Editor:
I have been a music student at the university for the past four years, and every time I open a Wildcat I am amazed at the lack of depth it has to offer. I am referring to the section you label "Arts." My complaint is twofold.
First, how can you insult our intelligence and our values by printing reviews of the latest pop sensation or advertising the upcoming local garage band's concert and labelling them the "Arts"? Now, before you get upset, I recognize these examples as being a form of artistic expression and worthy of notoriety, but the label "Arts" encompasses a vast spectrum of disciplines, and I think the Wildcat's view of the "Arts" is a bit narrow. To print only examples like these every day becomes old and one-sided.
This brings me to my second point. A school newspaper (and I could be way off the mark) should serve the needs of its student body. This university has quite a reputable Fine Arts college which rarely receives any coverage from the Wildcat promoting any of the events, performances, displays or exhibitions that occur daily. The typical Wildcat reader probably doesn't know that our Photography department has a new photography display every couple of weeks featuring well-known artists in their field, or that we have a wonderful art museum that brings in new displays constantly and also has a large collection of well-known works. They might not know that the Committee on Dance has dancers who are all nearly on their way to professional careers or have already had careers and have chosen this school to get a higher degree. The typical Wildcat reader might never know that the Theater Department is so successful that it has formed its own semi-professional company. And they will probably never know that the Music department mounts full-scale opera productions, has a fantastic symphony orchestra and puts on recitals throughout the school year. They will never know because the Wildcat won't have anything to do with them.
Oh, I know that we in the Music department have tried to inform the Wildcat about the talent present at this university, but every time we seem to have been given the brush-off. But then again, we shouldn't have to try to get the school newspaper interested in its own school. Maybe when Lyle Lovett is feeling a little better the students here will actually read about the arts right here in their very own school.
Michael Harris
Music Education Senior