Students are asked to give back to donors
Students should take action that acknowledges the sisters who funded the new recital hall under construction on campus, said Gary Kiger, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, at Tuesday’s Associated Students of Utah State University meeting.
Kiger said there are many ways students can give back to Kathryn Caine Wanlass and Manon Caine Russell, the sisters who donated $6.3 million to build the hall.
Students could put a bench under a tree with a nametag on it, put a piece of metal in a sidewalk, or they could buy a seat in the recital hall that could recognize the students at USU, Kiger said.
“It’s a gift that will give perpetually, year, after year, after year,” Kiger said. “A thank-you to the sisters who have given so much to Utah State, to the college, to the students.”
ASUSU’s Administrative Assistant, Joe Barnard said a bill was proposed by Brandon Halford, HASS Senator, for ASUSU to purchase two seats for $1,000 and six seats for $500 in the recital hall.
Barnard said the bill did not pass through the Capital and Support Committee and, if written the same could not pass for another two years. However, Barnard said, he believed the bill will be re-written for reconsideration.
“It didn’t pass by a 3-2 vote, so it was fairly narrow and they didn’t have the luxury of Dean Kiger talking about it,” Barnard said. “The very same vote could be 5-0 now.”
Kiger said those who buy a seat will get their name on a plaque on the seat, similar to those in the Ellen Eclles Theatre. He said during the inaugural season of the recital hall, those who bought seats will be able to sit in them for performances, but after that the seats will be open to anyone.
Kiger said the seats in the recital hall were very expensive so part of the money raised will pay for the seats. The seats are priced from $500 to $5000. Kiger said his family bought three seats.
The recital hall cost a little over $8.3 million to build, Kiger said. He said the money that was not given to them by the sisters has already been attained in pledges.
“This is a doner-driven project, it’s not coming from state money, it’s not coming from the student’s tuition,” Kiger said. “It’s an incredible gift for students and faculty here at Utah State. Imagine being in this recital hall and hearing those performances.”
Kiger showed pictures of how the recital hall will look. He said the architects wanted to put the “origami look” of the mountains, on the building. Accoustical engineers from New York came to perfect the sound inside the building, he said.
Kiger said the sisters donated the money because they are interested in student development.
“Whenever we have conversations with the sisters,” Kiger said, “the thing that’s always foremost in their minds is the students, and how the students can benefit.”
-meganroe@cc.usu.edu