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Curtain or copy: a major decision
By Susan Goodman Magod ’64
 entered
Glassboro State College in 1960, and during my freshman year, two
defining moments occurred which still affect my life, 34 years later.
The first occurred in Professor George Reinfeld’s journalism
class when I realized that I could write. The second happened one
evening when I wandered into Bunce Room 101 and was invited by Professor
David Lloyd to pick up a brush and paint flats for the next production.
Under Reinfeld’s careful watch, I learned the value of asking
the right questions, the challenge of organizing information, and
the power of seeing my articles published in The Whit. Class
assignments included covering a basketball game in Tohill Auditorium
with my roommate, Irene Fine ’64. Since neither of us really
understood anything that we saw during the game, we went “backstage”
to interview several friendly players who helped us make sense of
our scribbled notes. In addition to writing for the paper, I edited,
typed and “gophered” any errand requested. On deadline,
I thrived in the organized tension filling the Whit office over
the student center in Memorial.
I have no doubt that I could have become an editor had I remained
on staff. But the same shy high school girl who was finding her
voice in journalism was also realizing for the first time how powerful
theatre can be. Although my acting skills were nothing to brag about,
the fact that I could escape into a character’s skin and evoke
feelings from an audience in Room 101 gave me a feeling of invincibility.
There was nothing I could not try, no challenge too big or too small.
Sweep floors? Paint canvas? Build a flat? Memorize a script? Talk
about books, theatre and life with upperclassmen? I wanted to do
it all.
Of course at some point freshman year ended and I was informed that
I had to make a choice between journalism and theatre. Both demanded
and deserved undivided attention and commitment. Thus I was handed
my first serious adult decision and I remember suffering almost
physical pain as I hashed out the pros and cons of belonging to
one or the other organization. That no official major in either
field existed at GSC in those years did not bother me. I wanted
to take as many courses in both fields as I possibly could.
Eventually theatre won the tug-of-heart. Over the next three years,
I accumulated the hours for Players’ One Thousand Hours Award,
and I watched my roommate Irene go on to become editor-in-chief
of The Whit while I served as president of Campus Players.
Life is a lesson in irony.
My theatre career ended with college graduation. I became a teacher
at Manalapan High School where I still teach English today. Teaching,
however, is acting in a sense, and I am grateful to Lloyd for giving
me the confidence to face audiences five times a day.
But those Whit days and nights came full circle when 15 years
ago I became the advisor of Manalapan High’s newspaper, Horizons,
and began teaching journalism as well. When I knew that I was to
become the Horizons’ advisor, I returned to Rowan to visit
with Reinfeld. As I auditioned my plans to organize the journalism
classes and newspaper staff, he put his stamp of approval on my
projected beat system, newspaper sections and approach to educational
journalism. It was wonderful to reconnect with someone who played
such a large role in my life so many years ago.
I was lucky to encounter two such dedicated and inspiring professors
during those special years. Lloyd and Reinfeld each offered me the
chance to face important decisions, and in the process, find out
who I was. Through these experiences I was able to develop the confidence
to build a successful life. Now, when I see my students struggling
to decide between curtain and copy, I think of my college years
and listen with a rueful smile. 
______________________
Susan Goodman Magod is an English teacher at Manalapan High School.
Last year she was named Teacher of the Year. She lives in East Brunswick.
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