Back in high school, I was part of the clique commonly referred to as “the thespians” or “the theater geeks.” I was involved in every high school theater production – as well as a couple community productions – and considered acting to be one of the most valuable things in my life. It was not only something I enjoyed; partaking in theater also allowed me to get out of my shell, learn how to express myself and develop public speaking skills and a love for storytelling. Ultimately, being in theater was the best part of my high school experience, and not being involved in acting is high on my list of college regrets thus far.

Not wanting to pursue theater as a career, the presence of a theater program was not my top priority when looking at colleges, but the complete lack of one at St. Thomas baffled and disappointed me. Sure, St. Thomas is partnered with St. Catherine’s theater program, which means that our students can audition for St. Kate’s productions, but partly due to laziness, and in part to inconvenience, I never got around to making my way there. I’m not the only one who feels this way; a good number of people I know would be happy to be involved in theater if we had an accessible program on our campus.

Our campus was not always without a theater program. St. Thomas used to have one – still joined with St. Kate’s – which was dissolved in 2008, when the Foley Theater was torn down to make room for the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex. This – poor – decision was made based on the small size of the department and the lack of administrative enthusiasm for theater at the time, according to Amy Muse, a St. Thomas English professor. Although that is not entirely the case now, we are still tied to past decisions, and St. Thomas still lacks a theater department of its own.

Although those of us with an interest in theater may not be an overwhelming majority here at St. Thomas, I would argue that the presence of a theater program would be an enriching addition for everyone, as it would not only benefit those who would have gladly kept theater as a part of their lives, but the presence of a program like that on campus would make art more accessible to those who would not necessarily seek it out.

As a student, there is an overall perception that St. Thomas tends to prioritize sports and sciences as opposed to arts and humanities. Although these are necessary areas of study for the formation of a human being, disproportionate emphasis on these fields does not only not match up with the definition of a liberal arts education, but it is also not conducive to a well-rounded education. A theater program would give students more opportunities to pursue the arts and to invest in other interests. As for St. Thomas, it would have the chance to show the campus actually cares about the arts.

There is value in being exposed to the arts, even if one is not pursuing them directly. The arts – particularly theater – allow for the flow of creative thought, growth in communication skills and comfort in expressing oneself and in perceiving and appreciating how others express themselves. Though it may seem efficient to cut art programs such as theater from college campuses it is, quite frankly, a move that leads to the impoverishment of an education.

All this to say that I appreciate the university maintaining its partnership with St. Kate’s program, but it would be more conducive to a culturally and artistically richer environment for St. Thomas to have its own Theater program.

Letizia Mariani can be reached at mari8529@stthomas.edu.