, they can forget it. That’s nowhere
near equal percentage of the minority repre-
sentation this campus should have."
His buddy said some of the white instruc-
tors still think minorities are “C” material,
For instance, I pointed out that the
foreign languages we take are to acquaint
us w ith other cultures and if we ever visited,
say, France or Germany, we could feel rela-
tively comfortable. But she just didn't buy
that.
“Look brother, if that’s the case then
Swahili should be offered under the same
assumption,” she said. “The administrators
aren't fooling Black students with that
PR."
Her girl friend overheard our conversa-
tion, walked up to me and asked me did I
know anything about the courses on cultur-
fBoy, it really is good to know we’re in such
gooood, liberal, academic surroundings. I
always knew the administration would
make things better.”
EPA Decision
In Realization
Causes Setback
of JFK Library
By The ASSOCIATED PRESS
A month before his assassination. Presi-
dent John F Kennedy gazed across a dusty
subway yard near the Harvard dormitories
and made a decision: he wanted his presi-
dential library built there.
Ten years later, subway trains still
screech into the repair yard. And the library
that will hold his presidential papers, rec-
ords and memorabilia is a plastic model in
an architect's office
D1 RING THOSE years, the library has
been stalled by the city people and the
chummy politics of their ethnic neighbor-
hoods, the same medium that brought Ken-
nedy to power. Original plans called for a
1966 opening.
With luck, the library could be finished
by 1976. Though it’s still a long shot since
the Environmental Protection Agency ruled
that ground cannot be broken until the
developers figure out a solution to the
touchiest problem of all how to keep the
I V2 million visitors expected during the
first year from polluting the air and over-
running the city.
Another problem was the uproar over
where to relocate the subway yard Nobody
wanted it. Now that’s settled and it’s been
replaced by a new controversy: People are
saying they never really wanted a $27 mil-
lion tourist attraction in a crowded student
shopping district.
EVEN AT Harvard, alma mater of the
president, his father, brothers and the libra-
ry architect, reaction to the complex ranges
from guarded optimism to outright hos-
tility.
As a repository for the documents of the
Kennedy years the 8.7 million pages of
White House files, 2,1 million pages of
Democratic party records and 1,326 reels
of taped interviews the location seems
perfect. It is surrounded by Harvard and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
two of the most prestigious universities in
the world.
Many local people seem pleased by this.
It will complement the existing university
libraries in Cambridge and be a retreat for
scholars.
Bl I I HE museum, the public collection
of presidential whatnots that presumably
will attract millions of Kennedy followers,
has them worried. The site is a block from
Harvard Square, a bumper to bumper inter-
section lined with bookshops, hifi stores and
exotic restaurants.
“The library, yes. The museum, no,”
said the Rev. Richard J. Shmaruk of St.
Paul's Roman Catholic church around the
corner on Mt. Auburn Street.
“The museum is going to be the focal
point for the environmental problems,” he
said. “It’s going to cause the tourist influx.
It’s going to bring in the traffic. To get this
thing built, the museum will have to go.”
The complex will house both the John F.
Kennedy School of Government and the
Institute of Politics.
“THERE ARE damned good reasons to
be afraid of it,” said Donald Moulton, a
Harvard assistant vice president for com-
munity affairs. “We’re very concerned with
developments in the city and in our own
neighborhood. They’re bound to affect the
way of living around here.”
The university is still waiting to see how
developers handle the traffic and pedestrian
problems and what to do with the commer-
cial property.
“If all the questions can be answered,
we're for it," said Moulton.
and if students approached the matter,
they’d just might get a “D.”
RIGHT AWAY 1 knew this was gonna be
a long day, trying to convince people that
this was a haven and a utopia in America’s
pathetic academic wilderness.
I walked a little further and spoke to a
Black sister. When I asked her what she
thought of the race relations on campus,
she laughed as if she had heard a very old
and asinine joke. 1 showed her the paper.
“Well, according to this, I’d say things
are getting better,” she said. Whew, I final-
ly found a friend, or at least that's what 1
thought until she talked on.
“BUT THEN again, they aren't," she
said. “Everytime I read an announcement
about a student function on campus, it’s
geared toward one culture white. Earl
Scruggs, Willie Nelson, Nitty Gritty Dirt
Band hell, man, can’t you see it yourself?
“The administration and staff talk about
how they’re programming student social
functions for all students, but if it weren't
for Black Greek organizations, we wouldn’t
have any activities to attend. That goes for
Mexican-Americans too.”
1 interrupted her because 1 thought she
was getting off the track. "Those white ad-
ministrators and faculty members are liber-
al,” I told her. "They know what we need
to learn their culture, European cultures
but not our own.”
al dances. When 1 answered no, she explain-
ed that the university offers folk dances and
modern dance but nothing in the way of
folk dances related to African or Black
American cultures (earlier, a Mexican-
American sister said flamenco folk dances
weren’t offered). “If this place is so ‘pro-
gressive,' " she added, "where are they
hiding it?”
“LOOK," 1 said, “it says right here in
the paper that this place is gettin' better.
You two just don’t understand.”
“If you think this place is doing some-
thing for all students," she retorted, "go
peddle that garbage somewhere else. I
know better.”
Whatever’s wrong with them was beyond
me. They just couldn't see how much better
we are today, especially with the good news
in the paper. Didn’t they believe it?
I decided that my problem might be that
I only talked to women and neglected to
talk to some of the men on campus. But
when I approached some of them, they too
needed to be convinced. “Look blood," I
told them, "1 know what you’re thinkin',
but...didn't you read today's paper?”
“YEAH, BUT I’ll break it down to you
like this," one said. "The courses this uni-
versity offers in the way ol Black studies
aren't required. So that means a lot of stu-
dents Black, Mexican-American, and
white won’t be required to learn about
Black contributions in either American
history or literature. As far as Em con-
cerned, why shouldn't whites learn more
about our accomplishments in school when
we have to learn about Columbus, bigoted
Lincoln and Shakespeare?”
Damn, I’ve never talked to such crazy
people. They think this place ain’t worth a
hot rock and I’m trying to tell them to read
the paper and find out just how wonderful
this university is to its minority population.
But as it stood, everyone 1 asked felt that
little or nothing was being instituted by the
otherwise perceptive administration. The
neglected part of the third estate felt that
this university, where intellectual masturba-
tion takes precedence, has given itself a
candy-coated paint job signifying change
while remaining just as sour to change as
ever.
THE MORE I asked students, the more
the good news seemed lo be “regular news
Even the campus liberals looked bad.
“Quite a few white students pretend to he
liberal, but many of them are just as biased
as their folks, bigots to be exact,” a Mexi-
can-American brother explained. "They'll
just try to be more subtle and cunning when
they approach us. Either they’ll take a little
longer to tell you about their best friend
who just happened to be Black or Mexican-
American, or they'll ask you to speak lor
‘your group.’ ”
"A lot of the so-called liberals sure were
angry when they heard the Homecoming
queen was Black," another student com-
plained. "If it weren't for a few straight
whites and the Black students, the queen
wouldn't have been given all the pomp and
circumstance she was supposed to receive
at the game.”
A FRIEND of his added that since the
Center for Ethnic Affairs was established,
administrators would slowly creep back
from any “newsworthy" improvements.
“Nonsense,” I said. "Just look at what
they've done. It's all right here in the pa-
per.”
By the day’s end, I was tired of attempt-
ing to convince people that the campus had
“better” race relations. On Friday, I
thought I’d inquire one more time.
“YES, RACE relations are better." a sis-
ter said, "because the administration is
better at hiding racial problems. They ig-
nore them and so you don’t see them That's
why relations are better.”
I couldn't take it any longer I quit
spreading the good news and went home
As I walked, 1 figured that since there
were no Willie Nelsons playing tonight, I
could finish my French lessons (look out,
France) in time to go to the Qs' parts
gort
Well, here we
are, Masters
of the Animal
World’.
Vep. MAN, a
defenseless,
unimposing,
Slow-moving
two-legged
creature.
And we didn't Nope yet,
have even a today, even tfi
chsrrcefbcxt, fiercest animal
against gives us a wide
wild berth when they
predatorsT see us.
T]
Sabre toothed
tigers cave
bears eventh'
tyrannosaurus^
all have fallen
tousT
t
We've whipped
'em all’ Thing
is, there's no
challenge left,
noonetogive us
a good fight’
- ,
I
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The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 47, Ed. 1 Tuesday, November 27, 1973, newspaper, November 27, 1973; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth723686/m1/2/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.