For the first time in its existence, Alden Library has been censored,
Faculty Senate members said at their first meeting on Monday.
Portions of an exhibit titled The Art of War: The effects of war on art-making on the third floor that featured art and literature about past and present wars were taken down on Friday. The partial removal was due to complaints from distinguished professors Charles Alexander, Richard Vedder and Alonzo Hamby to Julia Zimmerman, dean of libraries, Vedder said.
Faculty Senate discussed the censorship of the exhibit, and many said their rights to view the display were violated and the exhibit should be fully restored. Members voted on a resolution and sent it to Zimmerman, suggesting the removed pieces of the exhibit be put back until a policy is created.
Open books and propped posters displaying images of war -some hovering in on bloody, mutilated bodies in aftermath of battle scenes, another an abstract parody of Picasso's Guernnica -still remain across from the distinguished-professors pictures. The books that were removed, which are all owned by the library, were unpatriotic and unfavorable to President Bush, Vedder said.
OU property does not present diversity with this issue and we don't have the right to display our opinions on OU property
Vedder said. If one side of an issue puts up a political display then everyone should be able to put one up.
Some members of Faculty Senate said they believed the three professors coerced Zimmerman to remove the exhibit. They also debated whether she had a choice in the matter.
Distinguished history professor Vedder said the accusations were ludicrous.
I had a very small part in the complaints that were made. I just responded to an e-mail that Charles Alexander sent and I haven't even talked to Julia Zimmerman about the issue
Vedder said. I have no control over what the library does. I and the other professors simply alerted her of the problem
there was no coercion.
Members of the senate had other opinions. One professor shouted out that he heard if Zimmerman did not comply with the request, the three professors said it could damage her career.
The fact is that three distinguished professors decided that these materials were offensive and wanted them taken down and they were
said Fine Arts professor Carolyn Cardenas at the meeting. She said five pieces were removed.
Interim Provost Kathy Krendl said Fine Arts librarian Gary Ginther put up the exhibit, and after receiving complaints regarding the exhibit's placement and appropriateness, Zimmerman, Ginther and Associate Dean of Libraries Gary Hunt decided to remove two pieces of the exhibit.
After talking with Julia
it was apparent to me that the decision was a mutual one and the pieces of the exhibit that were taken down are available for viewing in the Fine Arts Library
(also on the third floor)
Krendl said.
However, when Post reporters attempted to view the removed material, they were told to obtain permission from Krendl or Hub Burton, associate vice president of communications and marketing.
When asked about the resolution, Krendl said, Julia has not received the resolution and will make a decision regarding those requests in the near future.
The Post contacted Zimmerman's office for comment, but Secretary Paulette Hodges said Zimmerman refused to comment. Because of a new university communication policy implemented by President Roderick McDavis, all questions regarding institutional issues are being directed to communications and marketing. Burton refused to connect The Post with Zimmerman and said Zimmerman's comments on the issue of coercion would match the university's response.
McDavis said at the faculty senate meeting that he was concerned about the process initiated once there were complaints about the display. He said there should be a policy created for such issues and gave Krendl the responsibility of creating a proposal.
I have been commissioned by the president to accomplish two things: One
to create a policy regarding censorship
not only in the library but also in all departments; two
