There is something controversial in the air when it comes to the art department. In every single Plays in Process show, every theater production such as Debut Set or even Varsity, we mention empathy. Allowing audiences, since the dawn of time, to stand in someone else’s shoes.
Yet, inside our own space, some shoes are never even tried on. There is a place that is supposed to feel inclusive, when it’s actually not… at all.
Each season brings the same empty promises of diversity. Yet, each season, there seems to be only one “chosen” student of color who is lifted up as proof that Drew isn’t a white-dominated school. It’s always the same students – who constantly post about politics, and wear liberalism on their sleeves – celebrating tokenism instead of representation.
Now, yes, the theater department at Drew is relatively small. Such as the recent shows from this year. They are fantastic stories. It’s the same topics that are always presented and with the same group of actors performing it.
Students are often invited to perform stories about oppression, but rarely trusted to direct or write them. There are more double standards in how they’re perceived. Some students are called “brave” or “passionate” for taking creative risks.
But others, specifically, people of color, are labeled otherwise. It almost reminds me of some PIPS flyers with lack of real representation. The message is clear: our experiences are material to be read, but never a voice to be heard. It’s not just about being allowed to represent diversity, it’s making sure to define it.
Then there is the cherry on top, this secret exclusion that is never truly revealed. Certain students are willing to show passion, take risks that no one has seen before. Yet, when some other people do it, it’s suddenly “anger,” being dismissed or pathologized.
When a certain group of people write something ambitious, it is seen as aggressive. If these students were to understand the politics that they post about so much, then they would know that these labels are also microaggressions which can be harmful to such a tiny community.
But that’s the other thing with this place: it can be harmful to those who go through mental health issues, especially in a community meant to support them. It’s important to be careful. There’s freedom of expression, until it’s someone they don’t like expressing it.
Turning to social media to attack a classmate’s beliefs constantly doesn’t make things progressive; it’s simply cruel and immature. Such as a person’s political views, many people have their own views. This is just an example of harmful behaviors within a department meant to accept everyone.
It’s claiming to support human rights including accepting other’s opinions until it’s suddenly a different one other than their own. But posting against the same person on social media is simply just harmful to how a person wants to express themselves. Even in a place such as the theater department, there is much more of a divide than most people would think.
But, of course, the only exception to being accepted is if people are accused of sexual misconduct. Then, the story may be different for the average theater student here. Don’t worry, those people will be casted in the next show too.
As a reader, you’re probably thinking… who wrote this? This may be the distraction most people would be curious about. The reality is, no matter who is behind the pen, the theater department will always show tokenism, lack of accepting others and moral cowardice over real change and accountability. This isn’t just about one person or one group.
There are more people than that – even some that don’t even realize what they are doing is serious. The “sheep” mentality can also be a form of discrimination, one that most people do not want to talk about. This department will be too busy performing inclusivity instead of actually practicing it.
It’s the department that complains about it being like high school, yet still continues to have the same behavioral cycles of discriminating against minorities and feeling as though no one is really allowed to speak. And this, out of all departments, is the one with the mission of being welcoming for everyone.
This isn’t meant to be a slander article; this is about what it means to have a voice despite the reputation the world is reflecting onto us daily, how much the world is slowly warping the minds of even an art department. To be too focused on being serious and pointing fingers in hopes that a person leaves than focusing on one’s own adult life.
But clearly it’s the much more serious accusations that can still keep a student above the surface, which is a controversy that led me here. Every single person at Drew University, whether a theater major or anything else, deserves to have spaces where people are seeing them for who they are, not some tiny rumor or reputation that people are forcing out of you (unless certain people have a pending Title IX case against them, they’ll probably be accepted more than you think!).
For students who try to support global justice movements and claim to help the causes, this opinion should be taken into consideration with ease.
If this offends you, it’s important to reevaluate yourself organically instead of making excuses for your actions. Whatever excuse you may find against this claim, it’s still going to be another way to ignore the truth being presented in front of you. The truth that while we try so hard to find societal issues over yet simply cannot handle once the pressing issue is in front of us.
‘This is the valuable lesson to this article, theater is meant to teach empathy and it should be a space where every story is seen and heard, not simply just whatever is trendy or within favoritism. Be like me and find your voice, instead of hiding behind someone else’s shadow.
Submitted by an anonymous student.
