Students: What's with the lack of arts support at St. Thomas?

This week two TommieMedia voices have raised questions about their school's commitment to the arts.

Theresa Malloy writes about crowding in the music practice rooms, and quotes freshman music business major Rachel Siteman on the inadequacy of the Brady Educational Center:

“I mean this is a great building, but it lacks so much that an actual music building would need. Music is just an afterthought at this school, just the way the building was set up.”

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Ashley Stewart says athletics play too large a role:

This is my second year at St. Thomas, and since I’ve been here a new athletic complex was built, McCarthy gym was renovated, and there has been talk about re-doing the soccer fields and putting tennis courts behind the Brady Educational Center.

Ironically, the new athletic complex stands where Foley Theater used to stand before it was demolished. This gesture from St. Thomas shows the community that athletics are more important than the arts.

Athletics overshadow the arts here at St. Thomas. The school is willing to spend $800,000 on tennis courts when there are indoor courts located in the newly-constructed $52 million Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex. But the university is not willing to spend money to keep a theater program on campus.