Multiple Source Story

November 24, 2003

The discussions usually focus on holiday parties, concession stands, and sweatshirt sales. But at this particular meeting of the Niagara University Players' Club, the officers are looking pretty grim. Looking at the treasurer's report, it's not hard to see why.

The Niagara University Players have been in existence for twenty years. It was started by a group of students who wanted the theatre department to be a structured organization, working together to make the college experience as inclusive and fun-filled as possible. Since then, the club has taken a rather dire turn for the worse, as funds have dropped frighteningly low in recent years, causing the officers to either pay some of the bills with money out of their own pockets, or even cancel planned activities.

The financial survival of the group depends on dues paid by theatre majors, set this year at $15 per student. In the grand scheme of things, this does not seem like an outrageous sum. To a college student, however, it can be a small fortune.

"The financial situation has become the crux of almost every meeting we've had so far this semester," says Emily Miaczynski, co-President of the group, and Senior Theatre Major from Erie, PA. "First of all, we're embarrassed that no one takes any pride in our [theatre] department. Maybe they don't understand that in order to sponsor anything, we need to be able to afford it."

Miaczynski said that she believes part of the problem is many theatre students do not realize how expensive theatre activities can be. A recent pizza party cost $200. The open bar at the Halloween party ended up requiring three theatre students to put in up to $40 of their own money. For the "Welcome Back BBQ," Clet Hall donated some of the food but the beverages and the paper products had to be supplied by the Players.

When asked why they hadn't paid their dues, many of the students simply said, "I'm too poor."

The Players are planning on buying five turkeys for the Thanksgiving party, and paying for all of the decorations and facilities for the Christmas party.

Miaczynski is beginning to take the lack of theatre major response personally.

The original deadline for the dues was Sept. 19, 2003, and so far, barely half of the theatre department has paid. Notably, almost all of the freshmen have paid, whereas very few of the upper classmen have paid anything for the group.

"People don't realize how much organization it takes to plan activities for 134 people. I think if they realized the planning and the time commitment that went into it, they'd be a lot more supportive," says Miaczynski.

Pat McGee, a freshman theatre major, said he paid his dues because he thought he had to. "I'm worried it won't pay off, because of what the upper classmen have said."

He said he would probably pay his dues again next year anyway, to feel as though he was part of an organization. "My donation for next season will depend on how much it pays off this year, though," McGee said.

Many of the upper classmen are skeptical because of the lack of motivation by the previous club administrators to plan any organized events that made paying dues worth their while. Many upper classmen voiced objections to not seeing where their contributions in previous years had gone. Despite the fact that the authority of the group has changed hands, many are still dubious.

Tarrah Hirsch, a senior Theatre major from Hilton, NY, said that it is out of defiance that she refuses to pay her dues, not financial trouble. "I have paid my dues for the last three years, only to be disappointed in nothing being planned and my money going to waste. I feel that I should get some of that $45 back before I start paying even more."

Miaczynski finds this extremely frustrating for her officers this year who she said are really trying to make a difference.

"We can show people the list of activities we have planned. We've tried to plan things that we know people will enjoy and that have been successful in the past. 'Who's Line is it Anyway?' and 'Family Fued' have both been very popular in previous years. We'd love to schedule those for this semester but we cannot do it for free."

The Players officers are trying to spread the word that becoming a member of the Players' club really will pay for itself by the end of the year. Announcements have been made in classes, with the support of the theatre faculty, reminding students of what the club is trying to do, and posters have been hung all over the theatre wing.

Rewards for being a Player, such as reduced admissions prices for seasonal parties, plus a $10 discount in the end-of-the-year banquet price, would seem to be enough to convince students to pay up. Still some people remain unconvinced.

"Even if you are a player, you still have to pay a fee to get in the door," said Justin Turnblom, a junior Theatre major from Honeoye Falls, NY. "I don't see that it even saves you any money to pay your dues in the first place, if you're not sure you're definitely going to the events."

"You pay dues to enter just about any club, sorority, or fraternity on campus," Miaczynski points out. "Theatre majors seem to think that our kind of family should come cost-free."

In spite of the resounding negativity toward the Players' cause, not all theatre majors feel that way.

Danni Quider, a senior theatre major from Grand Island, paid her dues for the first time this year. "I looked at who was in charge this season, because I honestly believe things will be better. Because I paid my dues this year, that's been motivation for me to take better advantage of more of the activities they are trying to plan. Despite our department's past mistakes, I respect our organization."

Another senior theatre major, Jordana Pellow, from West Seneca, said she paid to provide a good example for the underclassmen. "It makes the senior class look so incredibly bad when the freshmen are stepping up to the plate and supporting our department like they should and none of the seniors care enough anymore. I knew I'd be active in the department this year and wanted to pay accordingly."

That is the message that the very first NU Players group wished to spread 20 years ago at their inception, and the one the officers of this year's Players are struggling to instill.

As of now, Miaczynski and her officers are assuming that the dues that are going to be paid have already been paid.

The focus is now on saving as much of that money as possible to go toward the end-of-the-year banquet, the formal gala honoring the graduating seniors in the department. It is traditionally held off-campus at an upscale restaurant, fully catered, and elegantly decorated. Attendees have to pay about $20 to get in the door but that is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to covering all of the costs. Much of the money has to come from the savings the Players have collected.

Unless things turn around between now and the end of the school year, the banquet might see some serious reductions.

"As it stands," says Miaczynski, with a sigh, "our banquet's going to end up at McDonald's."