Students need a small, intimate performance area, but the ground floor of the Student Union is not the right space.
When the Union’s Cabaret closed in 2012 to make room for a rather slow Wendy’s, student musicians, comedians and performance groups lost the opportunity to perform in the Union in front of small audiences.
In order to replace this space, the Union will transform the high-traffic area in front of Alpine Bagel Cafe into a performance area with lights and amplifiers this summer.
The Union’s senior associate director, Tony Patterson, stated that performances will only occur at night.
While this might help minimize the distractions that will occur, the area’s tables and seating make it a go-to for relaxed studying while grabbing a bagel, not for watching performances.
During an interview with a Daily Tar Heel reporter, Patterson stated, “If it doesn’t work out, people will let us know by their complaints.”
When making structural changes such as these, asking for feedback prior to construction is much more conducive to a successful relationship and service than waiting for complaints.
It is understandable that the Union needs to swiftly find a way to provide a performance space for student groups.
Rather than inconveniencing studying students on the first floor of the Union, the performance space might be better suited in the half of the Union’s basement that has yet to be renovated.
