November 5th, 2011 Mr. John O’Keeffe, Security Director CC: Mr. William Krysak, Security Manager CC: Mr. Richard Lutwick, Parking Manager CC: Mr. Al Hill, Security Supervisor CC: Mr. Bob Muskovich, Security Supervisor RE: Parking during last night’s Opera Workshop Performance Dear Mr. O’Keeffe, We write to inform you of our dissatisfaction in your team’s conduct regarding parking around the university on the night of November 4th, 2011. On this evening, the Faculty of Fine Arts Music Program was presenting the opening night of its Opera Workshop’s spring show, “All In The Family”, which commenced at 8 pm. The performers’ call was at 7pm, and therefore the majority of us were naturally parked as close to the recital hall as we could get by around 6:30pm. It was our understanding that on performance and rehearsal nights, your security team would not go around issuing parking tickets out of respect to the performers on stage and their invited guests, many of whom come from out of town to support these students in their hard work. However, the majority of us who were on stage last night were ticketed, as were many of our guests. It is also of note that after your security team had already issued these parking tickets; they were overheard at the box office asking if most of these cars belonged to the Opera Workshop group. Clearly, your team is aware of the disrespect it shows to us, not only as students but as performers, to ticket our cars when they are aware that we are on stage, however they do not seem to care. We would like to remind your team that they are representing the school, and actions such as theirs on the night of November 4th, 2011, hinder our image as a student oriented, caring institution. With Lethbridge as a city offering so little to students from large cities, this is one of the main reasons new students choose to come here, and we would like to continue to protect this image. We ask that your team in future not only be aware of performances and presentations happening at the school in the evenings, but rehearsals and call times as well. These are times that we as students are required to be at the school, and many of us must transport large equipment, costumes, supplies, and clothing. In the case of Opera Workshop, the majority of our ladies are transporting large ball gowns as well. Please be respectful of these mitigating circumstances at these times, and expect us to be parked (with the understanding that you are aware of the call times and respect them) at least a half an hour ahead of when we are required to be here. With respect, The Students of Opera Workshop and Their Guests.