• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1990-01-22_Vol55_No12_01

Serving the students and the Western Carolina University community since 1933 Volume 55, Number 12 Monday, January 22,1990 Cullowhee, North Carolina Ayers acts with show business 'top-guns' Cruise, Duvall, and Quaid in major picture Christine Faris Editor-in-Chief Dr. Stephen M. Ayers, WCU assistant theatre professor, is in the midst of acting alongside well- known show business personalities Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, and Randy Quaid in the major motion picture Days of Thunder, to be released in May. Since this semester's beginning, Ayers has been on location at Charlotte's Motor Speedway portraying a member of a NASCAR racing team pit crew. The filming schedule is taking Ayers to Daytona, Fla. this week and trips to Talladaga, Ala. and Atlanta will soon follow. Cruise stars as an aspiring young Indianapolis-style race car driver who breaks into the NASCAR circuit. Duvall portrays the pit crew chief, and Quaid has the role of the race team's owner. Nicole Kidman, an Australian actress in her American film debut, plays a doctor who falls in love with Cruise when he seeks her medical attention after he is involved in accident. Tony Scott, who directed Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop, is overseeing the film. "This is a real ego thing for me," says Ayers. "I feel fortunate. I've worked 20 years for this. I've done 50 commercials, hundreds of plays, a handful of movies, and countless TV shows. But I don't feel lucky, I feel fortunate. I've been training my whole life to do this." Other movies in which Ayers has appeared include Nashville, The Bermuda Triangle, West of Hester Street, and Destination America. However, he says that none of these previous roles are comparable to his part in Days of Thunder. Initially, Ayers auditioned for the part of a highway patrolman, a relatively small role. However, Scott was so impressed with Ayers that he decided to offer him the role of the pit crew member. Ayers says his reaction was one of excitement. "Won't it be great for a student from Western to go see Days of Thunder at the theatre and be able to say, 'Hey look, there's my acting teacher?'" he comments. "When I've been in movies in the past, I was on screen for such a short period of time that if you went for popcorn, you would have probably missed me. That's not the case in this movie," he says. To date, Ayers has not worked with Quaid, only Cruise and Duvall. "He's wonderful," is Ayers' reply when asked about Cruise. "Tom is so incredibly human," he says. "When -Carolinian photo by Jon fonoow Steve Ayers, WCU assistant professor of speech and theatre arts, is teaching weekends and nights. he's on the set, he always looks to see if people are outside. When a big crowd appears, Tom will charge down the hill, sign numerous autographs, and talk with the crowd. He's just great!" Ayers feels that working on the set with Cruise and Duvall is "a real pleasure." "Both are great pros," he says. "I've been shooting with Tom almost daily, and in the process I've learned more and more about him and have realized what a dedicated young man he is." "For example," continues Ayers, "I had a scene with him just the other day, and the close-up was me. It was shot over Tom' s shoulder, and he did not have to stay on the set. In fact, any stand-in could have taken his place and it would have made no difference to those who will see it in the theatre because only the corner of his blue jean jacket will be seen." "But boy I tell you he came in, gave me his time, and stayed right there with me, insisting on helping me do my lines," says Ayers. "You see, he's just amazing, and he takes acting so seriously." Although shooting the fdm and the traveling involved keep Ayers away from the WCU campus a good part of the time, he has still managed to maintain his full teaching load and his responsibilities with WCU theatre productions. "I come to Cullowhee whenever possible," he says. "Sometimes I hold my classes on Saturdays and Sundays and sometimes we meet in the evenings. Also, I have someone who helps me when I'm not here. But whenever I can get away, I come." Ayers, who estimates that March 20th should bring him back to Bray's actions 'heroic' Shawn Busby Associate Editor A former Catamount is the focal point of a recent legislative assault on gender inequality. Army Captain Linda Bray's leadership in a Dec. 20lh battle with PDF soldiers guarding an attack-dog kennel has raised the oft-debated question of whether women should be allowed to serve in combat roles. This soldier, who weighs slightly over 100 pounds, stands 5 feet 1 inches tall, and once said that there wasn't anything that any [man] could do that she couldn't do, is proving women can and will be on the front lines. In doing so, Bray has prompted Rep. Patricia Schroeder, Democrat- Colorado, to make plans for legislation removing the restrictions on women in combat. According to a recent Washington Post article, Schroeder said she will propose that the Army open some units in all of its military specialties, including currently male-only infantry, artillery and armor units, to women in a four-year test program. "We now have a year in which women have made breakthroughs. There's no such thing as being excluded from combat when you're in a Panama-type of situation," Schroeder said. Legislative ammunition includes the 1989 opening of all combat units, except submarines, to women by the Canadian armed forces, said U.S. military officials. Although she is optimistic, Schroeder does not believe Congress is prepared to repeal the rules against women serving in combat roles. Rep. Beverly B. Byron, Democrat-Maryland, who had scheduled congressional hearings in March to reexamine the role of women in the military, told The Washington Post she is opposed to women serving in combat, even as an experiment. "I don't think women should be the ones shooting their weapons as they are falling out of the sky. I don't think women are capanle of doing that," said Captain Katy Arterburn in a recent Asheville Citizen article. Officials at the White House have praised Bray's leadership. "Gunshots were fired on both sides. American troops could have been killed. It was an important operation. A woman led it, and she did an excellent job," said White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater. Western ROTC student Laura Lambert told a WLOS reporter that female soldiers should serve their country to the best of their ability in any situation. Some military officials argue that placing women in combat roles would hamper the male soldiers. Ben Schemmer, Editor of Armed Forces Journal International, told The Charlotte Observer women would be such a distraction to the males in combat units that they might not accomplish their missions. Schemmer feels the men would try to protect the women instead of firing on the enemy. Columnist Harry Summers recently said America seems to have ended this century on the same note on which it began - discussing the proper role of women in the military. In 1901, Congress established the Nurse Corps as an Army auxiliary, formalizing the role civilian female nurses had played on the battle- fields of the Civil War and the Spanish- American War, Summers said. He elaborated that some 10,000 nurses served overseas with the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. Two were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, America's second-highest award for combat bravery. Reportedly, Bray might be awarded the bronze star, a combat bravery award that could possibly be presented on the WCU campus. According to military sources, Bray was directing her troops by radio from a tactical command center a half-mile away when the firing began near a PDF attack dog kennel believed to be deserted. She rushed to the scene of the battle as soon as she was aware of the fighting, said General William McClain. Reportedly, Bray twice called for the surrender of PDF forces before ordering her troops to open fire. Although early reports listed three PDF soldiers dead. Army officials recently said no bodies were found after the incident. After securing the kennel, Bray's company was assigned to guard the Nicaraguan Embassy in Panama City to prevent Dictator Manuel Noriega from gaining political asylum. According to military sources, the company was often the target of snipers and PDF troops while serving in this capacity. Bray's 988th Military Police Company, stationed in Fort Benning, Ga., was originally sent to Panama for routine security duties under the Army's regular rotation schedule. According to Pentagon reports, none of the 23 U.S. soldiers killed in the Panama invasion were women. Of the 24,500 troops and officers involved in the mission, 600 were females. Bray, known as Linda Parrish - Photo courtesy KOIC Department Bray says she can do anything a man can do. while at WCU, graduated with a B.S. degree in criminology in 1982 and received a B.S. in political science, also from Western, in 1983. Bray's parents, who didn't know about the historical event until Christmas Day, said a career in the military wasn't their daughter's first goal. Bray originally planned for a career in juvenile counseling. She chose the military police because of her background in criminal justice. Bray was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1983, according to Major Leo French, WCU assistant professor of military science. She attended South Granville High School in Creedmoor, North Carolina. In 1978, Bray graduated 36th in her class of 145 students. She played on the basketball team, was active in Future Homemakers of America, the French club, and chess club. Granville High secretary Joy Grady told The Charlotte Observer Bray was very ambitious and liked to be involved. "If any female could lead an attack, she'd be the one to do it," said Ann Ball, secretary in the WCU Military Science Department. President Bush called Bray's leadership "heroic." Cullowhee full-time, is in the process of arranging for his theatre students to visit the set of Days of Thunder. "I would love for my kids from my acting classes to get to go down and watch it in action—the acting, the lighting, all the technical stuff," he says. "I want them to see that it takes three or four or five hours to get one shot lasting 10 to 20 seconds. I want them to get to see the way acting for the camera works and to see why acting for the camera can be such a pain." Ayers feels that his role in a major motion picture, alongside some of the most respected actors in the profession will be an asset to the WCU Theatre Department. "I am receiving amazing support and encouragement form the university," he says. "They have really worked with me on this project and have helped with the difficult scheduling." "I am honored by this opportunity," says Ayers. "But I don't think that anyone from WCU, Cullowhee, Sylva, or westernmost North Carolina should be shocked or surprised that the kind of talent that can get roles like this is here in our part of the country. There is an incredible amount of talent here, and I would say that this is just the beginning of the outside world knowing about it." WCU offers service Michael Jones Associate Editor WCU offers a free service to students called Operation Identification , In a cooperative effort with the Housing Office, Operation Identification is intended to make students' property safer. Gene McAbee, Director of Public Safety, warns that Christmas Break may be nothing more than pleasant memories for students, but there may be a few grinches out there, looking to steal valuable gifts many students received over the holiday. In the operation, an engraving tool is used to mark items such as television sets, cameras, bicycles, and stereos with the students social security number. A form supplied by the North Carolina Department of Crime Control is then filled out and either filed by the Office of Public Safety or held by the student. Jim Taylor, WCU crime prevention officer, advises that students who participate in Operation Identification engrave their driver's license numbers on valuables. According to Taylor, with the aid' of a national computer network, any property discovered by law enforcement authorities may be traced back to its owner using the two-letter state abbreviation and the license number. Having the drivers license number on property makes selling stolen merchandise more difficult. Taylor says, a thief may bypass marked property and choose items that are more easily disposed of. Without some sort of identification, it is difficult to confiscate stolen property from the person who possesses it. Residence hall students should contact their RAs to arrange a time for a Public Safety officer to mark their items. According to McAbee, this is more convenient since the officers can mark more than one student's property in a particular area or hall at the same time. Off campus students should call the Public Safety Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and set up an appointment with Officer Jim Taylor to bring in their property. McAbee says that Public Safety can not go to off campus locations to mark valuables and it will be necessary for off campus students to bring property to the Public Safety Office on the first floor of the HF Robinson Administration Building. SGA makes strides Michael Jones Associate Editor The Student Government Association Senate had its first meeting of the Spring semester Jan. 16th. Items of new business included the constitution of WWCU- FM (Student resolution 1328), emergency generators for WWCU-FM, the Western Carolina University EMS, and Graham Infirmary (SR 1329). The proposed erection of outdoor basketball courts around campus (SR 1330), placing containers for recyclable items around campus (SR 1331), and funding a "safe driver" program (SR 1332) were also topics of discussion. The next meeting of the Student Senate will be Jan. 23rd at 4 p.m. on the second floor of the UC. NEWS PEOPLE / ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS Bloodmobile to visit WCU Jackson Co. Airport vandalism 2 2 AROUND & ABOUT 4 LMP events 4 Coach Strahm resigns Fourth Cat basketball coach 7 7 Letters to the Editor 3 | Student on 1 he Street 3 jSouthern Conference Predictions 8 Player of the Week 8

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1990-01-22
  • Date digitized: 2019-09-24
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • Pages: 10 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1990-01-22_Vol55_No12
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library