Allow MHU Students use of Thomas Black Box Theatre

It's ridiculous that the school paid for a million dollar building... and no one thought of a storage closet for textbooks given to us that we aren't allowed to keep. (Even though tuition went up so that the school could purchase all of these books).

As an alumna of the theatre program @ MHC (now MHU), I am signing this petition in support of accessibility, using all theatre spaces for their intended uses, and trandperency for any delicious made to change existing plans. Honor your original plans and promises.

Class of 1987, BA in Theatre under the leadership of Jim "T" Thomas. MHC - in my heart you will always be MHC- step up and let the Black Box be used.

During my years at MHC, now MHU, we looked forward to the new Black Box Theatre. We thought it was a dream. Now, that dream has become a reality! For that and for the sudents I AM GRATEFUL! And to name it the Thomas Black Box, is such a fitting tribute. Jim Thomas gave us his soul. How can Theatre students not be allowed to learn their craft and use the Theatre that was built to help improve their training? How is this acceptable? Can no other facility be found in Mars Hill for book storage? Please reconsider this decision that affects the future of theatre. Kristofer Geddie, Director of Diversity - Venice Theatre, MHC Class of 1998.

Dear colleagues, I spent many summers working as an actor, director, and technician at SART starting in 1988 and learned to love your campus and the extraordinary women and men that created theatre there every year. I am disturbed by these recent developments in the renovation and shift in the administration that delivers short shrift to the theatre students. So many of us connected with SART shared a vision for the growth and development of the theatre program that a renovation would engender. Sadly, the new development seems to indicate a minimalized program and SART seems to be relegated to a small vanity project. I urge you to reconsider the direction the administration is taking in regards to use of the facilities and consider the needs of the students first. In earnest, Dr. Tony E. Medlin, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts, Baton Rouge Community College, past instructor for MHC

If what I have heard is true, this is a betrayal. If what I heard is true, I request that my donation be returned. If there have been no accommodations made for handicapped students to access the theatre offices, that is unacceptable. If funds were raised to build a theatre support facility, this not in good faith. Were there not drawings? Promises made? Fundraising conducted with this as the goal. You owed me and other donors notice of these changes and told us you would refund our gifts. My gift should be returned because you did not notify me of the changes. Other donors should do the same unless you make a change and honor your original plan and promise.

Please reconsider using the Thomas Black Box Theatre for anything other than theatre student use. Donations were not made for a storage unit.

Class of 2016. Neglecting to fix current facilities by giving the excuse of "something new is being built" and then taking away the new space is ridiculous. When I was a student at MHU we constantly struggled with finding places where we could learn and fulfill our curriculum and degrees. I was so excited that the class below me could have the opportunity to have their own, incredible space--a space that was lacking since the construction of the Day Hall began. Your students deserve so much more than they get. Other places could be found for storage I'm sure. Why wasn't storage factored into the original building plans? Students leave Mars Hill at an alarming rate. People did not donate money for the new theater to become a glorified storage space. Your duty should be to your students, and actively denying them the proper space for their learning is insane. I was so excited that the classes that came after me would get something better than I ever did, but the constant neglect the Theatre Arts Department continues to suffer is disappointing and troubling.

As a former MHU student, the facilities our tuition pays for should allow students to use them freely. There are many other building on campus that textbooks could be used for.

I did not donate to the theatre building project so that it could be used to store textbooks, even for a "short" time. There must be another place on campus to store books that won't interrupt anyone.

It's named for someone. How does that family feel about this.

Theatre deserves better.

Lose your theatre and you lose as a university. It's vital to the Mars Hill community.

Theater is an amazing learning tool, depriving students of it is an extreme disservice.

What are you thinking??? OMG! Surely there is another space on campus to store books!

What a shocker to hear that the theater is going to be used to store books! Is there not another place.

I am disheartened by what I have heard about Mars Hill and the “leadership”. Many of us who attended the theatre program when it was Mars Hill College under the great guidance of Mr. James Thomas and Mr. C. Robert Jones have gone on to have successful careers in professional theatre. We were taught that the arts is a vital part of the community. The theatre students of today who are paying an unbelievable amount of tuition deserve the same! I find that now you are known as Mars Hill UNIVERSITY that the compassion and community has been weakened. You are in effect trying to destroy a theatre program that was known NATIONWIDE as a fantastic place. You had a great program and a profession summer theatre IN ONE PLACE. It is a slap in the face of all of the donors of the theatre, students of theatre, alumni of Mars Hill, and the patrons of SART that a performance space has been regulated to a storage room. On a campus as big as Mars Hill I am certain there are many other locations that would be better served for storage. You have no less than 6 different athletic facilities, I am sure that those are not being used year round…feel free to clear some space there!

Arts education is a vital part of a well-rounded student experience. Students and faculty deserve dedicated spaces to learn, teach, and create. Please allow MHU students unfettered year-round access to the black box theatre. Thank you.

Even in a small school, it's intrinsic for there to be a focus on the arts as well. It makes no sense to provide a major at the expense of a student if the university or college will not give back what that student deserves, which in this case, is a the use of a promised black box theater for several dedicated theater students.

Leadership in 21st Century higher education is fraught with challenges on all sides: however, one principal can bring balance to any situation: students and their programs must come first. Students have paid for access to these programs and facilities. A storage POD is a small cost compared to the loss of credibility associated with denying students access to quality facilities and necessary training in professional competencies associated with theatre production. Would anyone use a science laboratory to store these books? It is exactly the same thing. FInding a different solution to the storage/books problem would demonstrate the administration's understanding of the vital role the arts play in in the community and their respect for the students and the curricular competencies involved. I hope this administration will consider adding some STEAM to their STEM, and protect student access to quality arts training and education on their campus. In any society....as the arts are regarded, so stands the regard for all human concerns.