Moorpark College Students installed controversial art projects on campus that criticized today’s education system, instructors and administration as part of a recent English class project, but some projects were removed almost as quickly as they were placed.
The two-part project, which occurred over two-and-a-half hours on March 21, included student installations entitled “Administration of Incompetence,” and “The Cafeteria”. Students individually installed their projects on campus before their 10 a.m. class began, then returned during the class period as a group with each student presenting his or her project to the group.
In one installation, student Derek Etman, placed a wooden shark’s fin on the sidewalk in front of the Administration Building, saying the area was “danger zone” for students.
“Due to budget cuts, teachers are getting fired, building new buildings for no teachers to teach in,” said Etman. “We are just getting fed to the sharks.”
Etman was one of 30 students who participated in the installation project, called “Argument in Arts,” which was the midterm for Prof. Jessica Hasson’s M01C English class.
Hasson said she was inspired by street artists who use the world they live in as their canvases for expressing concerns and feelings. Hasson believed that although the actions of street artists are extremely controversial their messages hold creative impact and longevity.
“I was inspired to find a way to equally empower students to use innovation to voice their views, albeit within the law, of course,” said Hasson in an email interview.
By 10 a.m., AC 208 was loud with animated student discussion about the upcoming tour where they would present their arguments to their peers.
Student Kelsey Allen displayed her project on an exterior wall at Fountain hall. The piece was a commentary about the ineffective way some professors teach, showing a professor pouring knowledge into a student’s brain and the knowledge coming right back out of the student’s mouth.
“It is just coming back out of the student’s mouth on the test and they will never remember it or use it,” said Allen.
Student, Lara Voulker, found that her project, “Administration of Incompetence,” had been taken down by the time the class arrived.
Louise Christener, executive assistant to the president, explained that Voulker’s project, was removed was because it was offensive and had not been approved for posting on the Administration building walls.
“I think we are going through a lot of sensitive times right now,” Christener said. “We all work very hard in our jobs. We are tax-payers, citizens, and we all are doing the best we can in our jobs.’
By 11:30, when the second of Hasson’s two English classes began their presentations and tour most of the projects had been removed. Though some students were unable to present their installations they still voiced their concerns to the class.
Hasson said the project was fun, very meaningful and creative.
“Part of this experience was for you to see how your voices impact the world around you,” said Hasson. “The project was to express what is important to you.”
