One of the reasons I like living in DeLand is because it’s a college (or univeristy) town. Such towns always have plenty to offer in art, lectures, music, theater and the like. And college towns usually have places to go relax and eat inexpensively.
I lived in Charlottesville, Va., for several years. That’s home to the Univeristy of Virginia. My neighbor was a grad student in the theater program, so I always knew what was coming up, and saw a lot of quality shows — from Agamemnon to Blithe Spirit.
The amount of talent here, at Stetson University, is phenomenal. I’ve seen two outstanding shows in just the past weeks. One, a collection of Broadway music featuring Stetson students, and the Heart for Haiti fundraiser, featuring both students and faculty.
Watch The Beacon’s Calendar section for upcoming performances. Here’s what’s coming in the next week or two:
Feb. 12 – TONIGHT! — University Symphonic Band concert, Bobby Adams, conductor, 7:30 p.m., Elizabeth Hall
Feb. 19-21 – Puccini Operas: “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” two one-act operas by Giacomo Puccini; featuring Stetson Opera Theater, Russell Franks, director, Anthony Hose, university orchestra conductor, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 20, and 3 p.m. Feb. 21, DeLand High School Auditorium, 800 N. Hill Ave. $10 general public, $8 senior citizens and area students.
Feb. 23 – Faculty recital featuring Stephen Robinson, guitar, 7:30 p.m., Elizabeth Hall.
Feb. 24 – Jazz Ensemble recital, George West, conductor, 7:30 p.m., Stetson Room of the Carlton Union Building, 131 E. Minnesota Ave.
Stetson gets some of the most interesting thinkers and doers in the country visiting its campus.
Most recently, I got the chance to meet former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia. He’s a Stetson alum, who returned to campus for a book-signing.
Me and Max:
Cleland is also a Vietnam vet who got his legs and one arm shredded by a grenade blast. The Silver Star and Bronze Star winner came home, where he faced amputation of both legs above the knee, and he also lost his right forearm, at the age of 25. He went through a long night of the soul during a painful recovery.
He battled depression and pain, then went on to serve in the Georgia Senate and U.S. Senate. He’s also worked in a number of posts serving veterans. After expressing regret over his earlier support of the War in Iraq and disapproval of the Bush administration, Cleland was labeled “unpatriotic” by his opponents. The jab still hurts.
Cleland is an intelligent, savvy, engaging and charming man. It’s easy to understand how he was elected.
In his book, Heart of a Patriot: How I Found the Courage to Survive Vietnam, Walter Reed and Karl Rove, Cleland talks frankly about his climb out of depression, dealing with post-traumatic stress, and the highs and lows of public service.
He said surviving Karl Rove was the toughest of the list.
Last year, President Barack Obama appointed Cleland secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Cleland is still dedicated to serving veterans.
Here’s some more info from Stetson:
In 2007, Cleland donated his personal memorabilia from Vietnam and political life to Stetson. The university’s duPont-Ball Library holds in its Archives thousands of items from his government offices and campaigns, plaques, awards, DVDs, CDs, letters from U.S. presidents and prominent government officials, and nearly 5,000 photos, many of them autographed. The collection can be viewed online at the Stetson library’s Max Cleland Collection Web site.
Cleland’s political career included two terms in the Georgia State Senate (1971-1975) and four years as head of the U.S. Veterans Administration under President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981). He was Georgia Secretary of State from 1982 to 1996 and served in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2003. He also served on the 9-11 Commission that explored the terrorist attacks on the United States.
For some reason, I won’t be surprised if Cleland doesn’t run for office again.
At any rate, he’s one of those amazing people you never forget.
Just say no:
