On the other hand, the facility is too large for some of the cutting-edge programming that Peterson would like to present. Being a young campus, the building that' s been done to this point has been to keep up with academic needs. As we mature, I certainly hope that the university will build the performing-arts center we deserve. More recently, University Events programmers have been sticking it out at Mandeville, with no immediate plans to return downtown. They don' t have access to Mandell Weiss Theatre and Forum, which is shared by the Playhouse and the theater department, and in any case, high-quality theater is presented on campus by those groups.
Artistic excellence is a factor in UCSD presenters' decision-making, but so is accommodation.
We try to complement what' s already out there. We really emphasize world music and dance because of campus priorities. We have an international focus on campus, and I sincerely believe that the best exposure to the world that we can give students is through the arts. On the other hand, we really want to reach the larger community. I' m always looking for acts that are different and unique, even though that' s often tough to sell in San Diego.