'Artwork' disturbs students

Several University students found photographs and captions which they considered disturbing upon entering the women's bathroom in the basement of Meyerson Hall late last night. The students had just attended a forum entitled "Women's Issues In The Election," where four women had spoken about women's rights and the importance of electing women to high political positions. The first photograph was affixed to a wall outside the entrance of the women's bathroom. It was an image of the precise location where the photograph was posted. A typed caption beneath the photograph read, "Do you feel safe here?" Another photograph was found taped to the wall opposite of the first photograph which depicted another view of the same bathroom entrance. The caption beneath the second photograph read "You are entering a small enclosure. How many steps away is the door?" The walls inside the bathroom were covered with about a dozen similar photographs. Each of the pictures depicted a different viewpoint of the bathroom. The photographs illustrated the walls, doors and stalls of the room. Beneath each of the photographs was an additional caption. These messages included: "Are you alone? ," "When you listen what can you hear? ," "Can sounds penetrate these walls?" and "Is anyone in the men's room?" In addition a photograph on one of the mirrors contained the caption, "When you look in the mirror are you aware of reflections other than your own?" And on a locked door inside the bathroom was a caption which read, "Can this door be opened? How else might someone enter or exit?" Word spread quickly of the pictures among the people who attended the forum. When several others entered the bathroom to view the photographs they found a structure covered by a white sheet on a wall in the bathroom. Hanging from the structure was a cord. A sign nearby read "Pull cord in case of emergency." On the white sheet covering the structure were the words "Unveil his desire," with the word "desire" crossed out and replaced by "authority." When the cord was pulled, a large, metal phallic object fell from underneath the covering. Inserted in the nearly foot-long phallic object was a kitchen knife with a black handle. "I felt very unsafe. If someone is to reveal art, [why] at night, when we're having a talk about optimism," asked Kimberly Goldman, a visiting sophomore from the University of Delaware. "I felt intimidated and violated -- my heart [was] going a mile a minute." Students hypothesized that the "artwork" was a strong reminder to women to always take precautions. Some students said they believed the knife was intended to be used as an emergency alternative to pulling the panic cords. "This does not empower women," said College senior Debbie Frank. "It terrifies them." Frank is also the president of the Panhellenic Council, which helped to sponsor the women's issues forum. People attending the forum said they called the University Police because they felt the knife was could pose a danger. University Police Sergeant Joseph Risoli said last night there was no vandalism report recorded, rather it was considered an art exhibit.