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E-mail message to the
Campus
September 1, 2005
REMARKS
AND ESSAYS
Colleagues:
I am writing to share with you a decision that I have made.
Our Lawton Gallery has been planning to stage an exhibit titled, “Axis
of Evil: The Secret History of Sin.” This show includes many stimulating
and provocative pieces, pieces that would find favor with some and would
outrage others. To my way of thinking that is precisely what a university
and its Art Gallery should be contributing, and I commend the Lawton Gallery
for understanding this essential role.
After consulting with others, though, I have concluded that one piece
in the exhibit does seriously cross an important line. That piece involves
a representation of the current U.S. President with a handgun being pointed
at and an inch or two away from the President’s temple, held by
the hand of someone outside the frame, finger on the trigger. The flag
is in the background. The words “Patriot Act” prominently
label this scene.
I have heard the aforementioned piece described to me as “only art.”
But, to call it “only art” is to disparage the important role
of art in shaping our culture, forming our beliefs, and directing our
actions. Art matters. Precisely for that reason and having come of age
during a period in our history when political assassinations came in all
too rapid succession, the advocacy of assassination is something I view
as neither abstract nor theoretical. It happens, it is real. I further
believe that the one piece of concern very reasonably can be seen as expressing
advocacy of assassination.
It is not a question of being too provocative. There are other pieces
in the show that, I think, various members of our community would find
even more a provocation. It is a question of whether this campus will
use publicly provided resources for what, very reasonably and by many,
will be construed as advocacy of a most violent and unlawful act.
Yes, we must provoke. And, we must maintain an environment supportive
of that societal obligation, proudly inherited from the days of Socrates’
gadfly, a commitment held by all universities worthy of the name. However,
at no time has that been an absolute; we, ourselves as an academic community,
regularly draw lines on what is and is not protected under that principle.
The larger society, of course, does the same – for society as a
whole and, through law, for our campus as well. Where should the line
be drawn in this matter?
It is my firm and continuing belief that we should be relentless in not
only allowing but actively insisting upon unfettered challenges to public
policy, to conventional wisdom, and to societal positions no matter how
unpopular. Whether it be in a political science class or in the Lawton
Gallery, challenging and questioning a president’s decisions, character,
or integrity fall in the realm of fair expression. But, in a society all
too violence prone, using these or other venues to appear to advocate
or suggest assassination is not something UWGB may do. Consequently, have
I advised Provost Hammersmith, Dean Hughes, and Director Perkins that
that one piece proposed for the Lawton Gallery exhibit is not to be exhibited
on our campus. If that means that those arranging the exhibit will then
decide not to mount the rest of the show, then that is our unfortunate
loss.
This is a most serious matter for our university, one about which colleagues,
all standing on principled grounds, may deeply disagree. However, my greatest
concern in making this decision is not the heat, criticism and inevitable
charges of censorship that can result; rather, it is that you and your
colleagues may read it as threatening the relentless pursuit of truths
in our classrooms, laboratories, studios, and galleries. I repeat, we
have not only a right but, more importantly, a responsibility to actively
question and challenge and to assure an environment conducive to our fulfilling
that critical role. And, in so doing, we fulfill our obligation to pursue
the high caliber scholarly and artistic inquiry essential to keeping our
university and our society vital.
Bruce
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