Art Students Raise Concerns 

BROWNSVILLE- UTRGV Brownsville art students held a town hall meeting to discuss concerns about safety and equipment in their building. 

Rustenburg Hall, a nearly 75-year-old building, is causing the UTRGV administration to face backlash. 

 Some of the issues students face in the building include old furniture, poor ventilation, plumbing, rat infestation, and inadequate space.  

The UTRGV administration addressed some of the concerns that were brought up at the town hall, which was organized by students.   

Executive Vice President and Provost Janna Arney, Dean of Fine Arts, Jeffery Ward, and Director of the School of Art and Design, Ed Pogue were the administrators present to discuss this issue. 

Art studio major and organizer of the town hall, Yental Marquez, expresses what some artists go through when working on sculptures in the facilities.  

“I’ve seen like these sculptures of very elaborate sculptures that just been destroyed, hours of work gone, and also work in the gallery, like being presented and possibly being sold has just been destroyed,” said Marquez. 

Student testimonies ranging from art destroyed by leaking water and rats; to mold on the wall and art equipment that is falling apart show students’ frustration.   

The Director of the School of Art and Design, Ed Pogue, gives students an idea of what is going to be done.  

“Evaluating resources and respect to those kinds of short-term solutions, identifying them and then identifying the needed resources and the capability of those resources to complete those tasks, and again, with the idea of a strategy of a longer-term plan,” Pogue 

Pogue adds that he wants to give students as much feedback about where they are in the process.  

Students are asking for the removal of pests, improved ventilation, and a quick- fix of all safety hazards and leaks. 

UTRGV alumni from the art program, Cecilia Sierra, mentions her own experience in the program.  

“So, it’s always felt like we’ve been to like on the side or like put little Band-Aids on little problems,” said Sierra, “I ran the risk of like not graduating with financial support due to these inconsistencies.”  

Sierra adds that even with the inconsistency of the program such as lack of classes, adequate equipment, and space, her mentors were able to help her graduate.  

The administration adds they will do as much as they can to fix the issues at Rustenburg Hall but since the building belongs to Texas Southmost College there isn’t much they can do.  

KVAQ-TV reached out to TSC and is waiting for a response.