Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 16, 1995 TAG: 9504180077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG LENGTH: Medium
School officials say the decision is an administrative one: the student never filled out an application to paint it. But art major David Chang of Lynchburg said university officials were nervous about a having a religious illustration in one of their buildings.
The mural Chang created two weeks ago in the Weaver Hall television lounge was a copy of the famous image of God reaching out to touch Adam's hand. Chang painted over the mural with white paint last week on the orders of the school's office of residence life.
Chang said university official Stephanie Smythers opposed the mural because it might offend someone who doesn't adhere to the Judeo-Christian view of God and man. He said she told him ``it had the potential to be religiously offensive to somebody.'' Smythers declined comment.
Jim McConnel, director of the office of residence life, said the problem was that Chang did not have permission to paint the mural.
``My understanding,'' McConnel said, ``is that the approval process was never followed through. He was told that he didn't have approval and he needed to stop, and he continued.''
McConnel said Chang can repaint the mural next semester if he completes an application to paint it.
Chang did the painting after residents and advisers at Weaver Hall agreed it was time to update the mural in the lounge. Chang said residents liked his idea and did not see it as a religious painting.
``I just wanted to see if I could do it,'' he said. ``I really respect the painting. It's more artistic and aesthetic than religious.''
Linda C. Halpern, an associate professor of art, agreed. ```The Creation of Adam' is a cultural icon. In our society, I believe it does have meaning far larger than the religious.''
Some Weaver Hall residents said the issue was a religious one, and Chang was not treated fairly.
Freshman Patrick Peak said he thought it was taking the separation of church and state to an extreme. ``Hundreds of years ago, the church banned anything that was not religious, and today it seems like just the opposite.''
by CNB