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ENMU Presenting 'Whose Life is it Anyway?' Story and photos by Robin Haislett Communication Services “I have hard-working, talented and committed actors."                                                                                                                         – Janeice Scarbrough

Eastern New Mexico University will show its theatrical talent with the performance of the play “Whose Life is it Anyway?” at 7 p.m. on April 22-25 in the studio theater of the University Theatre Center. Tickets are $4 at the theater box office.

Professor Janeice Scarbrough, chair of theatre and director of the production, says they have been working on something completely new. “This will be the first time we will be performing theater in the round.  We’ve had the shop build another section of seating so that the audience will be on all sides of the stage.”

The play is about a woman who must struggle with the question, “Whose life is it anyway?” After she is in an accident and is confined to a hospital bed, she comes to grips with her own mortality and her desire to leave the world in the way she chooses. Her doctors and caretakers oppose her and a legal battle ensues.

Ms. Scarbrough chose this production because it makes the audience leave with some pressing questions.  “It really makes you ask a lot of questions about yourself and the forces around you. Like does the government, your doctors or your insurance company have the right to make decisions about your well-being,” says Ms. Scarbrough.   “I hope the audience will see all the sides of the characters’ arguments and make their own decisions.”

The lead role of Claire Harrison is played by Mackenzie Kennedy, a freshman theater performance major from Lubbock, Texas. Other performers are freshman Jessica Eaker from Farmington, Christopher Montoya from Clovis, Andy Kastelic from Los Lunas, Jeremy Gardels from Portales, sophomore Michelle Smith from Taos, Dr. Anne Beck from Portales, Bo Adkins from Albuquerque, Jeffrey Darnell from Carlsbad, and Samantha Fields and Jennifer Conlee from Lubbock, Texas.

After rehearsing for a month, with only a recess for spring break, Ms. Scarbrough is impressed with the maturity of her mostly-student cast.  “I have hard-working, talented and committed actors.  The lead is an 18-year-old freshman who has landed the role of a lifetime. Eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds don’t often ask themselves what would it take to end my life.  She is mature enough to wrestle with those questions.” The original version of the play has the lead role as a male.   Years ago it was adapted into a female version with Mary Tyler Moore.  Along with this variation, there were some roles which were originally meant for men and were turned into female characters.

The new addition of seating to the studio theater has been a challenge, but it’s a good challenge, says Ms. Scarbrough. “This forces the students who are designing the set, lighting and my blocking the movement of performers around the stage to think about how it will be seen by all four sides. And here’s an added challenge: the main character is in a hospital bed.  But that’s the great thing about our department, if you want to design costumes, do lighting or set design, you get to do all of that.”

For ticket information, contact Shirlene Peters at 562.2711.

Moon Tree with Birds

In Front of Monday Memo Editor's House – Since he didn't have a shotgun handy, Wendel Sloan recently shot these birds with his camera in front of his house on S. Ave. A in Portales.

This is the disguise he wore to sneak up on the birds.

Professor Uses Hundred-Year-Old Equipment Story and bottom photo by Erin Griffith Communication Services "It took nearly 15 years to create the computer animation major.” – Greg Erf

Greg Erf, professor of art at Eastern New Mexico University, lives in the modern world and fights a battle every day to stay up-to-date with changing technology; however, he still gives a nod to the past through his own personal art. Eastern hired Mr. Erf in 1988 to put together an animation program.  When I came for my interview “I remember thinking there was no way a small institution would buy such high-end computer animation equipment, even the large instutions did not have such equipment.

I ended up missing the new faculty orientation because I helped unload the truck with the new animation equipment and installed it at KENW. It took nearly 15 years to create the computer animation major,” Mr. Erf said.

When he started teaching, Mr. Erf generally taught three photography and one computer animation class; today, because of the changing industry aand student interest, he teaches three computer animation and one photography class.

Mr. Erf said that he is most proud of his work with the animation program because it has placed students in careers all over the country.

“With the media expansion, there are 500 channels coming into your home along with the web and someone has to fill that content, and those someones are Eastern students. I think the program is a good example of how our school focuses on student success,” said Mr. Erf, who is also developing a national reputation in both the photographic arts and animation arts.

Curently, Mr. Erf has his computer art traveling around the world as part of DomeFest 2008, an International Festival of film, art and animation sponsored by the International Planetarium Society. Mr. Erf was one of
13 international finalist juried by an international panel of planetarium artists and directors. DomeFest 2008 is being shown internationally at planetariums around the world that include the following cities; Chicago, USA, Jena, Germany, United Kingdom, Montreal, Canada, San Francisco, USA, Norrköping, Sweden, Plymouth, UK. and numerous other cities worldwide have hosted this world-acclaimed Festival.

Mr. Erf displays his photography at Linda Durham Contemporary Art in Santa Fe. He currently has works at the Salon Mar Graff Photography 2009 Exhibition. He is also has photographic work in these permanent and public collections: State of New Mexico, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, N.M., Albuquerque Museum of Fine Arts, Albuquerque, N.M., Capitol Art Collection, State Capitol, State of New Mexico, Santa Fe, N.M., and the Center for Experimental and Perceptual Art, Buffalo, N.Y. When it comes to computer animation and teaching, Mr. Erf said he “spent all my free time trying to keep current; I’m a total gear-head.” However, in his personal photography, he uses a 100-year-old camera. The negatives are 11 by 14 inches. “I get a lot out of using old processes – in a way, it has made my work stand out. Everyone does digital, so my work has been elevated with the advent of computer technology,” he said. Mr. Erf has also been a member of the Portales Main Street Project committee for over a decade. He says that is a way for him to give back to the community and to bring the University and community closer together.

The idea of the Main Street Project is that if communities improve their downtowns, more businesses will come into the community andeconomic development will ensue. Thus far, the committee has raised $950,000 for the restoration and renovation of the YAM theatre.

“The idea is to create a multi-purpose theatre to stage events and to encourage other businesses to come in downtown,” Mr. Erf said.

The committee wants to create a walking trail between the ENMU campus and downtown and give people a reason to go there.

Printer Enters Bataan Death March Memorial
	Steve Blakeley, director of University Printing Services, and one of his Taekwon-Do Black Belts, Miguel Galley from Clovis, recently entered the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range near Alamogordo, N.M. The march is in honor the veterans killed in the Philippines during WWII and those who currently serve and die for our country, according to Steve. Six of the Bataan survivors, all in their 80s, shook the racers' hands as they crossed the finish line. This was the 20th year of the event. There were 5,300 entries from all 50 states with an additional nine countries represented. This is a 26.2 mile walk or run through wind and sand and is considered one of the roughest marathons in North America. Steve and Miguel walked the route in eight hours and 56 minutes – not a record by any means, but they did finish.
Steve Blakeley and Miguel Galley

Open Reception Today to Meet Third Basketball Coach Candidate – There will be an open reception with head men’s basketball coach candidate Greg Young from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 20, in the Pecos Room of the Campus Union Building. Everyone is welcome.

Young has been the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas, for four years and has 23 years experience in coaching basketball. In the 2008-09 season, he guided the Jaguars to a 21-win season. Prior to his stint at JC, he served as recruiting coordinator at Texas State University for five seasons, helping to guide the Bobcats to five consecutive Southland Conference tournament appearances.

Young was an assistant at ENMU under Earl Diddle.

Two Basketball Coach Candidates Visit

Two candidates for ENMU's head men's basketball coach have visited so far in public receptions in the CUB. They are: (above on right) Andrew Helton, assistant coach at South Alabama, and (below in center) Richard Davis, head coach at St. Joseph's in Indiana. The search committee is chaired by Dr. Donald Elder III. (photos by Wendel Sloan)

Roswell Native Enjoying Simple Small Town Life Story and photo by Roma Vivas Communication Services

Debralynn Soza, a 20-year-old Roswell native, did not plan to come to Eastern New Mexico University when she graduated from high school, but her plans changed during her senior year. “I was planning on going to the Air Force, and my mom asked me to look into better options,” Ms. Soza said. During her senior year she decided to follow her mom’s advice.  She thought of going to UNM, but the idea of being close to home was more appealing.

“I fell in love with the university.  It was pretty; I like the vibe, it was not too big, it was perfect,” Ms. Soza said.
                                                   
The public relations major has found at Eastern not just a place to further her education, but also a close group of friends in Chi Omega.

“In my sorority I have a second family; there is always someone there to laugh and cry with,” Ms. Soza said.

Apart from enjoying her college life with her sorority sisters, Ms. Soza also has found the opportunity to be involved with the university’s Associated Students Activities Board, where she is currently the entertainment coordinator.

“I have had the chance to be a leader; if I was in a bigger school it would be difficult to be coordinator in a student organization.  This is also helping me in building my resume in event planning,” Ms. Soza said.

Ms. Soza also works as a University switchboard operator.

The 2007 Roswell High School graduate plans to continue enjoying college at ENMU before starting a career in event management.

Zeta Tau Alpha Raises Money for Cancer Education (photos by Petra Gonzales)
Raise Over $1,500 – Zeta Tau Alpha had 94 runners and walkers on Saturday and raised over $1,500 for brest cancer awareness and education. Winners were as follows: Runners: 1ST Jonathan Tafoya 16:27:45 2ND Thomas Michael 16:40:08 3RD Matt Miller 17:32:80 Walkers: 1ST Mandie Balderaz 35:32 2ND Autumn Donner-Latham 36:15 3RD Alan Kinland 37:38

Nontraditional Students Sponsor Eggpalooza (photos by Petra Gonzales, Esthela Banuelos and Kayla Pronovost)

Farewell for Tony Allen

Waiting for Cake to Arrive – Tony Allen (center), Sodexho manager, was treated to a farewell reception on Friday in the SAS Building. (photo by Robin Haislett)

ENMU Student Competing for Miss New Mexico

ENMU graduate student and COMM 102 instructor Desirée Markham was recently crowned Miss Zia 2009 in Albuquerque. She will now compete for the title of Miss New Mexico in Alamogordo on May 30-June 6. As a requirement of competing for Miss New Mexico, she is selling $5 raffle tickets for a weekend stay at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Santa Fe. The proceeds benefit the Miss New Mexico Scholarship Organization. In addition, she is required to solicit donations for Children's Miracle Network, the national platform of the Miss America Organization. If you would like to buy raffle tickets or contribue to Children's Miracle Network, please contact Desirée at desiree.markham@enmu.edu.

Scenes from Bucky Covington Concert (photos by Robin Haislett)

Charreada Rodeo

Sponsored by Hispanic Affairs and ENMU rodeo (photo by Daniela Garcia)