TrevEchoes Online

By: Matthew Parris

Theater students at Trevecca are hoping to connect with the inner child of their audience with this year’s fall play, “Seussical.”

The Trevecca Communication Studies Department will present the musical Oct. 25-Nov. 3.

The musical is a compilation of the many characters and stories of Dr. Seuss. Specifically, it follows Horton and Jojo, from “Horton Hears a Who,” on their journey to better understand themselves, to better understand what love and sacrifice means and to see the world differently from how they are used to seeing it, said Jeff Frame, professor of communication studies and director of the show.

“I think students who come to see the show are going to enjoy it because it kind of brings out the kid in you,” said Frame. “It gets you back in touch with that childhood, a little bit. It’s playful. It’s imaginative. It’s magical.”

The theater program has a tradition of alternating between light and fun stories and darker, more mature plays every other year. Following last fall’s production of “The Secret Garden,” Frame and they decided to follow up with “Seussical,” a high-energy, feel-good show.

Trevecca performed “Seussical” in 2009, and Frame was intentional about the repeat.

“I thought it might be kind of fun to reimagine that show again with this new group,” he said.

In addition to an infectious soundtrack, the show explores themes of friendship, self discovery, and the distinction between reality and fiction, truth and illusion. It also explores and rebukes the many forms that bullying takes.

Sophomore Cooper Ebel is cast as Horton the elephant.

“Our cast is incredibly talented, and our director has a really cool vision for the direction that he wants to take the show. I think our audience will really enjoy seeing their favorite Seuss stories come to life,” Ebel said.

The cast of 27 spends up to 20 hours a week in rehearsals now and will ramp up to 40 hours a week rehearsing during tech week.

Frame estimates that by opening night, the cast and crew will have dedicated more than 200 hours to design and production.

“Seussical” opens Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., running Oct. 26-27 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 1-3 at 7 p.m., with a Sunday matinée at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children 10 and under, $10 for senior adults and $5 for Trevecca students with IDs.

By: Brooklyn Dance

Last year, when a student needed to speak to Rhonda Lilienthal about housing and later speak with Becky Headrick about CLEP tests, it required visiting two offices in two different buildings.

Over the summer, officials restructured student development, housing it with all other student services in the newly named Center for Student Development in the Bud Robinson Building.

Tom Middendorf, associate provost and dean of student affairs, said combining the departments always made sense, and university officials’ goal was to offer better service to students and become more efficient.

“In the midst of those conversations, we recognized that there was value in both a philosophical and physical combination of these initiatives,” Middendorf said. “We don’t want our student services just to work together, we want them to live together as a cohesive team, thinking about students from a holistic standpoint.”

With serving students being the top priority, Middendorf said conversations with current personnel led to developing a proposal, which was voted on by the president’s cabinet.

The previous student development office, which included Rhonda Lilienthal, associate dean of students for residential life, Matt Spraker, associate dean of students for community life and now Jessica Dykes, associate vice president and dean of student life, joined Campus Chaplain Shawna Songer Gaines in the former Center for Leadership, Calling and Service.

“We now have a bigger picture of the overall student experience when we combine our efforts between what was student development and CLCS,” Middendorf said.

The Center for Student Development now houses first year programs, community life, residence life, community engagement and reconciliation, career services, retention, student employment, community accountability, academic support, disability services, testing services and the chaplain’s office.

“Combining our resources allows us to take a more global perspective on student needs,” Middendorf said. “Our Christian perspective directs the way we serve in each of these areas.”

Jessica Dykes, associate vice president and dean of student development, was excited to be a part of the new system.

“Dr. Middendorf did a wonderful job communicating with me in the midst of the restructure,” Dykes said. “I believe in this structure and truly feel that this holistic model will be beneficial for students.”

Middendorf is confident in the future of the restructure.

“The vision is to establish a center that focuses on the holistic development of college students. At Trevecca, we see learners as more than a mind or an academic major,” Middendorf said. “The outcome is about developing young people and offering the world something unique in the character development of our students.”

Dykes is looking forward to practicing the center’s vision through her role.

“I’m excited about working with the wonderful team of professionals housed within the new Center for Student Development,” Dykes said. “It is my goal to work alongside our staff to understand the ways in which we can enhance the student experience.”

By: Maria Monteros

Overall undergraduate enrollment at Trevecca is the largest in university history, despite fewer freshman than past years, thanks to a record number of transfer students.

For the first time in four years, Trevecca’s freshman class didn’t break enrollment records, dropping 41 students from last year’s record high.

A total of 365 freshmen are enrolled this fall. Despite the smaller freshman class, Trevecca now has total of 1,463 traditional undergraduate students— 36 more than last year.
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