 Volume 141, Number 4Excerpts from Vol. 141, No. 4; February 15, 2008By Michelle Laxer
News EditorStudent artwork displayed in a campus art show sparked controversy between its organizers and the University administration earlier this week. The artwork was part of the “Vagina Monologues”-inspired V-Day Art Show held in the Center Room of the Elaine Langone Center. Administrators decided that three of the pieces contained offensive words, and asked V-Day organizers to remove the works. The organizers responded by flipping around the pieces so that the words in question could not be seen. They placed “censored by the general counsel” signs on them. Later, a University official confiscated two of the pieces, which have since been returned to the V-Day group. According to Tom Evelyn, director of media relations, the pieces violated various content guidelines. “The posters in question violated guidelines established in the Elaine Langone Center Poster Policy and the Student Handbook that were clearly outlined to the V-Day organizers in advance, both in person and in a subsequent e-mail exchange,” Evelyn said. “The organizers themselves acknowledged the guidelines in an e-mail before the display began.” V-Day President Sarah Concannon ’08 says differently. “I never received any guidelines from anybody,” she said. “I was asked by Phyllis Lipko [of the Reservation, Information and Conference Services (RICS) Office] to send in some information about the art show, and I was told that I had to agree that [University] administration has final say about the appropriateness of all art. I would be the first filter, so if I didn’t think something was appropriate, I wouldn’t have put it up.” Both pieces that were removed contained the same explicit word for sex, and one of them contained an explicit word referring to a vagina. The piece that was not removed included a word referring to a penis. Concannon believed, in the spirit of the V-Day movement and the manner in which the words were used, they would not be considered offensive. “In my opinion none of the pieces were inappropriate for Bucknell’s community. They perhaps would have been in an elementary or middle school setting,” she said. “In fact, within the context of V-Day’s message of non-violence, the use of these words made a lot of sense.”(read full article)
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University censors artwork tied to 'Vagina Monologues'. Mitchell makes pledge for a greener campus. Obama takes lead, still no clear choice.
- Sports
Water polo posts five straight wins. Saylor Says. Rowing team host 12th annual Erg Armageddon.
- Opinions
Editorial. Black History Month Feature: Lucille Clifton's 'Particular Light'. Issues or personality: political decision making in the age of character.
- Arts & Entertainment
Spring Concert presents: Third Eye Blind and Opener T-Pain. Eavan Boland to return to campus. Album Review: Jack Johnson's new album is his most mellow.
- Features
10th Annual Vagina Monologues starts today. Senior women take the stage. The Essentials: Making your clothes last longer.
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