eaR, Of ltdell/tr

helps create a dynamic campus

HILBERRY
THEATRE

2008-2009
SEASON

www.hilberry.com

October 3 - December 13

by Sarah Ruhl

A modern twist to a classic tragedy
of Orpheus, a man who goes on a
rescue mission when his beloved
Eurydice dies. As he ventures into the
underworld to retrieve her, he charms
the gods with his sweet music and
is eventually granted permission to
visit her and bring her back. Can he
find and bring her back or will he lose
her forever? This moving piece will
compel audience members to explore
their own beliefs about true love,
life, and death.

October 24 - January 24

by William Shakespeare

Foul play, power struggles, and love
invade the life of a young prince
trying to deal with the death of his
father, the deception of his mother,
and the deceit of his uncle. Standing
the test of time, Hamlet ensures an
evening of shock, entertainment,
and excitement.

November 14 - March 14

by Tom Stoppard

Misadventures and musings ensue as
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two
minor characters from Shakespeare's
Hamlet, focus on their activities with
the events of Hamlet as background.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
is structured as the inverse of Hamlet;

the title characters are the leads, not
minor players, and Hamlet himself
has only a small part. This play will
constitute the second part of a two-
part series that begins with Hamlet.

)

January 9 - April 11

by Carson Kanin

Harry Brock, an uncouth, corrupt
tycoon, decides to bring his showgirl
mistress with him to Washington,
D.C., in this mid-twentieth century
comedy about political corruption
and vice. Brock's girlfriend becomes
educated through her new tutor,
hired by her boyfriend, and starts to
realize how crooked he really is. Soon
she is interfering with his plans to
"buy" a few Congressmen.

When you visit David Strauss'
office, be careful where you sit.
The dean of students at Wayne
State University may just get
you with his remote-controlled
whoopee cushion.

"I try to make my office
animated and interesting. It
helps to break the ice with
students," said Strauss.

And while his assortment of
SpongeBob SquarePants toys
and Bruce Springsteen
posters testify to Strauss'
playful demeanor, fun
programs are a serious
business for the Office of
the Dean of Students.

"Students will be
much more successful
if they're connected
to the university," he
said. "Our job is to help
make that happen by
facilitating activities and
organizations they want
to get involved in."

Of course, the first thing
students should expect
from a university is a
top-notch education that
engages them in the
classroom, Strauss said.
But he asserts that they
should also be looking for
engagement outside the
lecture hall.

everything from poetry
readings to political discussion
groups to career networking
events. "Because we have
such a diverse student body at
many different stages in their
lives, we have diverse offerings.
Everybody can find something
to get involved in," Strauss said.

even "meeting" Student
Council candidates can all be
initiated online. And the office
has a Facebook page. "Students
don't limit their business from
9-to-5, so we shouldn't either.
We have to be available when
it's convenient for them, even if
it's at 3 a.m."

The Student Council
Programming Board plans
events like movie nights,

A Rockville, Md., native,
Strauss studied economics as
an undergraduate at Bucknell
University. He earned a
master's degree in student
personnel administration
from Indiana University
and a PhD in educational
policy and leadership from
Ohio State University. He
was the associate director
of the Honors & Scholars
Center and was leadership
coordinator for Greek
affairs at Ohio State for 11
years before coming to
Wayne. He has also been
an RA, an admissions tour
guide, and was involved
in student activities,
student government, and
fraternities as a student.

Not surprisingly, Strauss'
professional motto of
"think locally, act locally"
carries over to his personal
David Strauss: "Because of our location, there
life. He is president of
are lots of internship, job and volunteer
the men's club at his
opportunities here that aren't available at
a lot of other schools."
synagogue, Adat Shalom;
vice president of his
"Are there groups I can become
neighborhood swim club,
comedy jams and poetry slams,
a part of? Are there activities
Woodbrooke
Hills; and chairs
giving students a reason to
on campus? Is there a vibrant
the
board
of
the
Southeastern
"hang out" on campus. "We
local scene with lots of things I
Michigan
Blood
Services
are moving toward an all-day,
can do, places I can go, people
Regions of the American Red
all-night student body because
I can learn from? We have all
Cross. Strauss also spends a lot
of our events on campus,"
of that," Strauss crows. "And,
of time "schlepping" his active
Strauss said.
because of our location, there
kids, Nate, 13, and Caroline, 8,
are lots of internship, job, and
Establishing traditions that
around their Farmington Hills
volunteer opportunities here
connect students to the
community with his wife, Amy.
that aren't available at a lot of
university and create memories
"I believe in giving back and
other schools."
is another of Strauss' goals.
getting involved. It's not just
Homecoming has gone from
Since arriving in 2002 as the
my job," Strauss states. "I try to
floats
and a football game to
first dean of students in more
teach
students
a weeklong celebration with
than 30 years, Strauss has
through
;
activities and events. "Our
worked hard to create a lively,
example. Be a
New Student Convocation has
dynamic campus.
role model."
become a fixture and events
Today, there are a record
like the Late Night Breakfast
SpongeBob
230 student organizations at
during finals week are becoming
would be
Wayne, up from 140 when
something the kids really look
proud.
he arrived. Ranging from the
forward to," Strauss said.
Check out
Albanian American Student
Strauss has also taken his office
what's going
Organization to X-M.A.C.
electronic, to provide access
on in the Dean of Students Office
(Extreme Mixed Martial Arts
and resources 24/7. Event
at doso.wayne.edu .
Club), these groups sponsor
registration, award nomination,

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