Someone told me recently that he thought the artwork around campus was “strange.” He was referring to the sculpture in front of Penrose Library and the talking “lip” benches on the west side of the Ritchie Center. I came to an interesting conclusion: there really are no other significant works of art on this campus. Sure, there are lots of trees and grass, and a slew of new buildings to feast our eyes on, but the fact is that there is nothing terribly thought or awe-provoking.

Why is this? I feel I need to raise a voice of dissent on this matter. While the campus’ five newest buildings – the Ritchie Center, Nelson Hall, the Daniels College of Business, the Newman Center, and the College of Law building – share a pleasing unity in terms of style, it is that style itself that causes the most concern for me: they all, especially Nelson the Ritchie Center, and the College of Law building, reek of a certain haughtiness, as if the chancellor is trying way too hard to make this campus look Ivy League. Gold and copper spires? A sundial? The choice of copper, which adorns the spires of Nelson Hall and the College of Law building, as well as the entire roof of the Newman Center, is especially confounding: why choose a metal that officials freely admit will turn a delightful shade of brownish green over the years?

So perhaps some of the money going to vast expanses of gold, copper and stone might be well served in securing some new artwork to display on campus. In fact, it would be even better to have students create it. Perhaps you find the lips and the sculpture odd, but at least they give you something to think about.

If this university truly is a place of intellectual curiosity, perhaps we could use some art to reflect that. Or is empty snobbishness the message the chancellor truly is trying to send? Sounds Ivy League to me.