Editorial : Potential closure of SSO would affect every SU student
A budget shortfall to the tune of $375,000 could cause the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra to close Friday, four months before the season’s end.
Syracuse University students, staff and faculty members have commendably pledged money and time to prevent the closing of the SSO. But if the orchestra closes its doors, the consequences would affect every SU student, not only those with a professional interest in classical music.
If cultural centers such as the SSO disappear, so will their most frequent patrons: the educated middle class — in other words, professors. Some at the College of Visual and Performing Arts worry that losing the SSO will subsequently mean the loss of professional instructors who agree to work at SU because they can play in an internationally acclaimed symphony orchestra.
But attracting talented, accomplished faculty members from any field involves more than pay, benefits and what the campus can provide. If cultural outlets in the city decline or disappear, the city and thus the university become less marketable to professors.
Likewise, students will feel the economic hit to the city if its art centers no longer draw people out of the suburbs and neighboring counties. The SSO brings considerable business to the city, as symphony-goers dine at local restaurants and shop in downtown boutiques.
Downtown houses some wonderful eateries and one-of-a-kind stores students consider staples. The loss of the SSO and other cultural centers would seriously threaten their ability to exist.
Finally, the loss of the SSO could mean a hit to the reputation of VPA and SU. Students seeking classical music training often attend conservatories or very specialized colleges. SU is able to compete with these schools, in part because of the strong relationship between the Setnor School of Music, VPA and the SSO; the mentors the SSO provides; and the reputable experience it offers music students.
The possible decline of a few departments as a result of the SSO’s potential demise could affect the collective reputation of our university.
