Thank you for sharing this piece. I think it actually illustrates the subject topic well. Although Macalester’s initial reaction was troubling, I’m glad that it was temporary and provided some time for reflection (though perhaps the reflection would have been better off before the exhibit opened rather than later). And frankly, I think the solution worked. Keep the work open and available to all but make it so that nobody sees it without wanting to see it (i.e. don’t put it in a window right in front of the sidewalk). Also, I don’t object to a content/trigger warning, either.
I do think that it’s concerning when any group is trying to censor/squash the arts/literature, whether that squashing is coming from the right or the left. I understand the need for sensitivity to others, but I think a warning/notice ahead of time is sufficient, but that the work should still be available. Frankly, the censorship attempts that are going on in parts of the country is really frightening me and we need to stop heading down this slippery slope.
Although the piece says that Erika Lopez Prater now works at Macalester, I wonder if she always worked there, or at least was also working there at the time of the Hamline debacle. It’s not at all uncommon for adjuncts to work at multiple universities in order to make a living.
Thanks for sharing this with the community, @tamagotchi.