LETTER: Glenn Miller is lucrative

Dear Editor,

I am writing in regards to the demise of the Programs and Entertainment at Utah State University. I see the Glenn Miller production as high beneficial, especially to me as a student at USU. Less than 0.05 percent, $68,000, in the university’s allocation of education and general fund is allocated to Programs and Entertainment for educational proposes.

USU claims “in-kind” support in the amount of $127,000. This figure is derived from the value of these products and services as if they had been actually purchased by a client organization.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Programs and Entertainment received more than $70,000 in private donations. Gross income for the Glenn Miller show is approximately $450,000. It costs about $300,000 to put on the show.

USU Food Services gets $15.65 for each ticket sold for a gross income of $135,000 in addition to upgrades and drinks they sell at the show. The University Inn grosses $100,700 for their Glenn Miller packages they sell. So, at a cost of $68,000 in actual cash, USU receives more than $235,000 in gross income on the investment. This funding contradicts USU’s claims it “cannot continue to subsidize” the program due to financial considerations.

Pat Terrell, vice president for Student Services, reports the show had a deficit this year. According to university sources, this deficit is covered by last year’s profits.

The debt service or mortgage payment on the TSC is about $50,000 per month. I think the income generated by the Glenn Miller show for USU Food Services alone probably takes care of one of those installments for a savings in students fees for all students. In other words, the Glenn Miller show pays for the TSC while they occupy it for six to seven weeks.

As far as I’m concerned, any program that pays for itself and helps keep my costs down gets my vote. Seems to be a rather lucrative trade-off to me.

Roger L. Karren