Indian 1974-03-22

              Alumni Fund Brealcs $100,000 iVIarii
By Carol Giedraitis
With rising costs and the increased need lor financial aid, Siena has established a program to help the college meet their financial requirements.
Over the past four weeks, Siena has been holding their annual fund raising telethon, lor the purpose of raising additional capital lor the college. This year the site for the telethon was the ROTC classrooms here on campus. The telethon was run on a volunteer basis, with alumni, college officials, and students donating their time, efforts and talents toward the telethon's success.
Among the prominent members involved in the telethon, and who worked many hard hours planning and organizing the telethon were, John Obermayer (Annual Fund Chairman), Robert Nolte (Vice Chairman), Arthur Sgroi (Chairman for Personal Solicitation), the directors; Stan
Levine, Victor Dollery, Robert Spore, Gary Perkinson, James Talbot, Michael Roche, and Peter Coffey.
The telethon was a part of Siena's Annual Drive, one ofthe best in the nation this drive in previous years has won the college the coveted U.S. Steel Award. This award is annually presented to a college in the U.S. with marked improvement over previous years of alumni contributions, Siena is one such college. In 1970, before a formal drive was set-up, the total alumni contributions were $10,900, now in a single year and the college drive raising around $140,875. On the basis of contributions in all colleges in the nation, the total average for alumni donations is 18%, Siena's alumni donation average is one of the top in the nation, 49%!
I he telethon goes on for sixteen nights on  campus,   Monday  through Thursday.
There     are     75.000     known     alumni
graduates from Siena. These graduates are contacted at their homes and are asked for dollar pledges. The phones are manned by alumni volunteers from each graduating class as far back as 1941.
I he volunteers work from around 5:30- 9:00, at 5:45 they are served campus cafeteria food, and at around 9:00, the volunteers enjoy a beer or two, donated through Jim Reilly, representative of the Siena College Alumni Association. So for only a small % spent on expenses such as stamps, telephones etc., the net profit for the telethon goes directly to the school.
Although the alumni contributions make up only 3% ofthe college's total income for the year, this 3% is helping keep the cost to the student down, and is uniting the college community of past students, with students now attending. This year in addition to the telethon on campus, the telethon was taken on the road.
In January John Obermayer, Dr. Thompson, and Pat Leonard took the telethon to the alumni, the drive was taken to N.Y. City at the Metropolitan Chapter, which takes in part of Connecticut, and N.J., and they contacted alumni in that area. The telethon was also taken to Washington D.C, and earned about $34,000, Saratoga for $2,000, Rochester for $2,000, and many other major cities.
The point is to reach the alumni and to get them to help fellow students. The telethon also reaches alumni in other countries, such as France, Alaska, the Phillipines, and England. The Alumni Drive this year was a success this year, and the organizers, and contributers hope that the students of future classes will remember Ihe help they are receiving from the alumni now, and will contribute to the fund when they someday become alumni.
The New and the Reborn in the Little Theatre
By KEVIN MAC CARY Staff Writer
As spring attempts its annual run ofthe blockade of winter, the Siena Little Theater is busy refinining two new shows to be presented within the next two weeks.
One of these offerings, "A Little Bit of Ihis and A Little Bit of That," is actually enjoying a return to the stage as a result of its initial success during the September orientation. Directed by and starring Dennis Bizzoco as the Godfather, the satire is based upon the album. "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About the Godfather But Shouldn't Ask." and is presented with minor modifications.
Concerning problems of regaining the original cast. Mr. Bizzoco explained they were minimal with the only vacancies being capably filled by Patti Castaldo and Paul C'eja. While the director bemoaned the lack of personal time, due to his participation in "A New Play" in addition to this .'xpedition, he proclaimed that the overall
talent of the cast is such that time would not prove to be a harmful factor in the show's outcome. Continuing, Bizzoco happily offered his belief that his cast consists of the funniest people in the Siena community. The majority of those who caught this show at the opening of school vvould be quick to concur with this observation.
In the eyes of the director, the most important part of the production is that it offers an hour of zany, absurd, and side pounding humor and still leaves the audience time to patronize other activities, such as the mixer.
Bizzoco made special note of the help afforded by the brothers of Sigma Phi Omega fraternity and in particular the wok of his production manager Michael Gravinese.
From personal observation, 1 can assure the reader, if he is willing to jump into the world of complete nonsense and farce, this show  is well worth your time tonight or
tomorrow night. Presented at 8:00 P.M. each night, this hour of good, hilarious fun is an offer you can't refuse.
While the laughter incurred by this show is still in the air two weeks from now, "A New Play," a tragedy presented by Michael Stringer will strike hard at the audiences conscience.
Since Stringer encountered this work in its Spanish form, he was forced to perform the arduous task of translating it into English and then modernizing it. Written in 1867 by Manuel Tamayo y Baus, "A New Play" revolves around such human frailties as marital infidelity and betrayal. Stringer extremely satisfied with his casting, believes the show will be a welcome change from the light-hearted material usually presented on the Serra Hall stage. As assistant director Jim Ringel pointed out, this play is a "nice opportunity for the Siena community to be exposed to tragedy."
In   contrast   with   the   comedy   to   be
presented tonight, "A New Play" is a serious, thought provoking tale, and as the show this evening, is well worth the attention of the Siena community. While he was reluctant to divulge the plot, the director informed me that it was the ending of the play which impressed him enough to warrant two and one half months of translation.
When questioned about the time factor. Stringer expressed his amazement that he has been allocated only four weeks to stage "a recognized classic of genre." The director informed this reporter <hat, as a result of limited time, the set would remain relatively simple and the cast of seven will mainly wear rented costumes.
Presented at 8:00 P.M. on April 4 through April 8 with an additional performance on April 6 at 2:30 P.M., "A New Play" promises to be an excellent production and is offered for the entertainment of the Siena community.
lake advantage of it!