To the editor:
First, I would like to thank all who had a hand in bringing the play, Marx in Soho, to the Fresno State campus. I am a sociology instructor at Reedley College and this was a big thrill for me. If you don’t know why, take a sociology course!
However, what is motivating me to write is the extremely poor behavior on display from the students in attendance. I realize that many were there only for extra credit and had no real interest in learning anything. However, that does not excuse bad manners.
I have never seen so many people get up and walk out during a play. This was a one man performance and I am sure it was a distraction to the actor every time someone got up to leave with their clunky backpacks, skateboards, etc. Further, despite the fact that people were asked to turn off their cell phones, all of the students around me continued to play with their electronic amusements throughout the evening. To top it all off, a couple children were allowed to traipse up and down the stairs as often as it pleased them to do so.
I hope someone on the Fresno State staff apologized to the actor for the grade school maturity level of a significant portion of the audience. If this is reflective of their academic enthusiasm, it’s no surprise they are in such need of extra credit.
Jeffrey W. Eisinger