The Fight to Save St. Scholastica's Theatre Program
(Photo: CSS Theatre)
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
Students at the College of St. Scholastica are refusing to let their beloved theatre program go quietly into the night. Faced with the devastating news of its impending closure due to budget cuts, students have been peacefully protesting in a bid to save a program that has been a cornerstone of the Duluth, MN institution for over 40 years.
The theatre program fell victim to the harsh realities of budget cuts. In an era where colleges and universities are increasingly forced to make difficult financial decisions, the arts are often among the first casualties. In the past year, performing arts programs at schools such as UW-Green Bay, Bellarmine University, Youngstown State University, University of Nebraska at Kearny, and West Virginia University have either been cut or planned to be phased out.
Officials at the College of St. Scholastica released a statement last Friday to faculty, staff, and students about the decision.
“As The College of St. Scholastica navigates the challenging environment of higher education, we face difficult decisions. One of those decisions is to cease offering theatre productions starting in the fall semester of 2024,” according to the statement.
CSS said the decision to cut the theatre program was “not made lightly.”
“We acknowledge the impact this decision will have on students, faculty, staff, and the broader community, and we are grateful to the students, faculty, staff, and audience members who participated in our theatre’s history.”
Students in the program held a sit-in earlier this week o try and sway the decision to shutter their beloved program. They also released a statement,
“Monday afternoon, 5 student representatives met with Ryan Sandefer to discuss a the future of the program. Unfortunately, the Theatre program in its current form has been dissolved, with no options for immediate reinstatement. This decision was made prior to the announcement of the closure of the theatre program on Friday afternoon.
With this sad news, students chose to come up with alternative ideas to continue a theatrical presence at the College of St. Scholastica. In order to come to a compromise which benefited students and the college as a whole, we proposed four main points to carry the program into next year. This is a temporary solution while we work with administration to formulate a more permanent solution for the long term continuation of the program. The current projection for the theatre program will be a majority student-led program, with intermittent guidance from previous directors and volunteers. The four main requests we had for the college are written in the slides above.”
Alumni, faculty, and students alike expressed their sadness at the loss of a program that had been instrumental in shaping their lives and careers. For many, the theatre program wasn't just a department; it was a home, a family, and a source of inspiration.
I am urging college leadership to reconsider the decision to close the theatre program at the College of St. Scholastica. As a former college theatre student, I implore them to recognize the immense value that the theatre program brings to a campus community.
The benefits of a theatre program extend far beyond the stage. It provides students with valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth, teaching essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving. Also, I’m sure the program has attracted audiences and contributed to the arts community of Duluth.
I understand the difficult financial decisions that colleges and universities must make in today's challenging economic climate. However, I firmly believe that the value of the theatre program far outweighs its costs.
In the meantime, I want to praise the theatre students, faculty, and alums of the College of St. Scholastica and send them all my best.