After an arduous four-year journey, SPACE Committee Chair and graduating senior Jonathan Levin has begun to make significant headway in establishing a strong campus presence and procuring a student-run theatre space, despite facing a number of administrative obstacles.

    SPACE has recently lobbied for and received approximately $16,000 from the Student Financial Committee. The allotted funds were used to purchase curtains and mirrors in order to complete renovations in the two-room student-run performance and rehearsal space in South basement, which opened for use in February 2007.

    According to the Student Union Office, organizations must be chartered in order to receive funding from the SFC. Despite this, the Committee still applied for — and received — funds through the ad-hoc appeals process. SPACE first applied to be approved as a chartered student organization around Winter Term 2007, but it wasn’t until April that Student Senator and College senior Erin Morey responded.

    “It really was that we were forgotten about,” said Committee member and College sophomore Micheline Heal.

    However, strained relations with Student Senate have not discouraged the Committee. Presently, SPACE has been working with Student Senator David Casserly; together, they hope to see this through in Fall 2007.

    Although College funds paid for completely renovating the roof, other financial issues came up. The formerly concrete floors in South were replaced with sprung floors, which boast resiliency, making it easier on the feet and joints. SPACE is still over $30,000 in debt after buying and installing the sprung floors in South on credit. To date, only a fraction — approximately $7,000 — has been paid off.

    “The Office of Development committed funds to this project…it is a debt the College has undertaken, and which SPACE feels a responsibility to help them resolve,” said SPACE Committee Treasurer and double-degree sophomore Alex Birnie.

    SPACE has received some financial help from German House, Harkness, ViBE, Oberlin Musical Theater and Oberlin Student Theater Associations. Because the Committee is a student organization, they are not directly involved in searching out possible donors, according to Birnie. “This essentially is what the fundraising office is responsible for,” he said.

    Earlier this year on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007, student representatives from various dance and theater organizations met with SPACE to discuss the opening of the South basement space.

    SPACE has encountered many problems in the process of obtaining permission to use South basement. They continue to be involved in negotiations with the administration to ensure that student needs for the rehearsal space will be met. The spaces are still not ideal; for example, the Committee still has plans for sound systems when they can find the funds.

    SPACE met with College President Nancy Dye twice annually to discuss its goal of a student performing arts center; last year, it stressed the immediate need for a student-run rehearsal space on campus. Dye initially proposed the use of South; SPACE agreed that it would convert adequately into theater and dance studios. They worked with Associate Executive Director of Facilities Eric McMillion to plan the renovation.

    Levin stressed the importance of making this issue as visible as possible to the new administration.

    “This is going to be a very pivotal period for the future of the student theater project with the new president coming in,” said Levin.

    The incoming College president Marvin Krislov has had experience in attracting donors for arts funding. Krislov currently serves on the Board of Directors for University of Michigan’s University Musical Society and is the Vice Chair of Detroit’s Mosaic Youth Theatre, a non-profit arts organization. Both groups are dedicated to furthering arts presentation and education.

    If Krislov chooses to make the Committee’s vision a priority, Levin feels that the Oberlin’s art community will continue to advance.

    “I think [a student-run space] really fits with the character of Oberlin. We like to do things ourselves, and we can. It’s impressive,” Levin said.

With reporting from February 23 and May 13, 2007