SGA listens to concerns over CAC

Students and faculty of West Virginia University's Creative Arts Center voiced opinions on how to improve the facility during Student Government Association's Speak Up event Wednesday.

Nearly 25 students, faculty and SGA members met in Bloch Hall of the CAC to discuss individual experiences with the College of Creative Arts.

SGA Vice President Whitney Rae Peters, who presided over the forum, said University President James P. Clements was looking for SGA input in developing a 2020 plan, and topics discussed during the forum would be presented to Clements.

This was SGA's second Speak Up forum of the year. The first dealt with club sports.

Frank Deets, a junior music major, said the University needs to do a better job of promoting the CAC and its students. He added most students do not understand the passion creative arts majors share.

"We come in early, we work in class, and we leave in the evening," he said. "We need more publicizing. With the marching band, it's just one ensemble out of 25. There is so much more at the CAC."

It would help if the University posted a list of all scheduled performances of different departments within the College of Creative Arts, he said, and students could then choose what to see.

Bernie Schultz, dean of the College of Creative Arts, agreed with Deets and said the University could do a better job displaying student work.

Schultz recalled a time when the Mountainlair housed a student art gallery that moved around within the building before it was eventually removed.

"Instead of talking about a prime location to hold a student gallery, it was moved around like a chess piece," Schultz said. "We lost our footprint and our presence downtown."

Schultz suggested the Arts and Entertainment Department display upcoming student performances on the back wall of the ticket office in the Mountainlair.

"There's a huge black wall that could be used to advertise for students," he said. "It's been said that it can't happen."

Peters is looking into putting together an arts council to petition for student displays of art. She suggested the Gluck Theatre in the Mountainlair should be used to host galleries and showings.

Food options were also discussed during the meeting.

Daryl Lynne Gray, a junior music education major, complained that the only option for students at the CAC is Bits & Bites in the Engineering Sciences Building. She added the hours of the store were inconvenient to members of the CAC because of late night practices.

Gov. Paul Kast said he is curerntly "toying around with the idea." He could possibly suggest a "mini-student union" for the Evansdale Campus to the WVU administration, among other things.

SGA Secretary Daniel Brummage said remodeling the old Erickson Alumni Center could provide hot food options for students of the CAC.

Joe Bradbury, a sophomore visual arts major, pointed out how no administrators were present except members of the CAC. He added members of WVU's CAC are often overlooked compared to other University organizations.

"It's very one-sided," Bradbury said. "If you are not in a fraternity then you have no voice."