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Recession Slams SART
Story by Jess Stafford, Hilltop Staff Writer
Mars Hill-based SART, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, is pleaing for $80,000 to cover budget shortages from the economic downturn.
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Despite staying slightly under budget during the 2009 production season, the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre must raise $80,000 by December 31 to keep the summer theater alive, according to its president.
Several plays this summer, Funny Girl, Big Criminals and Death of a Salesman, received good reviews, but single ticket sales were down drastically, according to SART president Walt Currie.
In a letter linked to the SART website, www.sartplays.org, Currie states that the theater did very well with controlling costs and staying slightly under budget during the 2009 season but SART is still having difficulties with finances.
“The Board of Directors understands that you have been besieged with pleas for contributions,” Currie wrote in the letter dated July 29. “Few nonprofit organizations have escaped the impact of the financial times. That said, SART must ask for your help in paying the bills for the season and continuing the fine theatre we all enjoy.”
Several severe income declines made it difficult to complete the season. These declines came from single ticket sales, contributions, other income and the failure to receive a grant. The single largest decline came in ticket sales, $41,000. The next largest budget shortfall was a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that will not come this year.
SART is a nonprofit organization that requires the support of audiences and financial supporters to continue performing. The summer plays are performed in Owen Theater on the Mars Hill College campus.
During the season, several Mars Hill College students contributed to the performances in several ways, which included, but were not limited to, set design, acting and technical support.
Currie said there are several ways to show support that do not require giving money, although monetary donations are greatly appreciated.
Non-monetary gifts can be as simple as persuading someone to attend a play that otherwise would not go, donating something tangible, or by letting board members know of someone they can contact who could help.
SART will be posting the progress of fundraising on its website. Email Hoax Strikes Again
Story by Yi Lu, Hilltop Staff Writer
A large number of Mars Hill College students’ accounts were subject to email malice at the start of the semester.
The internet technology department at MHC, ITS, reported that students received emails entitled “Dear mhc.edu user” asking for usernames and passwords. The ITS department urged students in a global campus email not to reply to the emails and delete them at once.
As claimed in the emails, the information would be used to confirm a student’s ownership of the account. MHC System administrators, however, emphasized in email to students that they would never inquire students’ passwords via the internet.
They also urged students who had replied with their usernames and passwords to change their passwords immediately.
Similar email scams have happened before at MHC.
Presumably, the perpetrators attempt to acquire students’ account information to use them maliciously, such as delivering loads of spam messages.
ITS did not indicate if the bogus emails would break down the system. So far, everything is working normally.
Pranksters Drop Goat in Huffman
Seth Clark goes to investigate noises coming from the second floor of Huffman residence hall last week, and to his surprise, he finds a goat in the lobby. Security is called, and the goat is caught and loaded in the back of Huffman resident director Clint Lawing's truck. The animal is taken to a safe place until the owners are found. Photo and caption by Joshua Doby, a resident at Huffman.
News Briefs
The MHC Department of History with the University of Noth Carolina-Asheville and Western Carolina University are sponsoring the showing of The Stoning of Soraya M., Saturday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. at Carolina Movies on south Hendersonville Road in Asheville. The movie tells the story of an alleged honor killing in Iran in 1986. The film will be introduced by Samer Traboulsi, assistant professor of history at UNCA. A post-screening question-and-answer will be led by Andrew Kurt. This event is free for faculty and students with ID.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will be the first production of the Mars Hill College Theatre Arts Department, Oct. 1-4, in Owen Theater. The Vaudevillian romp through ancient Rome is the tale of a slave who plots to win the hand of a dim-witted courtesan for his master in exchange for freedom.
See full schedule.
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