HRDC Elects New President; Club May Restrict Membership

The Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic club (HRDC) elected Elizabeth A. Maguire '80 president of next year's board and six other students to board positions.

Maguire said yesterday next year's board plans to restructure the club, possibly by limiting gen4eral membership and expanding the board to include the more active students involved in drama. HRDC membership is currently open to any undergraduate involved in theater at Harvard.

Maguire said she regretted restricting membership, but added it was necessary because "the HRDC will be the guiding force at the Loeb next year and needs to be a tight group."

Samuel J. Bloomfield, HRDC member, said yesterday the club will need to be an "active nucleus," in order to preserve the role of students at the Loeb if Robert S. Brustein, dean of the Yale School of Drama, is appointed director of the Loeb in 1980.

The six new board members besides Maguire include Derek McLane '80, teasurer; Maddy DeLone '81, corresponding secretary; Eric Cornwell '80, secretary to the Ex Theater; Leo-Pierre Roy '79-2, staff liaison and Jonathan A. Prince '80 and Sally Randolph '81.

The board members elected yesterday afternoon will assume their positions in February.

Kerry L. Konrad '79, president of the HRDC, said yesterday the HRDC selected a "more loeb-oriented board" this year in an effort to counterbalance the negative effects the HRDC believes Brustein may have on undergraduate productions if appointed director of the Loeb.

The HRDC voted last month to reject Brustein's proposed undergraduate drama program, which would bring the Yale Repertory Theater to the Loeb under Brustein's direction.

The HRDC has voiced disapproval over Brustein's professional approach to the theater, which they believe will discourage all but the most serious drama students from participating in Loeb productions.

The HRDC also objected to Brustein's proposed cutback in stage time allotted to undergraduate productions. Brustein's proposal would reduce student productions from seven to four annually.

Konrad said the HRDC added the position of treasurer to oversee the club's new budgetary system, starting next year. Under the system, the HRDC will e financed directly through the standing Faculty Committee on Drama. In the past, the HRDC received its funds through Douglas Schwalbe, managing director of the Loeb, Konrad added.

"One thing we do not want is to have our money dispensed through Brustein's managing director. It's a question of dependency," Konrad said yesterday.

The staff liaison will act as the link between the HRDC and the Loeb staff, Konrad said. The liaison's duties will also include overseeing undergraduate instruction at the Loeb and insuring that students in House productions are permitted access to the Loeb's shop facilities.

Although Brustein, if appointed, will not arrive at Harvard until the fall of 1980, Konrad said HRDC believed changes should be made this year in order "to prepare.