Category | News

Thefts lead to new policy for theatre students

Published on February 24, 2009 by Caitlyn Van Orden

After an undisclosed number of pieces of equipment were stolen from a computer lab located on the second floor of the Wilson Building, a new policy has been enacted: students will no longer be allowed to use the room freely.

An orange sign was placed on the door Wednesday, Feb. 18. It reads: “Effective Immediately!! The computer lab will only be open for scheduled classes and meetings. General student use is prohibited unless a faculty or staff member is present.”

The classroom, which contains tables as well as computers and various pieces of equipment, was used by theatre and performance studies (TPS) majors as a computer lab and as a rehearsal and social gathering space.

Jamie Bullins, associate professor and production manager of the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies, said that Joseph Meeks, dean of the College of the Arts, and the faculty made the decision in the interest of protecting the department financially.

“It’s just not safe leaving [the computer lab] open like that,” said Bullins, adding that students had become slack about keeping the room closed.

According to Bullins, the latest theft was not the first incidence of equipment being stolen from the room.

“It wasn’t just one event that happened. That was just the final straw,” said Bullins.

The decision has caused frustration among some theatre students, who feel the decision penalizes innocent students who treated the room and equipment with respect.

“We use that room for much more than a computer lab because we are constantly in need of rehearsal space. We also use it to edit film footage for classes. It feels as though someone’s isolated, childish action has led to TPS majors getting neglected and marginalized one more time, and I don’t appreciate the gesture because whether it was geared at theatre majors or not, we’re the ones getting slapped in the face,” said senior TPS major Matt Judd.

“I don’t think it was a theatre student at all,” said sophomore TPS major Jordan Anderson.

Bullins emphasized that while the new policy may be inconvenient for TPS students, the dean and faculty felt the decision was necessary in order to prevent future equipment theft.

“No one’s blaming our students for [the thefts], but we also can’t afford to have our equipment walking off,” said Bullins. “I know that many of our students were unhappy about it… but there are other computer labs all over campus. We’re just encouraging students to go to other labs.”