SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Marywood University students began the new school year by making their concerns heard.
Dozens of students, alumni and supporters gathered on campus Monday for a peaceful demonstration focused on the future of the university’s music, theatre and dance programs.
The demonstration comes weeks after students publicly raised concerns about changes to their programs, communication from university administration and the condition of the Sette LaVerghetta Center for the Performing Arts.
Students say they organized Monday’s event to show that, despite the university’s recent academic restructuring, they remain a close-knit community.
“It’s really just to show community support for the music theater and dance department, or what used to be the music theater and dance department at Marywood,” said Hudson Malinowski, a Music Education major. “We’re not really a banded department anymore. This was a good opportunity for us to all get together and try to have our voices heard about the issues we’ve been having.”
Marywood announced in July that it was creating a new School of Communication, bringing together Theatre, Multimedia Communication, Film, Music Production, Digital Storytelling, Podcasting, Broadcasting, Journalism and other creative disciplines.
As part of the restructuring, Theatre moved into the new School of Communication, while Music Education was administratively aligned with the School of Education.
Students previously told FOX56 they had concerns about curriculum changes, reduced methods and applied music lessons, advising, accreditation and communication surrounding the changes. They also raised concerns about the condition of the Sette LaVerghetta Center, which has experienced flooding and HVAC issues.
University President Lisa Lori has said Music Education students will continue completing the same National Association of Schools of Music-approved curriculum, including their required classes, lessons and ensembles. The university has also said students can take additional lessons when they are making satisfactory progress toward graduation, although those lessons may require a different payment method if they fall outside degree requirements.
During Monday’s demonstration, students said they appreciate that administrators have met with them, but they want to see those conversations lead to lasting changes.
“Administration has met with us, and they have said that they are planning to create a more positive environment to make Marywood a cultural hub for the arts,” said Emma Renard, a Music Education major. “We are really hoping to see that and we’re going to hold them to their promises.”
Renard said students also want to preserve the sense of community they have built within the arts programs.
“No matter what you can put us in a different building or say we’re something else, but we’re still going to be the MTD and we’re still going to work together and still make beautiful music and have beautiful theater performances and dance,” Renard said.
Malinowski said students are specifically looking for more transparency from university leadership.
“I’m hoping for a lot more transparency,” Malinowski said. “I’m hoping that administration considers what we have to say today and in the future. I hope that we continue to have more open conversations and honesty from the administration about what their plan is for all our programs together.”
Marywood says the restructuring is intended to strengthen its arts programs and prepare students for careers in an increasingly interdisciplinary creative industry. The university says the School of Communication will give students more opportunities to work across theatre, film, journalism, broadcasting, music production and other fields.
Lindsey Wotanis, director of the new School of Communication, said the university is investing in its programs rather than moving away from the arts.
“We’re actually investing in programs. We’re trying to grow our programs,” Wotanis said. “Lisa Lori, since she’s become president, has been committed to Marywood becoming a cultural hub for Northeastern Pennsylvania and getting more people through our doors to see musical performances, theater shows.”
Wotanis said university leaders also support the students’ decision to demonstrate.
“We support their right to speak out and want to support their program as well,” she said. “I know going forward there’s going to be open dialogue.”
She said students who have concerns about equipment or facilities should continue bringing those issues to administrators.
Marywood also announced Monday a new partnership with the Scranton Shakespeare Festival, making the festival the university’s resident professional theatre company. The university says the partnership will give students opportunities to work alongside professional actors, directors, designers, technicians and producers. (Marywood University)
The university says the partnership is part of its broader goal of becoming a cultural hub for Northeastern Pennsylvania.
For students, however, Monday’s demonstration was about making sure their concerns remain part of the conversation.
Malinowski said students hope their presence shows that they still consider the performing arts building their home.
“I hope that it shows them that they have a home in this building,” Malinowski said. “This building is our home despite the numerous issues that we’ve had with it.”
Students and administrators say they expect the dialogue to continue as the new academic structure gets underway.