Kathryn Walters (The Beacon)
By Kathryn Walters, Staff Commentary
If you've paid attention at all in the last year or so, you may have noticed that UP is in a serious stage of growth and expansion. The RISE Campaign has raised millions of dollars, allowing for more opportunities for the UP community. The University plans to break ground on the new library in May, and plans for a new recreational center to replace Howard Hall are in the works.
I applaud these changes. It is high time the Library received a makeover, and frankly, Howard Hall is a bit of an eyesore on our otherwise lovely campus. However, I believe other areas of UP deserve our attention as well. By this, I mean our music facilities.
Those of you who have ever attended an orchestra or band concert in Buckley Center Auditorium know exactly what I mean. So many musicians packed together on the floor like sardines in a can, audience members forced to sit in the aisles because there are not enough seats, and set changes that take twice the amount of time they should because there isn't room to move your arms, let alone a grand piano.
Don't think I've forgotten about Mago Hunt. The recital hall in Mago Hunt is just that: a recital hall. It's great that UP provides a place for soloists and small ensembles to perform. But a recital hall doesn't cut it when it comes to large ensembles like the orchestra, Wind Symphony and University Singers and neither does Buckley Center Auditorium.
It's time to face the music – we need a concert hall.
UP has great academics, a distinguished athletics program, and a renowned dedication to service, among other accolades. In order for UP to rise even higher, a new performing arts center must be built, with a quality concert hall for performances, additional practice rooms and plenty of storage space for musical instruments and other equipment.
Besides the obvious benefit to our musicians and music programs, a performing arts center could make UP an even more desirable place for prospective students. The mere presence of a good performing arts center could give visitors, especially UP applicants, the impression of a well-rounded university. We have the impressive white-domed Chiles Center and newly restored Shiley Hall. The addition of a shiny new performing arts center could give UP an extra edge in attracting an even greater variety of students.
Every UP student must take an introductory fine arts course, which usually means that at some point, everyone has to attend a performance of a performing arts group, whether it is drama, orchestra, choir or band. Furthermore, a good number of Portland community members often attend performing arts events, and I'm sure people would be a bit more inclined to attend concerts if there was a place where everyone is guaranteed a seat and where the sound quality is excellent.
Of course, I understand that UP has other priorities at the moment. But I hope a performing arts center will be a point of concern in the near future. As an alumna, I will gladly donate funds for a project like this. I don't want to return to UP many years from now and see that nothing has been done.
