The Charles in the swipeable future?

Walk in the door and all your thoughts of nightmare parking and one-way streets evaporate with the smell of fresh popped, buttery popcorn. A modern chic box office meets you; a smiling face welcomes you to the Theatre. Multicolored floors and the wood-paneled concession stand lie ahead as you purchase your ticket, buy your snacks and move towards your theater.

But what if you no longer had to pay for your $6 matinee (before 6 p.m.) or $8 evening ticket with cash or credit? What if you could simply hand over your Evergreen swipe and receive a ticket in hand? This may be the way that things are heading here at Loyola College.

"The Charles Theatre was on the short list of places to get Evergreen swipe access," said senior Student Body Vice President for Policy Ryan Kamp. "There seemed to be some interest on their end, and I think it would certainly be welcomed by the Loyola students. The school is constantly in talks to expand swipe-ability off-campus."

Freshmen Jennifer Nordmark and Bridget Farrelly both agree that they might make more effort to visit The Charles Theatre if they had Evergreen swipe access. "I've always wanted to (go)," said Farrelly. Freshman Ariell Watson has visited The Charles, but agrees with her peers. "I would go anyway…but it would be a nice convenience," she said.

The Charles Theatre offers "first-run specialty films in addition to Hollywood movies, foreign films and cinema classics," quotes the theater's website. Located on Charles Street, it is only 2.8 miles from Loyola's campus. The theater has remained a historical landmark in the city for 108 years and was originally intended to be a cable car barn and a powerhouse, according to the website, www.thecharles.com. In 1939, it became the first movie house featuring all newsreels, the site explained. In 1999, the theater expanded its one theater to five with stadium seating and a new lobby.

"It was a really cool and clean place," said sophomore Marshall Myers. "The building was attractive on the outside and on the inside as well." Watson felt the same. "It has a fun atmosphere and shows interesting movies… I like it much better (than commercial theaters) just because it's something different."

While many Loyola students take the shuttle to the Towson Town Center and go to the Towson Commons AMC Theatre, Evergreen swipe may prompt more Loyola College students to travel outside the realm of shuttles and into Baltimore City. As Loyola attempts to expand the 2006-2007 Year of the City initiative, the swipe access at the Charles could be a big step forward.

Baltimore native and English/Writing major Echo Prana Felicity Salisbury says that The Charles Theatre "is a great place for film noir/underground or independent film/foreign film fans to go to stay updated on contemporary cinema." Salisbury added that she had been to the Charles on numerous occasions throughout the course of her life thus far. "The Charles is where I go to get what I call my 'French and/or Culture fix."

But The Charles Theatre is not merely an Indie and foreign film hang-out. Recently, such popular movies as Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and There Will Be Blood have aired on the Charles screens.

"The Charles is an experience," Salisbury said. "It attracts a different crowd. Every(one) from intellectuals, artists, families, students, hippies, beat poets, and even film connoisseurs can all find themselves welcome and comfortable in The Charles environment."

Other theaters such as the Senator, located on York Road, were taken into consideration in the process of expanding off-campus swipe access. With their recent financial troubles and not accepting debit or credit cards, they are no longer in consideration because they were unable to support the necessary technology.

"The Charles was also chosen (for consideration of Evergreen swipe access) because of the wealth of other businesses in the area, including the crepe shop," Kamp said. "Not only do I think I would go to the Charles more often…but based upon the data showing increased business at every Evergreen-capable business, I think many students would react similarly."

Indeed, it seems as though many students do react similarly to Evergreen swipe access. "I think that any chance to give Loyola College students more of an opportunity to expand their Charm City experiences as well as artistic endeavors is definitely worth a try," said Salisbury.

Evergreen swipe access at The Charles Theatre could allow students to stop in the city and catch a movie instead of merely driving through the city on their way to Fells Point. This symbiotic relationship between Loyola College and The Charles Theatre is still under consideration by the Student Government Association.

Salisbury said it best: "I say, let our LoCo people go! With their evergreens to The Charles!"