Take it easy on Witness Theater
I think many reviewers of the Witness one-act showcases miss the point when they come to see the show. Of course when you pay to see a show you expect wonderful writing, directing and acting but in the case of Witness Theatre you are also there to experience something special. Witness is around to allow students to enter the world of theatre and learn what it is all about. For many of the writers, actors, and directors it is their first time doing these jobs. Most audiences understand that they're not there to see a professional show, but to watch students have an opportunity to try something new and have fun. If it wasn't for Witness I would have never started acting and as I get more chances on stage I improve.
I think the N-L should give students chances to try something new and improve without being humiliated. I wonder if Vincent Devlin's (the most recent critic) first few works of writing "left many in the audience disappointed" or if he is just naturally talented. As much as I appreciate his thoughts on the acting and writing I think he should relax a little bit on bashing some actors and playwrights and give them a chance.
Angelo Santiago, "05
Read ACLU's petition carefully
Recently, the Johns Hopkins American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been circulating an online petition asking student council to take action in refuting the Patriot Act. As of Nov. 22, 500 people had signed this petition, no doubt because they believe Bush's US PATRIOT act to be an infringement on civil rights and liberties. If students had read the ACLU's petition before signing it, however, they would see that their proposal is both absurd and unreasonable.
The Johns Hopkins Resolution to Protect Civil Liberties is not only extreme, but dangerous. Among other things, it calls for Student Council, Hopkins administration and Hopkins security to refuse cooperation with any federal or state investigations of individuals at Hopkins. Furthermore, the proposal calls for Hopkins to disconnect all of its video surveillance equipment, hindering its right to maintain its own security. Finally, the proposal calls for Student Council to maintain and publish a list of all persons and property being investigated by the federal government.
The ACLU is not just fighting against PATRIOT Act, as it would have the signers of this petition believe. The ACLU is fighting against the schools right to protect its campus, the students right to live in a secure campus and ironically (seeing that the ACLU has defended privacy more consistently than any other organization) the ACLU is fighting against privacy of students and teachers at Johns Hopkins.
It is okay to be anti-PATRIOT act, but I ask the students, as well Student Council to carefully read over the ACLU's proposal before signing such an atrocity into law.
Marc Goldwein, "07
