** ABOUT THIS SITE & IT’S CREATOR;
This site is designed to be a catalyzer for Robert Mendel’s (my) idea to harness the sentimentality of 1970s-era alumni to support the rehabilitation / renovation / general improvement of SHANLEY HALL / PAVILLION. Shanley is the only dedicated venue for independent, non-faculty guided/influenced student theater and comedy on the Evanston Campus. It is where we rehearsed HAiR in 1977, and where Mee-Ow presents its shows today, along with many other student theater productions.
This site is also cognizant of the “chilling effect” recent events on campus and elsewhere may have toward alumni gifts, and attempts to bring information, history, and context to these stories - especially the potential for more costly “capitulation” to the Trump Administration.
To quote Steve Rogers, former Arts Alliance Board Member with me in the 1970s: “Although I don’t like capitulating to Trump in anything, I think if universities can strike deals to make payments that are spread out over long period of time and that go for a specific thing that may be under funded, like trade schools, it may make sense to do so in order to save ongoing research projects. Perhaps naïvely, it seems to me that if we ever get a sane administration again, the universities can sue to end the extortion. I am worried about the cessation in research and the layoffs at universities. We need to focus on the next elections because they may be our last.”
Such a “settlement” may very well be in the University’s best interest, but I hope to make the community aware of alumni concerns with regard to recent DEI reductions, Student Theater cancelling performances over content-related controversies, and legal settlements that give pause to impulses toward generosity of alumni.
In this difficult moment I believe we need to be clear-eyed and united in our support for the University, but with hopes that it doesn’t blunder into more “brand destruction” by not being full-throated with it’s support for freedom of speech including the encouragement of broad, brave, un-fettered (sometimes even “un-hinged”!) Student Theater and Student Comedy Presentation! - “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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ON THIS SITE:
*”Renovate Shanley Hall?” - My personal website folder with my original letters of inquiry and a history of Theater, Facilities, & Performing Organizations at NU.
* HI RESOLUTION ARTS ALLIANCE IMAGES FROM NU ARCHIVES - 1970S - Pictures from Arts Alliance shows (along with other community contribution pictures) which were donated by me to NU Special Collections in 1980 - now contained in the Private “NU Theater” alumni Facebook page’s “Albums”
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NOT ON THIS SITE:
My Facebook pages for shows I Produced at Arts Alliance - 1976-1980:
Photography by Anne Fishbein Listen to the complete recording done at the pick Staiger concert hall June 6 1980 on Soundcloud! https://on.soundcloud.com/KIOgfsRpRzU2lWgKcV
Robert mendel’s appreciation pages:
