For those more observant students on campus I mention one word to you: clones. To my recent delight and glee I’ve become aware of several small graffiti pieces of art around campus featuring none other than Star Wars clone troopers.
Their heads hover above you on lamp posts, looking up at you from curbs in parking lots and greeting you on your entrance to the library. Some even go to the lengths of including the text “We Are Watching You.”
Despite the formidable text I can’t help but smile. It’s such a lighthearted form of expression that most colleges would be littered with but here on Spring Arbor such forms of action are frowned upon. The graffiti is biodegradable which is considerate and necessary but it makes me wonder why more of this stuff isn’t allowed?
When growing up in junior high and high school my ideas of college were highly affected by the countless teen dramas of life in college. Campuses seemed to me to be an area where educated forms of expression and opinion were encouraged, and students would band together to make their voices heard and share their support.
During my college search what I once thought were exaggerated scenes to liven up a movie screen turned out to be true. On a visit to Purdue University I remember the sidewalks being littered with signs for concerts, poetry readings, rallies, things for sale and random works of art taped to the sidewalks and littered down halls.
Here at Spring Arbor University our campus seems to be void of such promotions aside from such events which are prompted by the school to benefit organizations and honorable causes. While I admire these events and will attend them, I wonder where the voice of the student population really is? Where can the visions and goals of the student body be presented on campus and encouraged without fear of being torn down or squelched?
I understand the worries and qualms of professors and those who have built up this institution to be a place honoring to God and free of offensive material. If given free reign Spring Arbor students might go crazy in their sudden liberation and therefore push the boundaries.
But if this is truly a community of learners, where are we allowed to share our personal accomplishments and bind together to help support each others personal endeavors? There is no place available for students to inform the rest of the student body about services they can offer, bands looking to form, crafts for sale and books for free.
With this in mind I therefore feel as though the ability for students to express and share with each other has been discouraged and not provided for.
While I do understand the concerns and the reasoning behind the approval of almost any visual material posted on campus, I feel as though it’s time that this rule and guideline be reviewed and reworked. Twenty-first century Christianity no longer resembles the strict conservative views of the great patriarchs of our faith. We are no longer Christian fundamentalist who oppose modern theology and cultural changes but should rather listen to them and learn about them in order to stay relative to present society.
Without those who questioned and explored a new Christianity such as C.S Lewis, we would still be following a bunch of law codes and looking at the Bible as a dusty old book of history. We live our lives now based on faith alone rather than the rigidity of a church which condemns modern expression and form.
I feel as though its time we stop believing Christianity as having a “norm”, stop believing Christianity to be a Renaissance painting rather than a colorful Matisse full of expression, color and variety.
I feel as though the age of censorship has passed and the varying colors of faith and ideals based on the foundation of the Bible should be embraced. Though we may differ in ideas, I feel as though they should be shared, discussed and cultivated but how can this be done if no voices can be heard?
I don’t think the issue is censorship from authority figures so much as apathy among the student body. If people actually feel like they have things to say and want to express themselves, then they do so through whatever avenues they can, regardless of whether or not they fear that their expression will be “torn down or squelched”. Most Spring Arbor students just don’t care enough to create an alternative culture of artistic expression on campus.