Dorm checks and student art: should the murals stay?
by Sarah Gaffney
Today, the calm, sleepy atmosphere of Foss 109 was shattered by a vicious banging on our front door. It was a combination of Campus Life and security leaders, poised to charge us fine after fine for health and safety code violations. Our egregious crimes? Vandalism and damaged property. They were there for ten minutes avoiding eye contact and evaluating our rooms, spending most of the time looking at the three murals covering our common room walls. After distributing several bright green assessments, they left with the ominous, “we’ll be in touch”.
I live with an art major, and she is one of the most amazing, brilliant, creative and fun human beings on the planet. Most of all, she loves to express herself and connect with others through her art. The murals on our common room walls are ART, not vandalism. She spent weeks and weeks painting our murals, working on them before her own homework, pouring her heart onto our walls. Now her beautiful, inspiring paintings that made our room into a home are being destroyed. Wiped away, as if they were never there.
I completely understand that painting on the walls is against residence hall rules, and we fully comprehended that fact going into this school year. The handbook clearly states, “unauthorized painting; altering or damaging rooms or actions such as creating lofts and barriers will result in a service charges to return the room to its original condition” (Colby Handbook, pg. 81). But every year, my roommates and I take the time to paint over our murals and leave our room better than we found it. We typically spend our finals week alternating between cramming for exams and sadly covering up the vibrant masterpieces.
Why are these masterpieces now considered “health and safety concerns”, or “vandalism”? Are they the equivalent of ripping down an exit sign, stealing a room number plate, punching a hole in the wall, or damaging a door? Why are security and Campus Life so focused on painting over memories rather than dealing with sexual misconduct, fraternities, and other pressing issues that are actually health and safety concerns for our school?
Christmas lights? They could potentially cause a fire. Candles? They could definitely cause a fire. Covering your smoke detectors? A fire hazard for sure. But murals? How are they dangerous in any way shape or form? Why now, this year, does the College feel the need to police students’ living areas mid-year? Although it allows them to prevent future damages, specifically fire-related problems, they are charging students for things that contribute to their residence hall experiences and will be cleaned up before graduation.
I dread the day I get back from spring break and see all our walls blank and lifeless. Why are they trying stopping us from making this room that we spend nine months of our lives in feel like home? Especially when we are respectful students who plan to take the time and cover them up so security and Campus Life don’t have to. I understand that our murals are technically against residence hall rules, but why, this year over any other, do they have to be?
