Letter: Piano access for students too restricted

The Fine Arts Department has a tendency for restrictive policies. Not only do they restrict student use in the recording studio, the piano practice rooms in the Fine Arts Building are officially off limits to students who are not enrolled in a music class. This prohibits other students who love to play but don't have room for another class in their schedule from being able to use a quality practice facility. The only other pianos on campus reside in the residence hall lobbies and are often contently occupied, and most of them are also out of tune. This includes the piano in the Campion music room. Our campus simply does not offer the privacy and freedom you need to be able to experiment with your lyrics or musical abilities.

I have personally contacted Josef Venker, the chair of the Fine Arts Department, to ask him to reconsider this exclusive policy. I also contacted ASSU President Jesse David and most recently the staff at RHA to try and find a solution to this issue. I have made it clear that I would be completely happy to sign in and sign out, to create a scheduling system, sign a waiver or to comply with whatever administrative concerns they have if it means that ordinary students can access the piano rooms, but so far no one is willing to accommodate for this. Honestly, I had more access to creative outlets at my community college than I do at Seattle University.

I would be proud to attend a university that offered such a wonderful space to all of their students, whether or not they were enrolled in a class. The privilege of having access to musical instruments is so profound that it should be available to everyone on campus. What are we paying this tuition for anyway?



Amelia Kent
Junior Social Work Major