New Arts Program to Debut in Fall

FOP.FUP.FAP?

The First-year Arts Program (FAP) has joined the tongue twister of first-year orientation programs which greet over a quarter of the entering class every year. This fall, 40 members of the class of 1999 will have the opportunity to participate in a pilot arts program which seeks to introduce incoming students to the arts resources available at Harvard.

The program complements three existing orientation programs: the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Alliance, the First-year Outdoor Program (FOP) and the First-year Urban Program (FUP).

Like the other programs, FAP's main goal is to introduce first-years to one another in a more intimate setting before the deluge of Freshman Week and the pressures of the academic year. Organizers say, this program's specific focus is to explore the arts at Harvard and the surrounding community by having students participate in a variety of activities.

"There is a whole lot more to Harvard than classes. Arts are central to the Harvard experience. Most undergrads do dance, theater, singing or studio arts. We want to strengthen that experience at the beginning so that it will be much better in the long run," said Alan P. Symonds '69, the founder and creator of FAP and Co-Technical Director for College Theater Programs in the Houses and the Freshman Yard.

"The rationale in selecting the programs is that students are not as likely to know about these resources, and they are also things that people haven't done before," said Matthew R. Saunders '97, a member of the FAP steering committee.

Current plans for the FAP week include an improvisational acting workshop, a tour of museums, a ceramics workshop, an electronic music workshop and a workshop with curators to develop an exhibition of prints. FAP will culminate in a "Yard Pageant" during Freshman Week with a medieval theme, complete with a procession of wagons and performances.

"It will be cheesy fun," said Symonds.

FAP is the brainchild of Symonds, a first-yearadvisor, who came up with idea last fall as apossible project to pursue in a few years.However, the Freshman Dean's Office was receptiveenough to the proposal to bring it into realityfor the class of 1999. "The program is very opento suggestion and very flexible," said Maria E.Padilla '96, a FAP steering committee member. "Wereally want to make sure it works by being open toideas. That is important in a program that isbeing run for the first time."

The program unites efforts from different artsspheres at Harvard. "It will pull together a lotof arts information at one place, at one time,"said Myra A. Mayman, director of the Office forthe Arts at Harvard and Radcliffe. Ideas have beensolicited from the arts community atHarvard--including students, performance groups,the Harvard University Art Museums (HUAM) and theVisual and Environmental Studies (VES) faculty.

"Symonds has gone to different people in thearts across the board and across departmentallines. It's a whole variety of arts," said Mayman.

Participants will not be selected on anevaluation of artistic merit. Portfolios andresumes are not required with the application.Instead, the FAP application included in theregistration packet mailed yesterday to the classof 1999 requests a simple description of oneselfas an artist, designer of performer.

"The selection process will not be a talentsearch," said Symonds.

A random lottery may be used to keep theselection process more democratic. "We're nottrying to get the 30 best artists in the freshmanclass. We just want 30 people who are reallyinterested in arts, even if they've never doneanything before," said Saunders.

FAP's cost to participants, $360, is moreexpensive than the other firstyear programs,though need-based aid is built into FAP's budget.FAP is self-supporting; estimated programoperating costs are expected to be around $13,000.

Leaders of the other orientation programswelcome FAP as a means of meeting the high demandfor first-year programs. In 1994, FOP had over 300participants while FUP had 115 participants. TheRadcliffe Science Alliance has roughly 35participants every year. However, each yearhundreds more students apply than there areavailable spots. "FUP always has to turn away morethan 50% of its applicants," said Alexandra M.Molnar '96, a FUP steering committee member.

"More people apply to FOP every year than wecan accommodate. If there are other programs outthere, we can get as many interested people intoorientation programs, making a better freshmanweek and freshman year," said FOP steeringcommittee member Joshua D. Kantrowitz '96.

There is hope that FAP will foster a sense ofcommunity in the arts at Harvard, which somecriticize as being relatively diffuse. "Thebiggest problem with Harvard is that there is nota strong arts community," said Saunders, who is aVES major. "You can find arts events, but not anarts community here," he said.

"FAP definitely a step in the right direction,especially for Harvard which has the artsfacilities but not the programs. You have to beselfmotivated to pursue arts here," said RebeccaL. Baumann '98, a violinist who plays with severaldifferent ensembles.

FAP steering committee member and Gillbert andSullivan Players president Jill R. Weitzner '96says that students who perceive a lack of artsresources at Harvard may simply not realize thatextensive options are available to them. "Thereare so many art resources at Harvard, it isoverwhelming in some ways. I think students gethere and they begin to focus in on one area sothat they lose the bigger picture," said Weitzner.

FAP offers a jump-start in artistic networkingfor the program participants. "We also hope thatthey will make contacts with students, faculty andadministrators which are involved in the arts atHarvard, so that they know who to talk to whenthey get here. They'll have contacts that they'vealready made," said Marian A. Myszkowski,coordinator of student and public programs atHUAM.

The program hopes that the students whoparticipate in FAP will be able to share theirknowledge. "We want them to know enough to becomeengaged in the arts community at Harvard, and sothey can introduce fresh ideas and enthusiasm,"said Nathans.

"We're going to have some students who arewell-versed in all of the resources of Harvard,and can spread these resources to their friends,"said Weitzner.

FAP originators stress that this is the firstyear of the program, and that its long-term formatmay be very different, "This is a pilot year. Wewant to make it very clear that it is the firsttime. There are rough spots. We just want to havefun doing it," said Symonds.

"The fun about a pilot program is that we don'tknow how things are going to turn out, so you takerisks," said Nathans.

FAP's premier is well under way, but Symondshas just one final question: "What are you goingto do with the rest of the vowels?

FAP is the brainchild of Symonds, a first-yearadvisor, who came up with idea last fall as apossible project to pursue in a few years.However, the Freshman Dean's Office was receptiveenough to the proposal to bring it into realityfor the class of 1999. "The program is very opento suggestion and very flexible," said Maria E.Padilla '96, a FAP steering committee member. "Wereally want to make sure it works by being open toideas. That is important in a program that isbeing run for the first time."

The program unites efforts from different artsspheres at Harvard. "It will pull together a lotof arts information at one place, at one time,"said Myra A. Mayman, director of the Office forthe Arts at Harvard and Radcliffe. Ideas have beensolicited from the arts community atHarvard--including students, performance groups,the Harvard University Art Museums (HUAM) and theVisual and Environmental Studies (VES) faculty.

"Symonds has gone to different people in thearts across the board and across departmentallines. It's a whole variety of arts," said Mayman.

Participants will not be selected on anevaluation of artistic merit. Portfolios andresumes are not required with the application.Instead, the FAP application included in theregistration packet mailed yesterday to the classof 1999 requests a simple description of oneselfas an artist, designer of performer.

"The selection process will not be a talentsearch," said Symonds.

A random lottery may be used to keep theselection process more democratic. "We're nottrying to get the 30 best artists in the freshmanclass. We just want 30 people who are reallyinterested in arts, even if they've never doneanything before," said Saunders.

FAP's cost to participants, $360, is moreexpensive than the other firstyear programs,though need-based aid is built into FAP's budget.FAP is self-supporting; estimated programoperating costs are expected to be around $13,000.

Leaders of the other orientation programswelcome FAP as a means of meeting the high demandfor first-year programs. In 1994, FOP had over 300participants while FUP had 115 participants. TheRadcliffe Science Alliance has roughly 35participants every year. However, each yearhundreds more students apply than there areavailable spots. "FUP always has to turn away morethan 50% of its applicants," said Alexandra M.Molnar '96, a FUP steering committee member.

"More people apply to FOP every year than wecan accommodate. If there are other programs outthere, we can get as many interested people intoorientation programs, making a better freshmanweek and freshman year," said FOP steeringcommittee member Joshua D. Kantrowitz '96.

There is hope that FAP will foster a sense ofcommunity in the arts at Harvard, which somecriticize as being relatively diffuse. "Thebiggest problem with Harvard is that there is nota strong arts community," said Saunders, who is aVES major. "You can find arts events, but not anarts community here," he said.

"FAP definitely a step in the right direction,especially for Harvard which has the artsfacilities but not the programs. You have to beselfmotivated to pursue arts here," said RebeccaL. Baumann '98, a violinist who plays with severaldifferent ensembles.

FAP steering committee member and Gillbert andSullivan Players president Jill R. Weitzner '96says that students who perceive a lack of artsresources at Harvard may simply not realize thatextensive options are available to them. "Thereare so many art resources at Harvard, it isoverwhelming in some ways. I think students gethere and they begin to focus in on one area sothat they lose the bigger picture," said Weitzner.

FAP offers a jump-start in artistic networkingfor the program participants. "We also hope thatthey will make contacts with students, faculty andadministrators which are involved in the arts atHarvard, so that they know who to talk to whenthey get here. They'll have contacts that they'vealready made," said Marian A. Myszkowski,coordinator of student and public programs atHUAM.

The program hopes that the students whoparticipate in FAP will be able to share theirknowledge. "We want them to know enough to becomeengaged in the arts community at Harvard, and sothey can introduce fresh ideas and enthusiasm,"said Nathans.

"We're going to have some students who arewell-versed in all of the resources of Harvard,and can spread these resources to their friends,"said Weitzner.

FAP originators stress that this is the firstyear of the program, and that its long-term formatmay be very different, "This is a pilot year. Wewant to make it very clear that it is the firsttime. There are rough spots. We just want to havefun doing it," said Symonds.

"The fun about a pilot program is that we don'tknow how things are going to turn out, so you takerisks," said Nathans.

FAP's premier is well under way, but Symondshas just one final question: "What are you goingto do with the rest of the vowels?