• Format
  • Publications (documents)
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  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2013-02-22_Vol78_No12_CampusLife_B05

The Western Carolinian FEATURES Before They Were Educators, Robert Conley Katie Marshall Staff Writer As students, we tend to think of professors as very linear people. They always knew what they wanted to do, and they were too dedicated to bother with anything else, right? Western Carolina Universitys Robert Conley, the Sequoya distinguished professor of Cherokee studies, is . another story completely. He has lived all over the United States, teaching Cherokee studies at near- ly 10 different universities | and writing more than 80. western novels, You might assume, judging by his success as a writer and a professor, that he always knew what. he was doing. He took ' the straight path and had very little trouble along the way. However, that assump- tion could not be further from the truth. Twas born in Cushing, . Oklahoma, said Conley, but I bounced around too much to say [had a hometown at all. By just fifth grade, he had lived in Cushing; Oklahoma City; Tulsa; Norfolk, Virginia; Los Angeles and finally Borger, Texas. T hated Texas, an ley remarked. I was. always thinking about a way to get out. Where I was from in northeast Oklahoma, it was hilly and wooded with lots of _ creeks, streams, rivers and lakes. - Although his pany hardly ever stayed still, they always found time to visit his grandpar- ents. During those visits, Conley was introduced to Cherokee history. _ We used to gather at their house, my uncles and aunts and all their kids, said Conley, and there'd be kids sleeping in pallets on the floor all throughout the house. It was a great time. I used to love listening to my grandfathers stories. My grandparents on - my fathers side were both teachers in the old Cherokee Nation, before Oklahoma statehood, in what was called Indian Territory then, contin- ued Conley. My grandfa- ther especially told a lot of stories about that. Since he was a child, Conley loved Cherokee stories and anything to do with westerns. So what did he want to be when he enrolled at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texasa writer, a historian maybe? When I got into col- lege, I majored in art, a rears ae oe oe ee te WCU News Services The cast has been announced and rehears- als are under way for Tarzan of the Apes at Western Carolina Uni- versity. The show will be performed before a live audience at 7:30 p.m. . Tuesday, Feb. 26, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. In announcing the cast, director Steve Carlisle, associate dean of the Honors College, said the annual radio broadcast re-creation involves stu- _ dents, faculty, staff and regional professionals from many walks of life. - The collaboration is incredible, said Carl- isle. We are working with students, faculty and staff from four dif- ferent departments and three different colleges on campus, plus profes- sional actors and musi- cians from the region. This is an incredible collaborative experience for our students to get to cross disciplines and work with all of these said Conley. Everybody told me to prepare to be a teacher, but I didnt want to be a teacher. I wanted to be a starving artistina garret. Then he decided to change majors and pur-. - sue one of his childhood - dreams: acting. . T grew up watching old western movies, and Iloved them, explained: Conley. My first ambi- ion was to be a cowboy movie star. Later, I. : modified that. I could be a snotty little villain and get killed, and that'd still be fun. For the next several years, drama was the most important thing in his life. He studied all of Shakespeare and played - Othello in his senior year. But Conley didnt end up a starving artist ina garret or an actor in L.A. Right before he gradu- ated; he applied to an English graduate pro-. gram quite by accident, G he said. T was walking down the hall, passing by the English Department. _ office, Conley said. I heard a voice say, Hey, deadbeat. Well, I didnt | see anybody, so I looked in the office. It was the | chairman, and he said, What are you going to do when. you graduate? The chairman sug- gested working for a community theater and directing. Since Conley did not want to direct, however, the chairman said, Well, why dont you apply to graduate school for English and try for an assistantship? Thats the way Ive made a lot of decisions in my life, Conley joked. Someone else suggested something, and 1 said, oh okay. After he completed his | masters, he got his first job at Northern Illinois University. He wrote wonderful people. Behind the complex production is director Carlisle; music director Bruce Frazier, the Carol Grotnes Belk Endowed Chair Professor of Com- mercial and Electronic Music; writer/producer -Don Connelly, associ- _ ate professor and head . of the communication department; and literary researcher Brian Gastle, professor of English. The group started working on Tarzan of the Apes in February _of last year. Thats when Connelly approached Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. with the idea for a new 60-minut radio show based on the 1932 radio serials written by Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs. The group received permission to start on _ the project from Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. in: August, and Connelly im- mediately went to work on the script. As sections of the script were com- See TARZAN, page B6 several poems, a few short stories and one novel while there. T think the reason was just that I was so-miser- able in that area, said Conley. Writing wasa way of taking myself back to Oklahoma and also . back in time. For the next three years, he worked in Springfield, Missouri, but eventually he moved back to Wichita Falls to focus on his writing. T bought a house ahd tried to sell some stuff that I had written, but I had very, little luck that year, Conley said. T took a job on the loading dock of a Dillards department store. Then one day, I got a letter. Tt was the dean at Eastern Montana College, asking him to apply for the Coordinator of Indian Culture position. Thad no idea where that letter came from, said Conley. Iassume that the dean had seen some of my publications . somewhere. In those days; places with Indian studies Yr programs were hiring any Indian with any advanced degree because there were no: degrees i in Indian studies. It was all new. So I had a masters in English, Im a Chero- kee, I had some publica-.. tions, and they hired me. Conley stayed there for a year ahd a half. Then he received a copy of the Cherokee newspaper from home; asking all qualified Cherokee to come back and work for the tribe. Conley left Eastern Mon- tana College and went to work for the Cherokee Nation. There, he met his wife, Evelyn. x When I first met her, she wouldnt even talk to me, Conley said. She , thought there were Chero- kee at home that qualified for those jobs, and she Photo By Chris Ward/STAFF Robert Conley, teaches Cherokee Studies and is WCU's Sequoya Distinguished Professor. didnt know why they had to send for me from Mon- tana,. After working for the Cherokee Nation, Conley also worked for Bacome College as the director of their Indian studies pro- gram, then for Morning- side. College in the same position. Conley said that, although he hated the harsh winter weather, he enjoyed the acting he was able to do with Morn- ingside Colleges. drama department. He was | Norman Thayer in On Golden Pond and the title role in Doctor Faustus. All along, he was pub- lishing books. T think I have a total of: 85 now, said Conley, not altogether sure himself. For the next 20 years, . Conley lived in Oklahoma and wrote until he heard about the position for a Cherokee studies profes: sor at WCU; This is my favorite | place Ive ever lived, said Conley. This is the Coad Cherokee hom wee its a won at ie ful aiaces 16 ties y About his official _ Sosiion as the Seon. - Distinguished Professor, - Conley added, To be hon- est, I dont think anyone knows what it entails. I certainly dont. Im sort of an island, floating around out there. Its a strange and interesting position to be in. Its a little myste- rious. But, its a comfort- - able position for me, all the same. From ballet to Cherokee literature, Conleys path has not been the:straight- est, but he followed his interests and is now a pro- lific writer and Sea iw professor. Sometimes, all you need is an opportunity, the willingness to work anda little bit of luck. Tarzan coming to WCU in February *.. Aries, well and you have been fol. ow CLUES ACROSS 1. Afraid feeling 5. Cause to be embarrassed - 10. A group of hunting animals 14. At some prior time 15. Papier-__, art material 16. Disneys _____ and Stitch 17. College army > 18. Essential oil from flowers 19. Solo vocal piece 20. Bodyguards female star 23, Liz's 38rd husband Mike 24. A weapons emplacement 25. Vast desert in N Africa 28. Fasten by sewing 32. Organic compound i 33. Cooper's Hawk (abbr.) 34. Immerse in a liquid 35. A beatniks abode 36. Utter sounds 38. Used esp. of dry vegetation 39. Live in 42. Metric linear units 44. Indian frock 46. Stand for a coffin 47. The Great Emancipator 53. Brown coat mixed with gray or white 54. Lightly fry 55. New Yorker film critic Pauline 57. European sea eagle $8. Lasiocampidae 59. Another name for Irish Gaelic 60. Droops 61. Clairvoyants . 62. Phonograph record #29) February 22, 2013 BS CLUES DOWN On behalf of . Enough (archaic) Adrenocorticotropin Public recitation Gunsmoke actress Blake Waited with ___ breath ____-Breaky Heart Sacco and Vanzetti artist Ben . Those who inspire others 10. Capable of being shaped 11. Cardinal compass point (Scot.) TV advertising award Zen Buddist riddle Hill (Celtic) Universal standard time Passover feast and ceremony Zanzibar copal ! NE Arizona pueblo people Pith helmet Small trout-like fish Greek hell Herbal teas Struck a golf ball Dash Removes writing Coal laborers Old world, new Mental representation Someone who bites ~ Greek god of war Albanian word for snow Resounded : Solo racing sled Gull suborder. Crimefighter Elliot Albanian A ileiad unit g) g5g259 12. 13. ale eer 25. 26. 27. 30. 31. 37. 38. 40. 41. 42. 43. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. Si. 92. 56. HOROSCOPES | ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 planning is going Jowing through with your - responsibilities. Expect to tweak a few things, in. the - days to come. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, open up to a trusted friend to regarding a signifi- cant decision you have to, make this week. This friend can provide some valuable perspective. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 A barrage of new ideas _makes you a hot item this 4 week, Gemini. Your brain is working overtime and you may be shocked at what you come up with. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, expect to see eye- to-eye with your significant other this week, You will be on the same page and this will help to strengthen er relationship. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, embrace the opinions of those closest to you. Those opinions might dif- fer from your own, but they may also provide you with some important perspec- tive. . VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Try something different this week, Virgo. It may mean taking a new route to work or trying a new food. Try something that is out of your element and you may find you like it. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 You willbe full of energy this week and ready to handle anything that comes your Way, Libra. When you get on a roll, you may find you have some admirers. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, the comjng week may try your patience. Re- lax when the week starts to prove too stressful, and you will make it through the week with your pence of mind intact. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/ Dec 21 Keep listening when oth- ers around you are talking, Sagittarius. You can learn valuable lessons just by keeping a trained ear on the conversation and use. this information later on. ' CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 big plans this week but that doesnt mean you can leave. all other responsibilities by the wayside. If you cant get to things yourself, then del- egate. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, you crave change this week, even if itis some- thing small and mundane. Figure out something you can do on a small level to incorporate change _ into your day. : PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 You may be inclined to help your community this week, Pisces. There are bound to be plenty of places to share . your time. RR Rne ee me a 8{ let | jofsiay bia GS, BA i Level: Intermediate Capricorn, you may have sig | ry)

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)
  • Text
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 2013-02-22
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 11.5"
  • Pages: 12
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2013-02-22_Vol78_No12
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library