Geopolitical Graffiti Scars Student Center Cut out Your WMHB
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Cut out your WMHB Listening Guide on p. 13. Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Waterville, ME I 04901 I Permit #39 I Geopolitical graffiti Coiiiiiiittee may review scars Student Center—¦ ——— speakersm8$H i i controversial was necessary. The proposal stresses the By Marty Hergtert right of free speech and the upholding of STAJ3?WH ITER order atcampusevents, bat also states that l|l| l|l l|l |l i |l[ l|l|l|l|l| |l| |l|l |l|l| |'|I| I|I|I| li |l|lf iW III |l| i ll i I, I, |l| i|l|l|l|ll||| iii|li mil the College has the possibility of ". exploring! the background of the Colby' s subcommittee on Time, controversy as well as the larger idea* Mafltter, and Place, part of the Campus stttrounding the issue/' Ca _r_mi_n-ty Committee, discussed a This "opportunity to explore'' could proposal easier this month which would in volvediscussioi. groups orpx_kik.orvi.ns allow for the tevkw of coutroVersiai o» the controversial topic, accordingla the speakers at Colby. proposal. It is not clear whether these The proposal comesin response to such explorations should oceurbefore oraftera controversial speakers as Earnest van den speaker attends. Haag, who spoke at Colby last November Knowingin advancewhatthe speaker against the necessity of gay-rights is capable of saying and the likely I , . ; ' p legislation in Amenca.Concernedthatthe -dnseq/dences of the eveni could Also Student Center, ^ Graffiti artists left a strong geopolitical message on the walls of the student handbook contained little or no influence the possibility of allowing cleaning. but students never saw it because the building was closed off for immediate goidelines for bringing such controversial controversialspeakers, said McArthur. speakers to campus, the subcommittee "We are striving to maintaina freetange "Unfortunately, closing the building had of debate and also to protect members of le drafted a statement which, if approved, By Laura Pavlenko an opposite effect," said Toman. "Peop thecommunify/'hes-ud-^Weare not trying NEWS EDITOE thought we were trying to cover things up <pi«ld amend the handbook's rules on campus events, said Robert McArthur,, vice ttr limit speakers, but are_ tryiog to be and rumors started . My philosophy is to never responsible about who speaks and place Graffiti artists left their mark on the Student hide things from students." president of academic affai rs and dean of ' ' some safeguard* for students who rroghK Center lobby last week, with black stencilled "It did cross our minds not to give facility;" " geopolitical slogans and figures. The removal "There is nothing wrong with be offended/' gratification to the people who did it," she Thotigh the statement of the graffiti cost $1000 in student fees. controversial speakers/'sajuf Kenneth tee doesn't said. "The graffiti was a sad thing." r specifically $fc3te huw speakers couid be "I don't know what the desired effect of "We weren't trying to be mysterious," 94, Mary Low toll president,^College is a the graffiti was," said Seitzinger, dean good place toconf xorit controversialideas; restricted, some worry that the excess red Janice said Seitzinger. "We were just trying to clean tape could discourage of students. "It was not directed at one group hut I think both sides of the issue should certain speakers* the place up." "Some speakers attend on short of people." be di$cu$sed, either by others speakers or notice* There were no signs of forced entry into If speakers have to attend meetings or Statements like, "The writing on the wall: according to Frechette, by students, and the ultimate decision the building, John musfbereviewediirst , theymayuoteome/' Look/Listen/Read/Write/Think/Learn/ director of Safety and Security. Either the about what speakers attend should he in Take Action!" and "No compromise in the the hands of studenlsf said Laura Steinhrink '93,a member of the vandals hid in the building before it was Time Mattfler-f _&ce_mbcdmmitfe__ Defense of Mother Earth," were written next WhiMfte optafeoV<rf tho$ewho spea k / "Most closed or found a door unlocked. $p*akwv chai#e _ni honorarium which is to stenciled designs. One design had a figure " letter, on campus may not accessary reflect the Despite the "Dear Graffiti People paid by Student Activities,and if they are with objects in the stomach area that read le, of views ot the College ot student group Seitzinger said she suspects a sing group deemed too controversial this moneymay "Pro Choice." Another design depicted a head responsible for both acts. "I have sponsoring the ©vent, thecommittee felta people was of not be appropriated/"*-! with the top lopped off near the eyes with a hunch it was some Colby people," she said. system revieWingcontrOversial speakers arrows pointing outward as if to suggest Toman agreed. "I think the project itself escaping knowledge. This design read was done by more than one person. The "Apathy sucks, Wake up!" stencils show that someone was prepared," The stenciled designs and other messages she said. Governor Moon Beam were accompanied by copies of a laser writer- The College still does not have any leads printed letter glued to the walls and tables of or suspects. Anyone with any information the Student Center lobby. about the graffiti incident should contact either The letter said: "Dear Graffiti People: the dean of student's office or Safety and What do you mean apathetic? I'm a Colby Security ? student and I'm proud of it. I do my part. I play die, get laid, do dope. I participated in the sit-in last Halloween — Jeez, I even recycle. How's that fpr direct action? You've got the wrong school butthead. There's no apathy here! Sincerely, A Real Colby Student." The graffiti was discovered by a Physical Plant worker when he arrived at work nt 5:30 a.m. last Thursday, The worker contacted Safety and Security, who in turn contacted Gina Toman, assistant dircctorof student activities, the dean on duty at the time. A PPD painting crew began cleaning off the walls at 7:00 a.m. Tomannnd Physical Plant workers Photo by Cina Wertheim decided to lock the Student Center to keep the incident "undercover and Democratic presidential hopeful J erry Brown spoke las t JFrida y in Lorimer Chapel. Brown was to prevent students from inhaling in Maine to campa ign before the caucus on Sunday, in which he nearly tied Paul Tsongasfor toxic fumes from tho paint and first place. Brown lost momentum when he f inished f ifth in the South Dakota primary on cleaning materials, according to Intricate slcmils suggest that this was not Security photo Tuesday. Toman. an ent irely spontaneous act. Rumors began circulating campus last week for two reasons. In one case, several people who saw the flag in front of Miller Library lowered to half-mast assumed that it meant Soules' "veto" News Briefs jf Cotter had died. The flag had been lowered in honor of James Carpenter, the former art professor at Colby who died two power questioned weeks ago. "*"" " " ¦¦ »¦ i — Rumors of Cotter's worsening condition also began By Davi<lHoltzman Shootout for MS, circulating last Thursday after an incident in Dana dining STAFF WRITER hall. At lunchtime, Henry "Mr. Colby" Bonsall told students learn about hunger Cotter wasn't expected to live much longer, then asked that The second annual Hunger Banquet and the annual MS everyone stand and pray for her in silence for two minutes. Debate over thc proposed gender-neutral language Shootout, both events sponsored by Newman Council, will The flag is being lowered to half once again today in honor statement*eached a new level during thelastPtesidents' be held on Sunday, March 1. of the memorial service being held for Carpenter in Lorimer Councilmeetin g, as the powers of Student Association Under the theme "A Divided World," the Hunger Banquet Chapel. (CA.) President Jason Soples '93, were called into question. will teach participants about the "disparity of food Scotf Nv&sbaum"92 r Pepper hall president,read a distribution," according to Bill Higgins '93.5, president of the statement attacking Soules' exercise of his veto power Newman Council. afte-l theCouftcilVQtedmDe<.eittbe_'tOTe{ecttKege_tdet- i Ten percent of the participants will be served a five-course No sprin g concer t yet neutralp roposal. meal at the banquet, 30 percent will eat rice with sauce, and Stu-A is yet to schedule a band for the spring concert, Brought before the Council after approval by the J the remaining 60 percent will eat plain rice and sit on the according to Jon Yormak '93, Stu-A social chair. Education Policy Committee, the gender-neutral floor. Participants' menus will be determined by a lottery. A Yormak said that Stu-A is considering "The Band" or statement has been altered by several student leaders 20-minute film and a discussion on food distribution will "Spinal Tap" depending on who is available and when the and /acuity in an effort to get it passed. To ensure that follow dinner. bands are touring. students would hear about fhe statement at their hall Over 200 people have already signed up for the banquet, Another possibility is to schedule two smaller bands such meetings, Soules "returned" iheproposalto the dorms. but Higgins said Newman Council can accommodate 300 to as "Dominoes" or "The Romantics," with hopes of drawing Nussbaum deemed this action & veto, saying it was 350 in the Student Center. The event is being paid for by more people, but "we'll most likely go with one big event," unjust. participant's surrendered meal credit. Any proceeds will go said Yormak.