Destruction of Ice Sculpture Warranted (Letter to the Editor)

Harvard Crimson ^ | 2/21/03 | Amy Keel

[HumanaeVitae]

To the editors:

I, Amy Elise Keel, proudly own up to the fact that it was indeed me—with my roommate—who dismantled the obscene snow penis “sculpture” in Tercentenary Theater. To call this a “cowardly act of vandalism,” as does Jonathan H. Esensten ’04 in his opinion piece, is absurd (Comment, “The Broken Phallus of Harvard Yard,” Feb. 19).

The penis “sculpture” was not an official Harvard installation, and the men who put it up had no permission to do so. It was perfectly within my rights to take down this object which was incredibly offensive to me. As a student of Harvard University, neither I, nor any other woman, should have to see this obscene and grossly inappropriate thing on my way to class. No one should have to be subjected to an erect penis without his or her express permission or consent.

Many women and men, including myself, are the victims of sexual assault, child sexual abuse and rape. The unwanted image of an erect penis is an implied threat; it means that we, as women, must be subject to erect penises whether we like it or not. There was nothing “challenging” or “subversive” about the penis. The only thing it did was create an uncomfortable environment for the women of Harvard University.

Once again-—what my roommate and I did was not cowardly, but instead quite brave.

This penis was not the “symbol of peace,” of which Esensten writes in his comment. These men felt that it was their right to build this pornographic sculpture whose only purpose could be to assert male dominance. I am dismayed that The Crimson chose to both publish the picture of the snow penis and Esensten’s commentary, both of which were extremely offensive.

Amy E. Keel ’04

[HumanaeVitae]

It's amazing how quickly Harvard turns bright young people into left-wing Borg-type robots.

[Political Junkie Too]

This is no different than the arguments that pinups create a hostile work environment. Harrassment laws recognize that a work environment has to be sensitive to all who work there, so an unauthorized display on the school grounds that create a hostile environment should not be any different.

However, Lefties always argue that "it's different" when the rules are applied to them.<p. -PJ

[battlegearboat]

Amy Keel took an ax and gave the "woody" 40 whacks.

[billorites]

When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

[js1138]

Just another snow job.

[jra]

'Vandalizing' an unauthorized sculpture? Sorta funny.

'Implied threat'? Hardly.

[ThinkingMan]

You realize that the whole problem is the way the guy presented the sculpture as the "symbol of peace". Had he somehow tied the sculptor in as
A) a "protest of the penile impulses that lead a nation to war"
B) somehow tied it in with sodomite rights,

the whole campus would have no choice but to accept it. In fact, the same female that wrote the letter would probably have fallen down in worship of the dang thing.

It is all just a matter of perspective- hope this guy takes a marketing class soon.

[Desdemona]

Amy Keel took an ax and gave the "woody" 40 whacks.

When her rommie saw what she had done, the roomie gave it 41.

[AppyPappy]

A leftist version of a book burning.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

And when she saw what she had done
She gave her kitty fourty-one

[tet68]

Pictures! We want pictures!

[AngryJawa]

"No one should have to be subjected to an erect penis without his or her express permission or consent."

Can't tell ya' how many times I've heard that one...

[theDentist]

I'm split on this. First off, it was a tasteless sculpture, like "Piss Christ" and some other works of "art" that are deliberately offensive, so I couldn't care any less that it was destroyed.

But the published reasons behind it's destruction are just another loony example of "victimology" by long-suffering feminazis. They couldn't just say "we did it 'cause it was tasteless", they have to make it a political manifesto.

And the idea of 2 feminists destroying the ice sculptures penis has that certain irony.

[blau993]

Dear Amy,

So, I guess this means you'll be out there on the picket line the next time "The Vagina Monologues" comes to Cambridge.

Yours in Consistency,

Blau 993

[Alouette]

This young lady did the right thing but for the wrong reasons. Imagine what the media would say about a Christian who would blowtorch the ice sculpture for being offensive to his or her religious beliefs. But it's a righteous thing for a feminist (or a Mohammedan).

[seams2me]

Wish it was cold enough in Texas to have one in MY yard.

[amused]

LOL...

[ncpastor]

the snow penis

*sigh* Doesn't that have the sound of something that animal planet would try to save? imagine lots of little documentaries:

The Plight of the Snow Penis

The Elusive Snow Penis

Snow Penises in Summer

[jriemer]

Dear Amy,

So, I guess this means you'll be out there on the picket line the next time "The Vagina Monologues" comes to Cambridge.

You're asking too much of this Harvard student. She's been traumatized enough...

[js1138]

I hope these girls understand that the statue in question (a lingum) is a religious icon for hundreds of millions of people, and that they have committed a religious hate crime.