Speech Drama, Debate Groups Remain Very Active .One of several speech and drama related clubs on campus was Alpha Psi under the spon· sorship of Chuck Parker and Robin Miller. By invitation only, the club increased their membership through an initiation process which involved the recitation of 12 lines of Shakespearean dialogue and the Greek alphabet. Other requirements included participation in at least two major productions and attainment of a 2.5 grade point average. Harding 's chapter of Alpha Psi , a national honorary dramatic organization, contained approximately 20 people who were actively involved in the drama department. ~ PI Kappa Delta maintained their reputation as an active honor fraternity on the national level. The Arkansas Zeta Chap· ter was again active in their in· tercollegiate competition. The organization was under the sponsorship of Dr. Evan Ulrey, chairman of the Speech Department and Dr. Patrick Garner, assistant professor. According to Dr. Garner , "Pi Kappa Delta focuses on promoting excellence in all levels of forensic ac· tivity which includes various forms of debate. individual events like interpretation of prose, poetry, extemporaneous speaking and many others." The main thrust of the organi· ation was collegiate competition but PKD was also active with campus programs_ They sponsored a high school invitational tournament in the fall and also provided the student body with "news notes," a three minute run-down of national news announced periodically through chapel periods. Pi Kappa Delta members also judged various high school student speech competitions including the American Legion Oratorical Contest. In April, the members attended the regional tournament held in New Orleans, La. Requirements for membership included participation in seven rounds of individual event and eight rounds of 112· Speech debate competition along with taking a national standard test given to Pi Kappa Delta members as part of their initiation.~ Through the years, Campus Players, the oldest organization on campus, has maintained a stableness in their membership participation. Of the ap· proximately 30 people involv· ed, Robin Miller, co-sponsor with Charles Parker said, "The size that the organization has grown to tends to remain stable and constant; it has a steady growth pattern and I am pleased with that. " Activities of the organization not only included the general work in stage productions such as lighting, acting, publicity, student directing, and setbuilding, but also participation in several chapel programs throughout the year. "The chapel programs along with all of their activities, provided a means for the Campus Players to gain experience performing - Darrell Truit!
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==