http://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/upimage/VF_I18G_004.pdf

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Part of UB makes interim art policy, December 11, 2015

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UB makes interim artpolicy
Student artwork outside CFA must beidentified as such

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. Black Student Union members protest President
Satish Tripathi's State of the University Address in
art in public spaces. UB announced an interim policy on
October, demanding a university policy on
Thursday, which states that student artworkoutside the Center for the Arts must
be labeled
assuch
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Only" and

TOM DINKI
EDITOR
IN CHIEF

"Black

Only"

around campus

bathrooms, water
fountains and benches in
September for a class project.

After months of student leaders calling for
in public spaces and a College of Arts and Sdences
committee working tocreate such a policy, UB
has created an interim plan in the meantime.
The policy will require thai: art projects
outside the Center for the Arts have some
kind of note or explanation.to identify it
as a work of ;i,rt. University policy already
stated that art projects in common
areas on
campus be reviewed by the Environment,
Health ancl Safety Department, which only
reviews for physical safety and security issues, not content.
President Satish Tripathi announced the interim policy in an ope n
letter to students Thursday.

Students, particularly the
Black Student
Union,
called for Tnpathi and UB to create a policy defining the boundary between art
and cultural
trauma, as the signs caused fear
amongst students who believed they.were a
hate crime.BSU has held an open forum about
the signs, staged a walkout ofTripathi's annu'al State of the Universityaddress and met with
officials like Tripathiseveral tunes.
Tripathi's letter als9 highlighted other
work being done by UB in the wake of the
controversy, such as meeting with student
leaders, creating a student ofcolor advisory
committee to University
Police and adding ·
curriculum concerning race
in the new general education program.

Tripathi said
an official policyregarding art inpublic spaces, "it is imperative that we strike the appropriate balance
between academic freedom and inclusivity,"
The announcement comes nearly three
months after the controversial
Only" art project that has causedstudent s
and administrators to discuss the boundar- /
ies of artistic freedom, as well as diversity
on campus. Ashley Powell, a graduate fine
arts student, posted signs reading "White

"Together with the collaborative efforts of
our student leadership, our facul-

a university policy regarding artwork

have

UB

e

with

"White

ty,

anduniversityadministration, I believe

that these conversations,

procedures, curricular discussions, and policies are allowing
us to balance
freedomof expression with
the needto foster a welcoming andinclusive educational environment that is necessary for learning," Tripathi
said inthe letter.
email: tomdinki@ubspectrum.com