A site of controversy has been eliminated from the Saint Louis University campus.
In early June, workers installed a new statue in the grassy area by the outside pools near the Simon Recreation Center.
Artist David L. Phelps created the bronze statue, titled “Nancy.” Earlier this summer, the statue was referred to as “The Reclining Woman.” However, the statue was removed before most SLU students could even see it.
“Nancy” was 35 inches by 123 by 73. The statue was placed on ground accessible to students in what some referred to as “provocative” pose.
The statue was divided into three different sections. The first was of a nude women’s upper body. The other two pieces were the spread legs sticking out of the ground. What was to be the middle section of the statue’s form was covered with sand.
“It was removed because complaints were placed about it to the president’s office,” according to Nanette E. Boileau, the curator of the Pere Marquette and McNamee galleries. “People did not like the piece because of the pose.”
Both students and parents of students lodged complaints.
“I wish that it never was removed,” she said. “Basically, it’s censorship. I consider it equivalent to bookburning.”
The statue, installed in early June, was removed last Friday, Aug. 17th.
“Nancy’s” new home will be in Henry Lay Sculpture Park in Louisiana, Mo. Owned by the University, the park serves as the esidence to many sculptures.
Senior Lauren Smith expressed her feelings about the statue. “It’s not that I feel that it needs to be censored, it just wasn’t necessary,” Smith said.
“While I didn’t find it outright offensive or tasteless,” she continued. “It’s just an inappropriate addition to our campus.”
“It’s not something that needs to be at the pool where college kids hang out,” Smith said. “Basically, I just didn’t feel that it added anything to our campus.”
Linda Wardhammer, associate director of Student Life, also had mixed feelings about the statue. Wardhammer said that there was discussion amongst SLU101 members as soon as the statue was placed. “There did seem to be significant reaction when it first appeared,” she said.
Wardhammer said that she is appreciative of the appearance of SLU’s campus including the artwork. However, she did say that she wasn’t the biggest fan of “Nancy.” “I can’t say that I particularly liked it,” she said.
She also mentioned that it didn’t fit in very well with the other statues on campus. “It wasn’t this classical statue-there was definitely discussion among staff members about what might happen to it.”
