The Undergraduate Student Government unanimously adopted a resolution Sunday in support of a student grassroots effort to establish a new joint theater program with St. Catherine University.
In response to the concern that there is a lack of interest in a theater program at St. Thomas, members of the St. Thomas theater club, Thespians Unite!, collected 1,623 student signatures in support of the program. Junior Pat Gustafson and other members of Thespians Unite! presented the signatures at USG’s Sunday meeting.
USG unanimously adopted the resolution, but not before a change was made to its language. One part of the resolution originally read, “The costs of the program are recognized, but the benefits of this relationship outweigh any costs incurred.”
The resolution was amended and made to read, “We believe the benefits of this are important to this community.”
Following the dissolution of the theater department last year, St. Thomas administrators agreed to a one year partnership with St. Kate’s for joint theater productions, which will end after this semester.
Dean of Arts and Sciences Marisa Kelly said this partnership guarantees that all students have access to the productions needed for graduation, but the last of those students will be graduating this spring.
With this partnership reaching the end of its deal, St. Thomas and St. Kate’s are in conversation about some extracurricular theater productions for the future. Kelly assumes an agreement will be made by the end of spring semester, but as of now, St. Thomas is waiting on St. Kate’s.
“I am really happy to see that level of enthusiasm,” Kelly said in reference to the petition. “I do think that we need to understand that every opportunity we have for students means that we need funding for them.”
Kelly said the support from USG and the petition was helpful to know the level of student support, but it did not change her stance.
“I knew there was going to be support,” Kelly said. “What the 1600 students did not do is give an idea of what they want to give up. We cannot be all things for all people; we just do not have the funding.”
Brian Matthews contributed to this report.
Brent Fischer can be reached at bafischer@stthomas.edu.
The funding excuse should not be an issue. We seem to have plenty of money to build a $60 million athletic facility and renovate a second gym on south campus, yet we do not have enough money to fund a couple of theater productions? The cost of supporting these theater productions is much smaller than these other two costs, yet the administration is still hesitant. Why must students work so hard to attempt to garner administrative support for the arts at a liberal arts college? The explanation is simply beyond me.
-Stefan Wolf-
“We cannot be all things for all people…” I think the theater club and other 1600 students who signed the petition are asking St. Thomas to be the institution it portrays itself to be in its mission statement [http://www.stthomas.edu/aboutust/mission/default.html] – An institution that values, among other things, “active learning” and “responsible engagement” with the local and global community. That the administration doesn’t see the theater experience as one that fits the institutional vision astounds me.
As far as lack of funding goes, in the professional world, a theater company is as much a forum for education, conversation, expression, and growth as it is a business. Smart theaters – like our own Guthrie – budget to turn profit or at minimum break even on productions. I believe that the UST/SCU joint theater is capable of designing a budget that can follow the concept of “spend what you make, make what you spend.” This means that St. Thomas needn’t concern itself with anything more than a one-time contribution, a one-time recognition of theater as an important liberal art.
Is there any way a meal-plan fundraiser could be organized for the program? I’m sure a majority of those 1600 students who signed the petition would be willing to donate a meal or two (which often go unused anyways) to keep the program alive.
I agree with Dean Kelly’s point. A university is a place of higher education, not a junior high performing arts center for the aspirant Zach Effron to play thespian. While there is clearly a large number of students who want it, a theater program doesn’t fall within the scope of UST’s main goal, which is providing a liberal arts education. Why should UST pay for a program like this? This is the stuff of clubs, not expensive joint programs. As for the athletic facility, not only is it open to all students, but the athletics at UST are occasionally of the quality to merit an audience…
Maddie,
First off, I would like to ask you this: how does theater not fit into a liberal arts education? How does theater not provide higher education? Liberal arts is defined as, “the academic course of instruction at a college intended to provide general knowledge and comprising the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, as opposed to professional or technical subjects” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal+arts). Notice that it comprises the ARTS and not technical or professional subjects (i.e. business, mechanic, etc.) If St. Thomas’ goal is to provide a liberal arts education, then theater is vital to its mission. St. Thomas’ newest slogan is “Challenge yourself, Change our world.” Theater and the arts have been one of the largest forces of change throughout human history. It seems to fit pretty well.
Secondly, the shot that you took at the quality of the theater program was completely unwarranted. Have you ever been to a production? “athletics at UST are occasionally of the quality to merit an audience…” The theater productions are, in fact, of very good quality and do “merit an audience.” Please do your research next time before you make such poorly backed claims.
-Stefan Wolf-
Maddie- Your final comment regarding athletics “occasionally of the quality to merit an audience” is extremely uncalled for. Perhaps you haven’t experienced the spectrum of performances that the SCU/UST joint department has put on over the past few years. I am a senior and have seen the majority of their plays over the past four years. The crowds at these shows are certainly larger than you alluded to. The opening night performance of Macbeth last year comes to mind. It filled the O’Shaugnessey Auditorium at St. Kates and the quality of the production was supurb. Do not demean students who enjoy producing these plays in their free time. We should be just as proud of them as we are of UST athletes on a winning sports team. Your point about theater not falling into the scope of providing a liberal arts education is also flawed. Perhaps you are forgetting about the “arts” portion of liberal arts. Also note that “arts” is plural, meaning a few music and art history classes won’t cut it.
Thanks to all have shown support.
I am a Musical Theater Major at St.Kate’s, and regardless of what has happened in the past with the separation of the joint department, we have only one choice but to move forward. We cannot change the past.
People forget what a bind this puts the St. Kate’s department into, and how unfair it is to the students here. In the midst of the turmoil of the separation last year, St. Kate’s was trying desperately to move forward. We did that by launching the new St. Catherine University, and now within the Theater Department are launching new majors, including the new Musical Theater Major. What are we supposed to do for male actors if the partnership no longer continues? How is that fair to our department and to our students? How are we supposed to get the opportunity to grow as performers and as students if the repertoire of the shows that we can perform is severely limited to female only shows? St. Kate’s will be the only University in the Twin Cities to offer a Musical Theater degree, and with access to the O’Shaughnessy stage is a perfect place to launch a quality program, but we will be unable to do that if half of our actors are taken away from us. Please St. Thomas, realize how important theater is to quality education. Don’t leave us…
Adara, we won’t leave you if we can!!!
Stefan and John and all the rest, thank you for your excellent contributions to this discussion. Your comments are right on the money. This is a liberal arts college…and what kind of liberal arts university that strives to be more nationally recognized doesn’t have a theatre department? Theatrical performance is one of the most ancient forms of human expression; I would argue a NECESSARY form of human expression.
John, I was at that opening night performance of Macbeth–in fact, I played the role of Macbeth in that production, and as I recall, there were about 500 people at that performance. But I guess the poor quality of the production didn’t merit an audience like that.
Maddie, I don’t know you, but I find that last line of your post extremely offensive. I’ve worked my butt off for the seven roles that I’ve had in the UST/SCU theatre department, and I apologize if you had to go to a play for a class and didn’t enjoy it. Not EVERY show is going to be great, just like not every sports team wins every game. But all we want is the opportunity to put out our best work, and try to put together that great show that will, maybe, “merit an audience.”
Sincerly, Steven Broszko. 2010 Tommie Award Finalist
I agree with Mr. Brozko, and, like Mr. Gummerson, was in attendance at MacBeth year.
It was the finest theatrical production I have ever seen.
It would be a terrible tragedy to lost UST’s theatre program. Theatre, like all the arts, can give people insight into the human condition, the nature of reality, truth, beauty, goodness, evil, the glory of God, the depravity of evil and sin, the good and dark sides of human nature, and humanity’s need for God in ways that the sciences cannot.
Pope John Paul II notes this in his 1999 Letter to Artists, which can be found here: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_23041999_artists_en.html
Having strong problems in the arts I would argue is essential for the mission of a Catholic university. Though as an alumnus I cannot sign the petition, I will declare my full support for it here.
Best of luck to you all in your effort!
Just wanted to point out that the next article is one that is saying that the Basketball teams are reporting a drop is their crown numbers. By almost a 1/3 for the men’s team.
Just saying……
I want to apologize for that cutting remark I made about the theater program by saying that athletics at UST “merit an audience”. It was out of line; unfortunately, you’re right–I don’t have the backing. Sorry to have offended.
However, I still stand by my point about UST not having an obligation to provide a theater program; while a liberal arts program should encorporate arts, there are still considerations: UST has clearly moved away from the fundamentalist approach to liberal arts (we only have one art core course) and into a more academically based approach. This is the choice of the university, and trying to cling to something that UST isn’t won’t work. Also, this is a college setting–the focus should rightly be on academics, not performing arts. For the money UST students pay, the university should equip us with real skills–not just public speaking. Diverting funds from keeping UST up and running to providing a theater program is not in the best interest of the university.
Interesting fact: most of the joint theater productions break even or come close to it from admission fee collected at the gates. I highly doubt any of UST’s athletic teams come close to meeting production costs with money collected at the gates. These activities are heavily subsidized by the university. And who on earth is to say that athletics are more valuable than the arts? Theater is an integral part of the liberal arts experience and mission to educate the whole person. Though, unfortunately, I have not participated in a UST/SCU prodcuction, I have enjoyed attending and appreciate the opportunity to attend productions, many of which include friends and acquaintances. Because of the great benefit theater provides to our university and greater community, I was proud to introduce and sponsor the USG resolution this past Sunday. I urge the administration to continue this relationship. The student body has spoken, and our voice should be considered. After all, the University exists in order to educate and serve us, the students.
Maddie, thank you for your response and apology. I’m sure many of us are glad that you realize the offensiveness of your statements. Your point about us as students being equipped with “real skills” is well taken. However, there are many many other programs and inititives at UST that are far from fulfilling this goal. Rock climbing club comes to mind, and how about the new athletic building and student center? I am fully in favor of these additions and improvements to the campus, but I wouldn’t say that they do anything to “equip us with real skills.” Theater should be treated just as any other club. If Corey’s statement regarding productions breaking even is true, then I don’t even see what the issue is here. St. Kate’s is willing to provide a space to hold productions, so why shouldn’t interested St. Thomas students be able to participate in them. As far as I know, this partnership has been going on for decades and I see absolutely no reason to bring it to an abrubt end now. As far as I’m concerned, if UST can support a rock climbing club, we can support a theater club. Not only will it provide enjoyment for many more community members, I feel it is much more in touch with UST’s “mission.”
Maddie,
Congratulations, you have successfully offended artists everywhere, since,according to you, our disciplines don’t teach any “real” skills. Is theater really just public speaking? Is music just entertainment? I say no. In fact, any skill that is taught in, say, a business management course. Leadership, teamwork, speaking, social interaction…the list goes on. On top of that, theater has served as a vehicle for social change throughout human history. Stating that theater provides no academic skills or merit is completely incorrect.
Secondly, did you ever consider that people pursue careers in the arts? I myself am a music major. We don’ simply sit around all day and jam. In fact, our program is just as rigorous if not more so than the other programs at this school. Stating that the performing arts have no purpose in an academic environment is not just a skewed opinion…it’s just wrong.
Theater provides just as much benefit as any other “academic” class at this university. It equips students with “real” skills. Contrary to your view, theater isn’t just High School Musical and Wicked. It’s a real discipline, a real art form, and a real part of society and the human experience.
-Stefan Wolf-
Ms. Coulter – If St. Thomas is doing the right thing by discontinuing the non-educational activity that you believe theater is in order to focus on true academics, then would you agree that the new athletics complex and renovations on McCarthy are equally unnecessary?
I certainly wouldn’t because I believe that UST athletics (be it varsity, club, intramural, or just independent recreation) is capable of teaching a skillset that isn’t always able to be taught in a conventional academic setting. Athletes learn important lessons about teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship…the list goes on. The way I know and understand the theater experience leads me to the conclusion that theater provides individuals who may not be interested in being an athlete with a similar experience and a similar skillset. Think of both activities as an extension of the classroom, an extension of the academic experience. If athletics has a place on this campus, so does theater.
As an UST alum (class of 1979) and a Theater major who has worked consistently in the performing arts since graduating, inlcuding directing and choreographing several UST/CSC productions (not the least of which was the final production at the Foley Theater- Gospell) I am most facinated with this discussion. With the demise of the joint department last spring, a relationship that spans 35 years, I stopped any contributions to UST as an alum. I cannot support a major Catholic Liberal Arts university that doesn’t value the instrinsic educational value of the art form that I honed on its very campus. The history of theater IS the history of human kind. And as an educator myself (30 years of Secondary Theater Education) I find that academic excellence is achieved in the classroom, on the playing field, and on the stage. Academics occur wherever an exchange of ideas and a discussion of the what it is to be human exits. As for the value of the performing arts? The performing arts- in all its forms- is the largest employer in the world. Ever sit through the credits at the end of a movie or read the entire program of a play? Theater provides an avenue unlike any other. It values all skills, all interests, and all subjects. It is the ultimate teaching tool.
Thanks for reading.
One thing I’d like to point out that hasn’t been mentioned yet- NOT every last theater major is graduating this year! I am one of several majors who still has one year left here at St. Thomas, and the continuation of productions is vital to us being able to pursue jobs in our major after college (or to pursuing graduate degrees in Theater).