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NEWS

End of U-Square to impact theater

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Also by Lynn Heidmann:

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by Lynn Heidmann

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

While the relocation site of the University Square Theatres is yet to be known, city officials say the demolition of the local theater this summer will impact student life.

University of Wisconsin Associate Vice Chancellor Alan Fish said while most of the retail stores in the square have already found new locations, the campus-located movie theater has not.

"The theater will be gone, and I don't believe there is a relocation planned," he added. "They haven't made any decisions [about what businesses] will be in the University Square when it's rebuilt because that step is still not for three years."

Like Fish, Ald. Austin King, District 8, said he is unsure where the theater will be relocated, adding it seems unlikely the theater will be able to return to the same site or even find a location on campus.

King said the destruction and possible loss of a movie theater on campus could be devastating to student life, especially for new students living in the southeast-area residence halls.

"Many of us would like to see [the University Square Theatres] kept downtown because they've been there forever," he said. "We still have other good theaters downtown, but they don't have the same type of movies."

The University Square Theatres did not return calls as of press time.

University of Wisconsin freshman Kerry Wall said she attends the University Square Theaters once every few months, but probably would not travel off campus if the theaters were relocated.

"It's about convenience, and it is too much of a pain to take the bus to the movies instead of walking across the street," she added.

Though Wall will not be living near the University Square Theatres next year, she said its destruction will have an impact on future students by taking away from some of their entertainment options.

"I think [losing the University Square Theatres] would take away a valuable commodity in our little world as students," she said.

Though the future of the University Square Theatres is still undecided, Fish said officials and students are currently looking into other options.

With the development of plans for a new Union South, Fish said the arrangement might include special rooms, which could be used to show popular films.

Another reason the theaters might choose not to return to the University Square when reconstructed is the costs, Fish said.

Fish added though the University Square Theatres is popular among students, the business was actually struggling.

"From the university's perspective, it's a popular service to have nearby, but the problem with [the theater's] location is it wasn't getting enough business to survive," he said.

And for UW freshman Matt Burt, the theaters have not been an important service.

According to Burt, the theaters do not provide a wide variety of films for students, and because of the lack of variety, many students would be unaffected by their destruction.

"I won't really be affected by the change," he said. "There are other things to do, and there haven't been any good movies there."

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Anonymous (March 7, 2006 @ 4:43pm):

But do people know about MU Movies? Not only are there films during the weekends (that are cheaper than U Square), there are free movies in the Unions all the time, including Sneak Previews! Even though U Square is going down, don't forget about the Union!