2008 Woodie Awards
The Ed Worthman Mural is just background material
It should be moved to a special place
Brian Moser
Issue date: 4/3/03 Section: Opinions
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The Ed Worthman Mural in the Campus Center is out of date. What do you see when you see the mural? I see a good painting that represents Lakeland's past. But, as we all know, things always change. This country used to contain dirt and cobblestone roads traveled by horse drawn carriages and wagons. Now, the world is infested with automobiles and paved roads.
America has even changed styles in the last few decades. The Seventies sported bell-bottoms and sprouted the rock generation with bands like The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and Aerosmith. The 80's then shifted to a techno type of music with tight spandex and a dance all day attitude. In the 90's, times changed yet again to a business era along with the evolution of rap and kids with really big pants. Why have all these changes occurred? Why can't we just stay the same? The answer is two words: it's boring. If everything was the same every day, then life would become dull and uneventful. Hence, the mural has become dull and boring.
That doesn't mean the mural is worthless; it should just be moved to a more special location. Everybody going up the stairs doesn't stop and look intently at the mural; they just whiz by it while talking to their friends about more important issues.
As far as I understand, the mural depicts the college in the early days and shows all the great qualities of the Lakeland community. If this is what it represents, then why is it in the area of the stairs in between Bossard Hall and the Campus Center? This place seems about as special as the lounge of the dorms. The mural should be in a place where people could appreciate it. The best place would be in the Bradley Building. To be honest, I have no idea how it could fit in there, but it seems to be the most logical place for it. The students could admire the mural before and after the 36 required convocations and even on more occasions if one were so inclined.
The new Lakeland seal will be more than noticed when it's first installed. I believe people will notice it for a short time before it also become part of the background like the mural did. This won't be so bad, though, because it's only a school seal instead of a good piece of art and history. We should appreciate the past in a special place and bring the new age of the school seal to the common every day life of the campus.
America has even changed styles in the last few decades. The Seventies sported bell-bottoms and sprouted the rock generation with bands like The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and Aerosmith. The 80's then shifted to a techno type of music with tight spandex and a dance all day attitude. In the 90's, times changed yet again to a business era along with the evolution of rap and kids with really big pants. Why have all these changes occurred? Why can't we just stay the same? The answer is two words: it's boring. If everything was the same every day, then life would become dull and uneventful. Hence, the mural has become dull and boring.
That doesn't mean the mural is worthless; it should just be moved to a more special location. Everybody going up the stairs doesn't stop and look intently at the mural; they just whiz by it while talking to their friends about more important issues.
As far as I understand, the mural depicts the college in the early days and shows all the great qualities of the Lakeland community. If this is what it represents, then why is it in the area of the stairs in between Bossard Hall and the Campus Center? This place seems about as special as the lounge of the dorms. The mural should be in a place where people could appreciate it. The best place would be in the Bradley Building. To be honest, I have no idea how it could fit in there, but it seems to be the most logical place for it. The students could admire the mural before and after the 36 required convocations and even on more occasions if one were so inclined.
The new Lakeland seal will be more than noticed when it's first installed. I believe people will notice it for a short time before it also become part of the background like the mural did. This won't be so bad, though, because it's only a school seal instead of a good piece of art and history. We should appreciate the past in a special place and bring the new age of the school seal to the common every day life of the campus.