'Play' fosters intellect, leadership
By NELLIE WILLIAMS
News Writer
Creative new ways to shape the new century will spring to life this weekend at Saint Mary's.
For 10 years, the Play of the Mind program has challenged students, faculty and administration to think intellectually. This year's theme, "Intellectuals in Action, Shaping the New Century," stresses the roles and responsibilities that college students and faculty have in the intellectual world.
"Play of the Mind started from an attempt to help students feel more comfortable when thinking about ourselves as intellectuals and how it affects things outside the classroom," said Patrick White, director of Play of the Mind since its inception.
Thirteen women's colleges will participate in this year's festival. Visitors will stay with 175 host students, who worked with faculty and student development professionals to plan presentations and prepare to lead group discussions.
About 30 faculty and administrators will be involved as well.
"I think it helps give our students an opportunity to meet students from other women's colleges — there are only about 80 left," said Georgeanna Rosenbush, conference director since 1994. "It also gives them an opportunity to see what happens on other campuses."
Intellectual cooperation
Play of the Mind has always been about intellectual life and leadership.
"When it was started it was to help students practice ways to be leaders and have an affect on this institution," White said. "I think in the United States we're still nervous about the term intellectual and what it might mean. We accuse intellectuals of being dry and not fun, but we're trying to break out of that here."
The interactions throughout the weekend are especially important.
"There is a great deal of energy and sense of flow from the participants," White explained.
Play of the Mind helps give people a sense of encouragement and new ideas to plant on their campuses.
Rosenbush remembers a shy student who attended the conference.
"She came as a shy girl, but Play of the Mind gave her confidence to get up and out and do things," Rosenbush said. The girl later got a job for CNN and was "introducing all kinds of people."
White believes everyone can benefit from Play of the Mind.
"Our mission at Saint Mary's is a role of leadership and connection to the rest of the world," he said. "How can [our students], as intellectuals, as thinking women, make a difference for good."
Guests from other colleges arrive today, and the conference kicks off tonight with the keynote presentation, "Re-imagining the Intellectual: Facing the future, Seeing the World," in O'Laughlin Auditorium at 7:30.
All News Stories for Thursday, January 27, 2000
