To Whom It May Concern:

A large part of university education takes place outside of the classroom. The cultural life of students at the University of North Florida is largely dependent on extracurricular events, from the art gallery to jazz concerts to lectures of special interest. One important aspect of UNF's student life is foundering: its theater program.

Currently, UNF's theater department does not exist. The last person with a theater degree graduated last semester, and a recent hiring freeze has made it impossible to allow other students similar opportunities. One of the few hopes left for those interested in participating in theater either as students or audience members is found in a student-initiated club, the Corbomite Players Theatre Club. Their past performances, which include "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Pride and Prejudice," have offered the theater experience free of charge to students and community members alike, and have also allowed professors to encourage students to see these performances as extensions of their learning.

Despite the value of these performances as both educational and cultural tools, senators in UNF's own Student Government (SG) have threatened to deprive students of these opportunities in what can only be seen as a form of masked censorship. A recent student-directed production of Nicky Silver's "Pterodactyls" caused controversy because of its homosexual material. A minority of Student Government members who have strong voting influence have used "Pterodactyls" as an excuse to quell any future Corbomite productions, stating that the material was personally offensive and that theater itself is not a very important part of a student's cultural experience.

Shall I repeat it? These students are questioning whether theater can truly enhance a student's cultural growth.

Since the Corbomite Players' productions are dependent on SG for funding, the threat of losing the theater group to this minority of four students is real. Despite having approved the club and its mission of enriching the cultural lives of UNF students, these members are now questioning whether a theater group is capable of providing any cultural enhancement at all. If this accusation were true, then the same question would have to be asked of UNF's music program, art program, and can extend to include aspects of their English and philosophy programs. Not only do these programs offer related variations of cultural enhancement, but they also do so in ways that, to some, may offend at the same time that they teach.

A lesson in potential offensiveness was recently funded by the UNF Student Government. Lewis Black, a comedian chosen by the student body to entertain them during their homecoming weekend, openly addressed his audience with a political incorrectness that he championed. At the end of his performance, which was met with overall approval by the audience, he thanked college students for their open-mindedness and ability to accept controversial ideas. He said quite simply that he owed the success of his career to college students who shared this attitude.

Unfortunately, the same members of the Student Government who brought Lewis Black to the campus must not have been the ones who stood before the budget committee to disapprove one of its university's richest cultural facets. If indeed this were so, then a fierce travesty has been committed. One senator stated, "If you were to do 'Grease' or 'West Side Story,' we'd fund you 100%." Apparently, Lewis Black's level of offensiveness is similar to that of these musicals.

SG is supposed to represent the general student body of 12,000, but the disapproving SG members are an example of a small minority that may work towards their own personal inclinations to deprive the student body of something important and worthwhile to their education. If nothing is done, then future UNF students will never know what they have missed.

Sincerely,

Leah Tarrangco, Senior, English Mjor, Corbomite Players Theater Club