HCC, Past and Present

Rep Stage, the professional theatre company located at Howard Community College, will be closing this year. I have heard nothing but good things about it and yet I never managed to get there, largely because I couldn’t convince myself that I could afford it. Needs vs. wants. You know how that goes.

Way back when I had an opportunity to tour the inside of the Columbia Flier building, I was amazed to see how much space was occupied by costumes, props, and other equipment belonging to HCC. I can’t remember if it was the property of Rep Stage or the College’s own theatre department. Maybe both? Anyway, it’s an impressive amount of stuff. 

If it belongs to Rep Stage, I wonder where it will go? I am envisioning the yard sale of the century.

Over the past decade HCC has made a few unpopular choices to end some of the programming that endeared it to the community at large, notably:

• Children’s Learning Center
• Swimming pool
• Rep Stage

At the same time, they have been forging ahead to expand the ways they can meet the the needs of students:

• New apprenticeship programs
• On-campus food pantry/Fueling Dragons Program
• Family-friendly study space 

During the height of the pandemic the college allocated resources to assist students whose financial situations were negatively impacted. In addition, they forgave the outstanding debt of 2,050 students, enabling them to move forward in their academic programs.

It is hard, if not downright painful, to lose things in your community that you love. Columbia/HoCo has had plenty to say about the end of the childcare center, the swimming pool, and Rep Stage. It seems to me that all three of these decisions have to be viewed in the context of HCC becoming more and more focused in its mission. This began while long-time HCC President Katherine Hetherington was at the helm and continues under current President Daria Willis. 

As the old adverts used to say, “this is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” As we mourn the things that used to be, thank goodness there’s plenty to learn about what’s happening right now. 

FYI: Today I learned that HCC has a student newspaper, the HCC Times.

Thoughts?

Village Green/Town² Comments