page 8 January 31, 1986

The Other Press

Author John Gray spends a week at Douglas.

by JEREMY BLOOM

Playwright, composer, lyri- cist, author, director. It takes a special kind of person to be a sucess in all these fields. John Gray, award winning author of Billy Bishop Goes to War, is special. And he’s coming to New Westminster for a week as Douglas Col- lege’s writer-in-residence.

From February 3 to 8, Gray will be meeting with creative writing classes, holding a number of readings from his work for students and the general public, and holding office hours to which anyone with questions about his work or the field of writing in general will be welcome.

English Professor Maurice Hodgson is enthusiastic about having Gray speak to his writing classes. ‘‘He’s a very important figure in Canadain Theatre, with international exposure,’’ Hodgson says. “It’s great for someone of his stature to spend that length of time at Dougias.’’

Dorothy Jones, head of the drama department at Doug- las,.adds that her theatre students are ‘‘very excited’’ about meeting’ Gray. ‘‘It’s a credit to the College that they’re bringing someone of his talent.’’

Gray is no stranger to Van- couver. After graduating from Mt. Allison University in 1971, he came to U.B.C. to do his M.A. in Theatre, and stayed for seven years. He built his reputation here, as one of the founding members of Tahnous Theatre, where he directed eight plays.

Prez today, hot tamale

SASKATOON [CUP] — The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union no longer has a president.

A motion to change the title

has a bonehead name,”’ Jack- man said after the meeting,

Student council president (now Big Enchilada) lan Wag- ner was not amused.

“We now have a very accessible individual whom student's will be able to come and talk to because he has a bonehead name,”

of the office from ‘’Presi- dent’’ to ‘‘The Big- Enchil- ada’’ was passed at USSU’s 1985 General Meeting in Nov- ember.

The U of S Engineering student Mike Jackman said he put forward the motion to remove some of the mystique from the person bearing the intimidating title of President.

“‘We now have a_ very accessible individual whom students...will be able to come and talk to because he

“I’ve always considered myself to be a pretty ap- proachable guy,’’ the Big Enchilada said. ‘‘How much more approachable do you want to get?’’

Student Council Arts rep- resentative Veronica Dutchek said she urged people to de- feat the motion because few people in Saskatoon take stu- dents seriously, and calling the student council president “The Big Enchilada’ would only make matters worse.

Mike. Fisher, Canadian Federation of Students Sask- atchewan executive rep, said he disagreed with Dutchek.

“1 think I’m in favour of this,’’ Fisher said. ‘‘Anything that can fill up this room for the most boring meeting of the year, | have to vote for. Let democracy be served.’’

The Big Enchilada said the motion was useful because it got a lot of students to attend the meeting, but urged it be defeated because it was ‘‘rid- iculous’’.

The motion was amended by Engineering rep John Melin to give the president the official title of ‘‘The Big Enchilada, professionally know as the President’’ be- cause council could lose its representation on the U of S Board of Governors unless the ‘‘President’’ was included somewhere in the official title.

In 1975 he moved to Tor- onto, as composer and direct- or for Theatre Passes Mur- aille. But he returned to Van- couver and Tahnous for the first production of Billy Bish- op Goes to War, the musical comedy about Canada’s World War | flying ace which established Gray’s internat- ional reputation.

After a highly successful Canadian tour, Billy Bishop played Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Denver Edinburgh, and London, Eng- land. The play won best actor award in New York, and in Los Angeles took both best actor and best play, as well as winning a number of Canad- ian awards. '

His subsequent works _in- clude the 1981 hit Rock and Roll; two children’s plays, Bongo from the Congo and Balthazar and the Mojo Star; You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Die, a farcical thriller; and Don Messer, about the maritime folk band. He has published a novel, Dazzled, a ‘‘comic saga about growing up absurd in the seventies’’, and he has a new

_ BillyBishop goes to Douglas

book, Stage Fright, coming out this year. He has directed over fourty productions, and composed music for another twenty.

Gray will be visiting Doug- las College creative writing classes on Tuesday, February 4 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Wednesday, February 5 from 10:00 to 12:00 noon. A read- ing and discussion at Doug- las’ Maple Ridge Campus on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and at the New Westminster Cam- pus on Thursday the 6th at’ noon in Room 2201 will be two highlights of the, week. Open office hours Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Friday, February 7, from

_ 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., both

days in Room 3307 have been arranged for people to meet and talk with Gray.

While the public is wel- come to all College events, Gray will also be doing two readings in the community; on Monday, February 3, at the Kyle Center in Port Moody, and at the New West- minster Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8.

Full of it

by PINKY HUNJAN Bud Charania, manager for ity agrees that only people at-

Imperial Parking, which runs tending the college should be the Douglas College parking issued cards. iSince Imperial

Building Services and Secur-

facilities, says that they are Parking is handled mainly not going to allow people through the Director of Facil- other than college students ities, Terry Leonard, his only and staff to enter the parking concern is to ensure that they lot anymore—they will be meet the contract between the putting up signs now. college and |mperial Parking. The normal fee for parking — For enforcing their policy, for students is $1.50. Imperial they will be posting a security Parking charges double for guard at the entrance to check persons other than students for student identification. and statt. Presently, they are Although all profits go the becoming stricter with polic- the college, Imperial Parking ies. The manager, Bud Char makes its own policies tor ania, says only the students how it wants to run. and staff will be allowed.’’ : Mr. McCoy was informed ‘They will be building gates at by Bud Charania that the the entrances ‘‘very soon.’’ _ parking lot will be operating on weekends also on a trial He also says that if they basis from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 have passes they can open the p.m. both Saturday and Sun- gates, which means that if day, at Mr. Leonard’s re- another person parks without quest. There doesn’t seem to a pass, he will have to wait be too many people using it until the next morning to pick on weekends, though, so it up his car and pay. isn’t certain that it will defin- Mr. McCoy, manager of ately be staying open then.