OCR Text |
Show Yengich Leads Art Censorship Discussion by Amy Hodson Forum staff writer College Relations Vice President Gil Cook. Cook, who said that the In 1953 an iron sculpture of a horse on the University of Georgia campus was destroyed by dormitory students. In a similar incident, the abstract steel sculpture, "Untitled (Horse Form)" on Orem's Utah Valley State College campus was apart in the middle of the 1995. in night As part of Salt Lake Art Center's exhibit, "Making Waves: Controversial Art in Utah" a documentary was presented on Oct. 22 about the destruction of "Iron Horse" on the University of Georgia campus. Afterwards, a discussion about its similarities to the UVSC case the issue of censorship was led by defense attorney blow-torch- ed Ron Yengich. Yengicn joked that "other than the Provo City Council" he knows the very least about art in Utah. However, Yengich said he does know about the first amendment. "The beatury of the first amendment is that everyone has a voice," Yengich said. "Censorship is an effort to control other's thoughts." According to Yengich, the sculpture "Untitled (Horse Form)" by d Richard Johnston was late one night apart because of orders from UVSC's blow-torche- sculpture was taken apart to be cleaned, had voiced his opposition to the sculpture in the past. According to Will South, the art exhibit's curator, the maintenance workers ruined the sculpture because they were unable to dismantle the sculpture properly due to lack of light. South stated in an essay, "Making Waves: Controversial Art in Utah" that art in public places should be discussed by and decided upon by a well informed public. South wrote that unfortunately rational discussions, town meetings and polls are often excluded to avoid conflict. "If the art disappears, so will the controversy wrote South. Utah Arts Council member Aden Ross said in the case of "Untitled" the destruction of the piece was stealing from every member of the public. The sculpture was funded by the "Percent for Arts" program that is supported by Utah taxpayers. Ross said every member of the community, in effect, owned the sculpture. The reasons for art censorship was one of the issues discussed by Yengich. He said that art is censored because it challenges Yengich said. Patty Dominguez, a Salt Lake City actress, said the destruction of art is allowed because it is not considered real property like a house or a car. Dominguez said the only real value placed upon art is the money it is worth. "There's an attitude that art is not valid," Dominguez said. members of the ASWC Senate passed a resolution to create a Club Presidents Council for the 1997-9- 8 academic year. Arts & Humanities senator Patrick Kibbie, the sponsor of the resolution, said the resolution was voted down at the ASWC Senate meeting on Oct. 6. "The main reason the former resolution was voted down was because it stated clubs would lose 25 percent of the total dollars budgeted to them if they failed to send a representative each month to the meeting," Kibbie said. According to Arts & Humanities senator Jason Weaver, the old resolution lost by one vote. The new resolution was changed to reflect a 10 percent penalty if a club didn't send a representative to each council meeting. "The adoption of the council is a good thing," said Weaver. "It is easier to work together on activi- ties and projects and clubs become stronger when there is a common goal." ASWC President Helen Langan wrote the resolution. The resolution states that a Club Presidents Intelligent compromise should be the cornerstone for any public displays of controversial art, according to South. Otherwise, destructions of art such as "Iron Horse" and "Untitled" will continue. As one art professor from the University of Georgia said, "People do not realize the significance of insignificant actions." Flight Aspiration people. "Art is often censored by people who are afraid," well-meani- ng Flight aspiration: Trevor Southeys mural depicts two nude figures became the target of protest after installed at the Salt Lake International Airport Club Presidents Council Approved For 1997-9- 8 Academic Year by Marie Donovan Forum staff writer At a meeting held on Oct. 20, "People say, 'When are you going to grow up and get a real job?"' Several people agreed that one way to combat art censorship was through effective education. South wrote in his essay, "The level of free expression in the visual arts is highest where there is the clearest commitment to art and art education." Council will be created in which the presidents of each club would meet together once a month throughout the academic year. These meetings will be cochaired by the ASWC president, chief justice, parliamentarian and vice president. The resolution's purpose is to provide better continuity between clubs. Better continuity establishes more involvement by Westminster's increased student population. Weaver explained that when clubs join together to sponsor a particular project, both attendance and resources are greater. This process of joint, sponsoring is called "piggy-backing- ." "The clubs fall into two levels of activity," said Langan. "They are either successful or they do nothing." Langan feels the council will help clubs become stronger, more organized and an avenue to get important ASWC information out to club members in a more timely manner. Some students feel that lack of time is one objection to the council. The resolution increased the number of meetings to one a month. "There shouldn't be any objections about time," said Weaver, "because the presidents don't have to be the ones to attend. They can send a representative if they can't attend." Former Ski Club President Trent Snarr said, "I am opposed to this council. I think it is a waste of time." Snarr felt that if the president of the club wasn't required to attend each meeting and could merely send a representative, the camaraderie between clubs would not be established. "One of the purposes of the council is to increase attendance at Student Activities Commission (SAC) activities," Snarr said. "I agree that student involvement needs to be increased, but I don't think the council is the way to do it." "I don't agree with Trent," said French Club President Natalee Lund. "Ideally, it's best for the council to have the president attend each meeting. But any responsible representative from a club will benefit the council. Good communication is the key to a successful council." Lund said the council is a great way to unite the various clubs and to keep them informed of activities on campus. "If the clubs are united, it only helps unite the entire campus," she said. it was First Council Meeting Held by Daisy Richardson Forum Copy Editor The first Club Presidents' Council meeting of the 1997-9- 8 school year was held on Friday, Oct. 31, in Reherd Dinning Room. The Club Presidents' Council meeting is held once a month and provides opportunities for all clubs on campus to get together and share ideas. "ft is a way for club presidents to get to know each other and work together on activities," said ASWC President Helen Langan. "It is also a way to make the clubs feel like they are truly part of ASWC." ASWC Vice President T'Ann Ularich also hopes clubs will work together collaboratively. AIDS Week is coming up and Ularich hopes to get help from clubs such as Pride and the and Society, Ularich said she plans to use club boxes in the ASWC office to communicate with the clubs. Representatives from nearly all the clubs on campus were there to support their club. All of the representative had the chance to explain what their club does and to tell about a few of their activities. Some students were representing as many as four different clubs. The publicity committee of SAC is working to create a calendar that will include all activities from every club. Langan would like the clubs to submit a list of activities to ASWC Historian Paige Croswhite. Croswhite plans to take pictures of club activities and include them in the ASWC video yearbook. Claudia Marques, head of campus scheduling, said that all clubs need to be sure to schedule rooms through her. She can be reached at ext.4122. The next Club Presidents' Council meeting will be held on Friday at noon in November, The date wifi be determined at a later time. If you have any questions about the Club Presidents' Council, contact Langan at ext, 4145. P-M- ed e-m-ail |