As a student at Quinnipiac University who is deeply involved with the arts, I feel disappointed and frustrated by the decision to tear down Clarice L. Buckman Theater. This building has been a symbol of creativity and artistic expression on campus, a space where students of all majors could gather to experience and participate in performing arts. The decision to demolish Buckman is not just the loss of a building — it represents the loss of an important cultural heartbeat at Quinnipiac.
Countless students have found their voices on that stage, learned to express themselves with confidence and discovered passions that they will carry on for the rest of their lives. The performing arts encourage collaboration, discipline and empathy. These skills are essential regardless of what career paths students ultimately follow. By removing this space, students don’t have a safe space to be themselves in an artistic way.
What is even more disheartening to me is the decision to remove the theater major. This double blow not only eliminates a physical space for performance but also erases an academic pathway for those who wish to study the arts more seriously. The theater program is extremely important to students who want to express themselves in ways that they can’t in other programs or classes. The removal of the theater program is not needed, and students deserve to keep that passion.
The arts are not just an extracurricular activity or an afterthought, they are integral to the human experience. They inspire innovation, challenge perspectives and foster critical thinking. Being a part of the theater major, Buckman Theater provides opportunities for students to step outside their comfort zones, to tell stories that matter to them and to connect with one another in ways that textbooks and lectures cannot replicate. The loss of these resources will leave a void in campus culture and student life that will be hard to fill.
It’s understandable that universities must evolve and make difficult decisions about resources and spaces, but tearing down Buckman Theater and cutting the theater major feels dismissive of the arts community. Instead of removing these opportunities, Quinnipiac should invest in them. A vibrant arts scene enriches campus life, attracts prospective students and builds a sense of pride for us students.
Hopefully, there is still time to reconsider. Students, alumni and faculty who care deeply about the arts deserve to have their voice heard. The removal of Buckman Theater and the theater major sends a message that art is expandable, which is the wrong message to send.
As someone who cares about Quinnipiac’s future, I hope the university will take the time and reflect on what it stands to lose. Buckman Theater has been the backdrop of countless memories, performances and milestones. Quinnipiac should reconsider these decisions and recognize the immense value that the arts bring to campus.
There are also practical consequences to consider. Students interested in pursuing careers in entertainment, dance, singing, acting and event production will have fewer on-campus opportunities to gain experience. The loss of Buckman and the theater program makes it harder for students to build resumes that showcase leadership, project management and creative skills. Beyond campus, this can affect Quinnipiac’s reputation with the theater and arts community.
Buckman Theater has been a mix of the university and a community. Performances of all different kinds of clubs and organizations were open to the public, inviting families, residents, alumni and just people from the Hamden area. Personally, my band, Area Code, practices in Buckman almost every week. Not having this space for practice would be extremely difficult because there is no other space where we can hold all of our equipment. Removing this space weakens those community ties.
The arts foster dialogue, empathy and understanding. In an increasingly divided world, theater has the power to bring people together and spark important conversations. Losing Buckman means losing a safe and dynamic space for those conversations to happen. I truly hope that the administration here at Quinnipiac rethinks this decision, not only for the current students but for generations to come who deserve the same opportunities.
