SGA bill to donate $20,000 to theater project under review
The Vermillion Theater could be getting a significant boost from the USD Student Government Association for its renovations.
Senate Resolution #5, which calls for the donation of $20,000 to the Vermillion Downtown Cultural Association, was referred back to the Finance Committee for further discussion during SGA’s Tuesday night meeting.
Introduced by SGA President and VDCA board member Sami Zoss, the resolution would allocate the money from the SGA reserve fund to the VDCA to help with the purchase of a $42,000 new projector and sound system for the theater.
The reserve fund is composed of leftover General Activities Funds that have not been used by student organizations.
The average amount in unused funds is $20,000, but this year’s reserve fund has about $60,000.
“It’s like unused GAF, so instead of it just disappearing and it going somewhere, we still control it and it goes towards special projects,” Zoss said.
Over the summer, USD officials and members of the Vermillion community started the VDCA to take on joint projects that benefit both USD and the city. One of the first items on the list was the purchase of both of Vermillion’s theaters, which were in danger of closing.
Zoss said the downtown area is a huge selling point for USD, and by improving it, more students may want to enroll.
“The more we can sort of keep it upbeat and vibrant and active, I think the more students you’ll see wanting to come here for the atmosphere Vermillion provides as well as the atmosphere USD provides,” she said.
VDCA board member and USD Dean of Students Kim Grieve said there are many donors who have contributed to the project so far. Last week, the VDCA received a ,000 grant from the Bush Foundation for the project.
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“The board came to the university to ask for support to really be able to make the theaters go and go in a fashion that would be exciting for the community, USD, students, faculty and staff,” Grieve said.
So far about $160,000 has been raised for the project, $50,000 of which came from a pledge from the USD Foundation.
Other renovations that still need to be completed in both theaters include a new facade and new seating.
Grieve said the goal of the project is to add to the vibrancy of the community and strengthen the relationship between the community and the university. Students will be able to get tickets to the theaters at a discounted price, and will be able to hitch a ride downtown for shows during the winter.
“We’ll be having some vans that will pick students up and take them down and bring them back as well,” Grieve said.
VDCA board member and USD associate professor of Political Science Betty Smith also spoke to senators about the importance of the theaters at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“Our view from the very beginning was that if we lost those theaters downtown we would create this big, gaping hole downtown and it would be much harder to attract students and faculty to come and be part of our community if our downtown was deteriorating and had these big gaps in the street front,” she said.
Smith said she sees the Vermillion Theater becoming an event center that will show films as well as host film festivals, bands and academic discussions.
“It would include a stage, smaller numbers of seats but more comfortable seats, a really nice concession stand (and) a little more social space,” she said.
After being discussed more in the Finance Committee, the resolution could be passed next week.
(Photo: Student Government Association President Sami Zoss speaks to senators about a resolution that would donate $20,000 to the Vermillion Downtown Cultural Association to help pay for a $42,000 projector and sound system. Malachi Petersen/The Volante)
