The two years I spent at Seattle University would have been a mere fragment of my college experience without the Lee Center for the Arts. I majored in film studies, and certainly grew as an academic in the classroom. However, the most significant education I received on campus occurred within the theater program. 

During my time as a student, I acted in five productions, all performed in the Lee’s black box theater. Unlike many of my peers, I didn’t have a strong background in performance during high school. My first time acting was in my second quarter at Seattle U. By chance, I saw auditions at the Lee that were being held for Glengarry Glen Ross. One didn’t need to be a theater major, and it was just a five-minute walk away. 

At this point, I hardly knew anyone other than my roommate and had nothing better to do. I was a film student who just wanted to write and direct, but I thought, “Let’s give this acting thing a whirl.” 

Then I got cast; it was a supporting role, but it gave me somewhere to be and a goal to work towards. This play ignited a fire and passion I didn’t know I had. I didn’t look back and was in a production each quarter until graduation. At school, acting became a strong source of expression and self-worth. Something I had only considered dabbling in has since become an outlet and craft I long to keep practicing. The second show was a big leap; Secret in the Wings, which had music. I quit the jazz band my freshman year of high school and thought that was it for me. But no, they wanted me to sing in my second show. No one was more surprised and reluctant than I was. But everyone was supportive, and apparently, my voice wasn’t horrible. 

Now, singing has become one of my favorite hobbies, and I have since started a little band with my cousin. Whether I’ll win an Oscar or Grammy anytime soon remains to be seen, but acting and singing are two delights in my life discovered at the Lee.

In addition to the passions and skills I found, it’s important to mention the people I met in the theater community. A production often serves as a bonding experience,  as people work in close proximity night after night for months. You undergo a rollercoaster of emotions with your scene partners, which builds trust and mutual respect. I went from being a very lonely, closed-off individual to being able to confidently express myself alongside a group with whom, by the end, I was always closer. It was a brand-new experience for me, which provided me with some of my closest friends.

Though the merger with Cornish will provide a new campus and theater spaces, it won’t fill the void that will be left at Seattle U without the Lee Center. Walking from Seattle U to Cornish quickly isn’t feasible, public transit is inconvenient and students are robbed of a nearby space to practice. 

Art and theater students aren’t the only ones who will be affected. What about Seattle U students of different majors who are interested in live performance? The distance makes art significantly less accessible to these individuals. I, for example, auditioned for the show on a whim because of its accessibility and convenience.

I don’t exaggerate when I say some of my fondest memories to date occurred within the walls of the Lee. Seattle U’s Jesuit mission is to educate the whole self. As the official university website says, “Jesuit education is about excellence with purpose, empowering you to realize your full potential through an inclusive and holistic educational experience.” In my first quarter at Seattle U, I took a theology class where the professor taught us to embrace things in life to make one larger, freer and more loving. I think with the help of the theater community, I did what Seattle U asked of me. Alongside unique people, I grew as an artist and a person. Nothing was a greater confidence booster and inspired more introspection than telling stories at the Lee Center. The demolition is a careless destruction of a building with a rich history and precious memories. The Lee’s absence will completely rob other students of potentially having the experience and opportunity I had.