2008 Woodie Awards
New arts center a welcome addition
Hsin Wei
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Campus Voice
Stephanie: "Hey! What's that they're building next to the parking lot?"
Susan: "Oh, that's the new Visual and Performing Arts Center (VAPC), which will host guest speakers as well as theatrical and musical productions on campus."
Stephanie: "Really? I thought that's what the Flint Center was for. Why do we need both buildings?"
Like Stephanie, it's not uncommon for De Anza students unfamiliar with the new Performing Arts Center to question its necessity on campus. Won't it simply be another Flint? And if so, do we really need it?
The truth is, the VAPC will provide a number of new services to De Anza students that will go above and beyond what the Flint Center offers.
During the 1970s, the Flint Center, a nearly 3000-seat performing arts venue, was accessible to both De Anza students and the surrounding community alike.
But shortly thereafter, management problems arose, and it was decided to contract out the operation of the Flint Center to an external company.
Soon, the Flint Center became one of the South Bay's premier venues for high-profile speaker engagements and large gatherings. Rent prices rose, and as a result, students not only lost free access to the Flint, they lost cheap access as well.
By contrast, the VAPC will be a small center, managed by De Anza, and accessible to all students in the college's Creative Arts Division. Seating approximately 400 people, it will be more appropriate for smaller, more intimate student productions.
For too long, De Anza students majoring in the creative arts have gone without a proper forum for displaying their productions. They need a place to exhibit their efforts and achievements.
The VAPC will also be energy efficient and multi-functional, including an art museum, classroom space and backstage prep facilities.
We can still decide sometime in the future to contract the VAPC out. But right now, its main advantage is that it's under our authority. We have the power, and we can use it to lift up the reputation of De Anza and attract even more students.
Do we need the VAPC? If we want to make our campus more educational, practical, functional and beautiful, the answer is clear.
Susan: "Oh, that's the new Visual and Performing Arts Center (VAPC), which will host guest speakers as well as theatrical and musical productions on campus."
Stephanie: "Really? I thought that's what the Flint Center was for. Why do we need both buildings?"
Like Stephanie, it's not uncommon for De Anza students unfamiliar with the new Performing Arts Center to question its necessity on campus. Won't it simply be another Flint? And if so, do we really need it?
The truth is, the VAPC will provide a number of new services to De Anza students that will go above and beyond what the Flint Center offers.
During the 1970s, the Flint Center, a nearly 3000-seat performing arts venue, was accessible to both De Anza students and the surrounding community alike.
But shortly thereafter, management problems arose, and it was decided to contract out the operation of the Flint Center to an external company.
Soon, the Flint Center became one of the South Bay's premier venues for high-profile speaker engagements and large gatherings. Rent prices rose, and as a result, students not only lost free access to the Flint, they lost cheap access as well.
By contrast, the VAPC will be a small center, managed by De Anza, and accessible to all students in the college's Creative Arts Division. Seating approximately 400 people, it will be more appropriate for smaller, more intimate student productions.
For too long, De Anza students majoring in the creative arts have gone without a proper forum for displaying their productions. They need a place to exhibit their efforts and achievements.
The VAPC will also be energy efficient and multi-functional, including an art museum, classroom space and backstage prep facilities.
We can still decide sometime in the future to contract the VAPC out. But right now, its main advantage is that it's under our authority. We have the power, and we can use it to lift up the reputation of De Anza and attract even more students.
Do we need the VAPC? If we want to make our campus more educational, practical, functional and beautiful, the answer is clear.
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