BWW Blog: Say YES to Collegiate Student Groups

Playwrights Performance Group Production of "The Paper Artist" by Seth Walker.
Photo by Tyler J King

As I am graduating from Shenandoah Conservatory in the next couple weeks, I have been reflecting on the programs and faculty members that have positively impacted me during my time here, and ironically I have learned so much about myself and my craft outside the classroom.

I credit a lot of my artistic growth from spending time in the dance studio, practice rooms, and rehearsal hall during late nights after classes have ended, collaborating with my peers. I think that when going into any industry it is important to have a wide understanding of communication and how to effectively talk to your teammates in order to achieve a goal. Throughout my life, I have witnessed poor communicators, who like to blame faults on others instead of analyzing the issue and identifying the problem. Recently, less than average academic standing is being blamed on the subject of "student groups".

Failure to attend collegiate courses or accomplish assignments is indeed a major problem and should not be taken lightly, but blaming a student organization instead of the student themself is a rash and irresponsible assignment of condemnation. For professors who think that 'nipping a student group in the bud' will solve all problems related to academic standing, you are largely mistaken. You are only deafening the student's right to wield their creativity, which in fact brought them to this institution, and in turn, could cause their 'classwork' to become static and unsatisfying.

One student group that I personally have a great relationship with is the "Playwright's Performance Group" as it was the first organization to produce anything I had written. Every Thursday night at 11 p.m., a large community of students gathers to see a student-written, student-directed, student-produced, and student-performed piece of theatre, or as we call it: Playwright's.

After the show, the writer, director, and performers will do a talkback with the audience, where they will be given feedback on the evening's production. I have never been more thankful for a group that helps foster new collaborations. Without an outlet to have work produced, a lot of student writers would not have found their talent for creating new material.

The way certain personnel try to extinguish their student's creativity within a community of artists is disheartening. I understand the drive for a student's academic achievement, but by disallowing their involvement in groups that could further their craft and even increase their skillset, they are manifesting a different problem.

Though some might say they can control what their students do outside the classroom, they are generally false and I believe to be going about this situation the wrong way. This should be a conversation between faculty members and students on how to effectively balance the relationship between academic responsibilities and outside projects. As this is a school, this should be a teaching opportunity for the students where they are given the tools, vernacular, and mentors in order to accomplish their needs.

Also, let it be known that the majority of faculty at my University are very supportive of student groups and outside projects, for which I am thankful. This piece was written for the select few whose view of student groups is one-sided, with the hope they are able to support these organizations in the future.

I have found great artistic fulfillment from my work in student organizations and think that an undergraduate's removal from a student group should not be used as a punishment.