UA theater plans near completion

Officials give preliminary OK The two off-campus movie theaters that closed at the beginning of this semester may soon reopen --Ebut not for their original purpose. According to Undergraduate Assembly member Dan Schorr, a member of the group's theater committee, Provost Stanley Chodorow has given a verbal endorsement to the idea of turning the former Eric 3 Campus Theater into performing arts space. "We have orally detailed the proposal to the provost and vice provost," the College senior said. "They have committed in theory to the idea." Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum endorsed the proposal and commended the UA members' work. "The work that is underway has my complete support, as I believe that any set of activities on that location that will directly benefit students, increase the amount of vibrant activity at that location?and provide for upgraded facilities [will] be terrific." McCoullum added that even though she has not seen the final proposal, she is "looking forward to learning the details." "I also commend the UA members and other student leaders for their work to invest, quite literally, in our community," she said. Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta agreed, saying he believes the proposal will greatly benefit the West Philadelphia community. Moneta said the opening of a performing arts space will bring life to "a critical area of West Philly." He also said that security, as a result of the reopenings, will greatly improve. "I think that the greatest safety occurs in numbers," said Moneta. "[This plan] will contribute to a safer environment right on the edge of campus." UA member and College junior Eric Tienou, an active participant in the theater committee, said the UA has sent a copy of the proposal to Moneta. It will then be forwarded to McCoullum and Chodorow. "[Moneta] is our liaison to the provost and the VPUL -- they will receive the proposal within a week," Tienou said. In the meantime, the committee will "try to talk to different groups who are interested in the space and try to achieve a consensus," Schorr said. "We'll keep lobbying to get through with this process," he added. The biggest obstacle, according to the UA committee members, will be coming up with the necessary funding to carry out the details of the plans. But students remain optimistic. "The provost said he's waiting for estimates," said Performing Arts Council Chairperson Rosalie Will. "But the impressions are that [the administration] is very willing to spend the money to work something out." Will, a College senior, expressed concern, however, that performing arts groups might not receive full attention in future Revlon plans, if more space is allocated to them now. When asked whether this would be in conflict with the plans for the Revlon Center, Moneta said the building of a performing arts center separate from a student center would only help to alleviate space problems. "I don't think there's a conflict since our needs are fairly substantial," Moneta said. "Revlon would have to be the Taj Mahal to to meet every need on campus." The AMC Walnut Theater, located on 40th and Walnut streets, is also included in the committee's plans, Schorr said. "We'd like to draw a theater company to occupy that space and work with Penn Film Society on showing its films there," Schorr said. "This would free Irvine for the performing arts." Schorr added that this plan, in contrast to the one involving Eric 3 Campus, would not need administrative permission. "The UA, with SPEC, is encouraging perspective companies to come to see the site," Schorr said. "We sent out letters and will follow up on those letters." The UA unanimously endorsed the theater committee's proposal at last Sunday night's meeting. UA Chairperson Dan Debicella said he was enthusiastic about the idea after the group's Steering Committee met with the provost yesterday afternoon. "The provost is 100 percent behind the idea of turning Eric's 3 into a performing arts space," the Wharton junior said. "[And] everyone I know is positive as long as it is financially feasible." Chodorow could not be reached for comment for this article.