News last month that fewer than three in 10 School of the Arts (Sota) graduating students go on to pursue arts-related university courses stirred debate, with some saying this was too low a figure and asking if taxpayers' dollars were well spent in funding such a school. SMU School of Social Sciences Associate Professor of Theatre/Performance Studies (Practice) Margaret Chan said it should not be seen as a failure of Sota that their graduates go on to non-arts courses. She studied business administration at university before becoming an actress and earning a PhD in performance studies later. She added art is about meaning-making; it is understanding ourselves and society, reaching into ourselves and out to othersNews last month that fewer than three in 10 School of the Arts (Sota) graduating students go on to pursue arts-related university courses stirred debate, with some saying this was too low a figure and asking if taxpayers' dollars were well spent in funding such a school. SMU School of Social Sciences Associate Professor of Theatre/Performance Studies (Practice) Margaret Chan said it should not be seen as a failure of Sota that their graduates go on to non-arts courses. She studied business administration at university before becoming an actress and earning a PhD in performance studies later. She added art is about meaning-making; it is understanding ourselves and society, reaching into ourselves and out to others.