Suffolk University’s student body has extended its dedication to art within higher education with the creation of Performance and Arts Council, or PAC, a club dedicated to embracing arts visibility on campus.
Keira Haughey, a senior public relations major at Suffolk, is the founder and first president of PAC and is working tirelessly to ensure Suffolk nurtures third spaces for arts students, or any creatives on campus.
“Our mission is to be an extension of PAO and make more accessible art on campus. PAC helps us to host more events and keep it centralized,” said Haughey.
The club works to put on events for the Suffolk community, including open mic nights, drag shows, costume sales and more. For Haughey, the club is a space where students of all niches and interests can explore their art. Whether you’re a yodeler or a poet, PAC has a place for you to express yourself.
The council has been in talks for a while amongst advisors Kathy Maloney and Antoine Gagnon, as well as previous advisor Kristen Baker. This semester, the PAO wants to focus on art by students, for students. With less people in the office and less money to work with this semester, PAC has been a challenge and privilege to get off the ground.
“Of course we’re hurting with the loss of Kristen Baker. It’s really unfortunate that she had to go and we’re all definitely feeling that. But, Kathy does a fantastic job. She just has a lot she oversees, as well as Antoine. Resources in the office have been scarce. This is an initiative that the PAO has wanted to do for a long time, so this was the perfect time to start it,” said Haughey.
Like other organizations around campus, PAO groups took a hit to their budgets this semester. Earlier this semester, Suffolk’s Student Government Association agreed upon an increase in student tuition activity fees that will start next academic year. Of the $24,000 that will ultimately be raised from the $6 increase per student, $20,000 will go to PAO groups.
PAC currently has 12 active members, as well as numerous students who float in and out. With an e-board of diverse majors, the club has perspectives from all different psychographics. Jaclyn Durant, a longtime friend of Haughey and senior psychology major at Suffolk, is the performance arts chair. Ruby Colwell is vice president, while being a theatre and arts administration major. Haughey is president as a public relations major. If the passion for art is there, so is the capability to join.
“I’m so happy with the team of people I have. Everybody who comes in always has such a good perspective to add to the cause,” said Haughey. “There are people who aren’t even visual arts majors, which is so important because it tells me what people on campus want to see. Do people want a poetry slam? A film festival? Like, what are the niches that we can cut into that will really interest people.”
When the club first started, it was just Haughey. Since, it has grown into a cornucopia of passion. Growing in members and ideas, the club has been busy planning events for Suffolk students to enjoy and express themselves artistically.
The club held an open mic night on the first Thursday of the month, one of their first events of the semester. PAC is an ever-evolving entity, because it is not just for students who label themselves an artist. It is for anyone who enjoys any medium of art in their everyday life, even if they are not the creator of it.
“The open mic night can be very intimidating. The lights are like the brightest things I’ve ever seen. It’s a little scary. That’s why we are having a karaoke night. You don’t need to be a ‘good’ singer to do karaoke, you just need to have fun,” said Haughey.
The supportive nature and culture of the club is palpable. Artists supporting artists and students supporting students. With changes in the arts department, money being a stark barrier, PAC is working hard to uphold the arts community, as well as keeping its place in higher education.
“In higher education, it’s really important because art is something that pushes the barriers of social and political boundaries,” said Haughey. “Especially right now, there are so many people who are in the arts at Suffolk. We have Seriously Bent, Who’s Askin’, W!CKED, the list goes on and on. It’s a big community with so many passionate people that by putting it to the side and neglecting it, you’re losing such good work from people who care so much.”
With limited resources, PAC still intends to host events for all Suffolk students, artists or not, on campus. They will be hosting a costume sale next Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Sawyer second floor lounge, as well as their annual drag show Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in Sargent’s Keches room. Auditions for the drag show will be held this Tuesday and Thursday for students interested from 6-8 p.m. in Sawyer room 1108.
“With the events we put on and work, we’re not getting paid, it’s literally just passion. Passion for arts and their place on campus,” said Haughey.
Students who are interested in getting involved with PAC can attend their meetings every Tuesday from 5-6 p.m., open to anyone and everyone.
