The drama coordinator of Theatre St. Thomas will be retiring at the end of the semester. Her position will not be filled.
Ilkay Silk has been teaching at St. Thomas for 36 years, technically in two jobs. She teaches drama classes to students and is the coordinator for drama activities on campus.
Before the year began, Silk told administration she would retire.
“They have known for a whole year and we just found out on Monday that I was not being replaced.”
Assistant drama professor Robin Whittaker said in September he submitted a proposal for a solution to Silk’s retirement.
“The proposal had to do with bringing someone in on a one or two year basis in order to cover the directing part of the job and doing one or two shows for Theatre St. Thomas,” said Whittaker, “As well as attending to all of the administration for the next couple of years for all of our drama activities.”
Whittaker said to his understanding the announcement on Monday was in response to the proposal.
Silk said she doesn’t know what will happen to Theatre St. Thomas.
“I’m perplexed. Of course I’m upset. That goes without saying. But the emotions are very layered. One is perplexed. Deeply, deeply not understanding the decision. So deeply. I don’t get it,” said Silk.
Whittaker said the drama coordinator position will not be replaced but there will still be someone to teach the drama concentration courses.
“There will be no disruption to the course work offered through the English department. There is no reason to be concerned at all if you are a drama concentration student or if you’re simply planning to take drama courses as electives.”
Silk and Whittaker are not taking the decision lightly.
“We’ve written to the President. We are asking students to rally around. We need to make administration realize the loss of cutting out that position,” said Silk.
Students have already taken action and started a petition asking for the school to keep the position.
Fourth-year drama student Julia Cann said in one day they collected over 200 signatures, both online and in person.
“It seems that always it’s the drama department that suffers. And I’m not saying that our sports teams aren’t great and psychology or criminology aren’t great. I’m not saying that they are less important than we are,” said Cann. “It just seems that drama always gets beaten down because people don’t really see us as something important.”
Cann created an online petition on change.org but she decided to do a hard copy version as well.
“The online petition isn’t always as recognized just because people can forge signatures because you are not actually signing anything. So, I thought I would make a hard copy and run around and ask people and tell people what is going on.”
Fourth-year student and president of Theatre St. Thomas Nicole Vair has enjoyed her experience with the group over the years.
“I have been involved with TST since my first year and it has helped me grow as a person as well as allowed me to meet some of my best friends in university,” she said. “I think eliminating the position will greatly affect Theatre St. Thomas, which has benefited so many students here.”
Along with the petition, Cann will submit a letter to President Russell asking for her to reconsider her decision to cut the position.
Cann plans to hand in the petition and letter this week.
Silk said there is more to the drama coordinator position than most would think.
“Part of what the drama coordinator does is a lot of outreach into the community. I’m upset or saddened that that will no longer be there. That takes years to build up,” she said. “I’m hoping that the administration will realize that this job – this drama coordinating job – is more than directing a play.
“They are taking away the community involvement.”
