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Current Issue: Volume 130, Number 1 July 14, 2009
Ed/Op


Staff Editorial
Consider student talent in EMPAC project

Posted 02-01-2006 at 2:11PM

By now, everyone has heard of EMPAC, the most prominent of the Institute’s pending capital improvements. When completed, it promises to be a cutting-edge facility for the development of the arts. Its construction is a step that should make us leaders in the field. Brilliant minds will be attracted to the school, and we should see amazing progress in the field of experimental media.

So what is the problem? There is no mention of the students in any of that. In fact, the student body will hardly be able to make use of the facilities, even though the student art programs are desperately in need of new rehearsal space. Currently, the symphony orchestra—consisting of over 70 musicians—is confined to a tiny space in West Hall. The dance clubs are restricted to gyms in the Mueller Center and Academy Hall. All the vocal groups must share a select few rooms and limited time slots. All of these organizations could make excellent use of this beautiful new building. And yet, they are the very ones who will not have access. Students will be able to use it as performance space, and nothing more—and even then, only rarely.

The Institute is going to be bringing in numerous leading artists to use the EMPAC building. The administration’s efforts to expand RPI’s horizons are laudable, but it needs to consider its greatest asset: the students. There is so much talent to be found in the student body, talent that has yet to be tapped. Rather than focusing exclusively on attracting brilliant minds, the administration should make use of the resources that are already available; they should be creating brilliant minds.The Institute should not abandon its ambitions to lead the world in the electronic arts, nor should it forsake its own community. When EMPAC opens, let both the students and the world partake of this wonderful opportunity.



Posted 02-01-2006 at 2:11PM
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