Devilish deals: art, research, and activism with/in the institution

The annual ethnographic performance SJS-Who? is an example of how theatre may survive or even thrive in an educational/institutional environment that seems increasingly indifferent to the arts and humanities. In addition to being a meaningful educational experience for many students, SJS-Who? has successfully increased the profile of performance work within the department, college, and university. It also offers an opportunity to publicly critique university policy and campus climate. However, there are risks to aligning theatre with social science, and about the work's efficacy as an activist tool within a larger institution.