THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, September 14, 1994          TAG: 9409140500
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER AND MARK MOBLEY, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   54 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** Daniel Hart is executive director of the Virginia Symphony. His first name and title were left out of a story Wednesday. Correction published , Thursday, September 15, 1994, p. A2 ***************************************************************** NSU BOARD: SYMPHONY BALKING OVER PATRONS' FEARS

Norfolk State University's campaign to lure the Virginia Symphony to the campus has hit a snag because some symphony supporters are afraid to set foot there, NSU board members said Tuesday.

But the symphony's executive director said the board members' allegations were groundless and that discussions were proceeding.

In an emotionally charged NSU Board of Visitors meeting, member Edythe C. Harrison said, ``The only apparent reason for concern is the fear of some members of the community about coming on the campus of Norfolk State University. Some of us find that so remarkable, it takes one aback - that in this day and age, that could possibly be the reason for hesitation.

The university's 1,800-seat L. Douglas Wilder Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open in 1996.

In late July, seven months after breaking ground, NSU offered prime tenant status to the orchestra, requesting an answer from the symphony by mid-September. The orchestra performs throughout Hampton Roads, with most of its concerts at Norfolk's Chrysler hall.

The discussion about the negotiations with the symphony took on an emotional pitch at the university Tuesday. Board members vehemently defended security on campus. ``I'm more safe at Norfolk State than I am in Chrysler Hall,'' said Dr. L.D. Britt of Norfolk, an NSU board member.

Hart said the orchestra's study of the project has not focused on the building's location but whether it would meet the orchestra's needs. Hart said the issue of campus security was first raised by the NSU board, and that it had been mentioned only briefly by the orchestra's executive committee.

``It was impossible to turn around an answer in what was basically six weeks on the future of the orchestra,'' Hart said. ``I think everyone on the symphony board is willing to give this full consideration.''

But Harrison said that during an executive committee meeting of the symphony last month, ``the only thing that was raised was the fact that there were certain patrons that had called and were worried about going to that neighborhood. That's the issue; there are no other issues. This isn't adversarial, but let's deal honestly with the real issues.'' by CNB