2008 Woodie Awards
Cougar statue not a good fit
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: Opinion
There is a naked man in the Lovejoy Library, and I bet you've seen him.
He stands about seven feet tall and is the strong, quiet type. If the nudist hasn't upset you, it's probably because people don't seem to mind a man in nude as long as the man is buff.
"The Walking Man," Auguste Rodin's armless, headless tribute to the human figure, has been a fixture of the Lovejoy Library since 1965. It's quite impressive and inspired the great poet Carl Sandburg to write a few lines. "You make us proud of our legs, old man," he once wrote.
While many people may have been able to miss the big naked dude in the library, nobody has been able to miss the gaping hole in front of the Morris University Center. That's for two big reasons: it disrupts the flow of students rushing into the MUC and is a huge eyesore.
Soon, one of those problems will be solved, as the hole will be filled with an 11 foot long bronze cougar. Yes, the Walking Man will gain a friend on campus. And they will have something in common, as cougars are natural nudists. Unlike the walking man, however, the bronze cougar will not be placed inconspicuously, and congestion to the entrance of the MUC will likely continue.
It seems harmless enough. We are the Cougars, we should have a cougar on campus. SIUE has been cougarless since 1987, when Kyna was given to an animal park due to expense and liability. And the means seemed harmless enough; a $39,000 fund raising effort through selling engraved bricks and trendy wristbands. No money taken from the university's budget no harm done. And we need a mascot to rally around, right?
But, what could have been done with the money? It's not a tremendous amount of money, but that could put a needy student through five years of college. There are more worthy endeavors than erecting a statue of an animal whose natural habitat is nearly 800 miles west of here. If the Walking Man had a head, would he be shaking it?
He stands about seven feet tall and is the strong, quiet type. If the nudist hasn't upset you, it's probably because people don't seem to mind a man in nude as long as the man is buff.
"The Walking Man," Auguste Rodin's armless, headless tribute to the human figure, has been a fixture of the Lovejoy Library since 1965. It's quite impressive and inspired the great poet Carl Sandburg to write a few lines. "You make us proud of our legs, old man," he once wrote.
While many people may have been able to miss the big naked dude in the library, nobody has been able to miss the gaping hole in front of the Morris University Center. That's for two big reasons: it disrupts the flow of students rushing into the MUC and is a huge eyesore.
Soon, one of those problems will be solved, as the hole will be filled with an 11 foot long bronze cougar. Yes, the Walking Man will gain a friend on campus. And they will have something in common, as cougars are natural nudists. Unlike the walking man, however, the bronze cougar will not be placed inconspicuously, and congestion to the entrance of the MUC will likely continue.
It seems harmless enough. We are the Cougars, we should have a cougar on campus. SIUE has been cougarless since 1987, when Kyna was given to an animal park due to expense and liability. And the means seemed harmless enough; a $39,000 fund raising effort through selling engraved bricks and trendy wristbands. No money taken from the university's budget no harm done. And we need a mascot to rally around, right?
But, what could have been done with the money? It's not a tremendous amount of money, but that could put a needy student through five years of college. There are more worthy endeavors than erecting a statue of an animal whose natural habitat is nearly 800 miles west of here. If the Walking Man had a head, would he be shaking it?
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Alex Moore
posted 10/03/07 @ 8:12 PM CST
Dear Mr. Schroyer,
How can you feel that the statue is not a good fit for the campus? With being lifted to a higher division and with the enrollment of the school growing, a little school spirit and pride is a wonderful way to promote solidarity among students. (Continued…)
me
posted 10/04/07 @ 4:34 PM CST
I would be a lot more "proud" of the school (and maybe have a shred of "school spirit") if we could fund-raise that kind of money to help pay our clerical workers. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 10/08/07 @ 1:57 PM CST
sounds to me like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the rock
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