But I am confident that there are some that would caution such a shift, or at least a shift too far in that direction. Personally, I would’ve been turned off during my college search by a school that put too much emphasis on the arts. Perhaps I am not bourgeois enough, but I have never really been one to appreciate that weird bike-shaped sculpture outside Daniel Building. It might just be my limited perspective as a single student, but it seems that most Wofford students are like myself. The fact is, facilities exist around campus that cater to the type of students that the new arts center seems to be designed for, and they are hardly ever utilized. I hardly ever see anyone observing the art hung in Campus Life and the library, and the fine art general education requirement seems to be regarded as a joke among the majority of students. I was surprised to find there is a music-recording studio in the basement of Olin.
Perhaps it is the administration’s goal to attract students that care more about such things by the construction of this facility and the expansion of related programs. But it is worth noting that Converse is extremely arts-centered, and they have been experiencing financial hardships resulting from declining
At the end of the day, I do not believe that the Arts Center will be the end of Wofford as we know it, but will likely bring about a change in the average Wofford student of the future. I was upset to see people giving a standing ovation after the mere announcement had been made, and now that I know a little more about it, I’ve remained seated.
— Luke Basha