The amusing June 5 editorial cartoon using Shakespeare's "All the world's a stage" quote has an ironic twist. The quote comes from the play "As You Like It," in which the main characters put a different spin on reality. The article generating the cartoon, "HCC tells studios to dance elsewhere" (June 5), does the same thing.

In reporting about why Howard Community College is scaling back the rental of its theater to private companies, the article devoted eight paragraphs to regulations related to rentals, which was a miniscule factor. In contrast, two sentences are devoted to the vastly overarching reason for the change: These facilities are needed for HCC's own educational programs.

Thanks to a community that highly values the arts, HCC's programs are exploding with creative energy. Students are flocking to HCC, and our arts classes now enroll more than 5,000 each year. We believe students cannot learn art by sitting in a classroom with a textbook. They must experience it, and HCC's great faculty and staff are working hard to make that happen:

Rep Stage has grown from four shows a year with 16 performances to six shows with 30 performances. In addition, Rep Stage presents six new play readings, six pre-performance lectures and 12 post-show discussions.

Student Arts Collective productions have grown from one show a year with three performances to two shows with 24 performances.

Other expanded Student Arts Collective events include an improv group, open mic events, performance workshops and summer productions for teens.

Music department concerts/recitals have increased from about 10 a year to more than 40. Our new musical theater academic program includes six student performances.

Our dance program has a new student dance company with 12 performances a year.

The new film studies program will host several film festivals.

The list could go on, and doesn't even include dozens of other college-related activities in the theater, such as convocations.

I am saddened that the Flier would run a front-page article about a vibrant area of the arts in our community without devoting proper attention to the reasons for change. It does a disservice to our eager students, our hard-working faculty, and the many, many community members who support HCC's arts programs.

Shakespeare himself probably would have been vexed.

Valerie Lash

Columbia

Valerie Lash is chairwoman of the arts and humanities division at Howard Community College.

---

user comments (0)