About 25 to 30 students argued with the sculpture committee head Monday about the King tribute statue chosen last week.

“It stinks,” one person said about the sculpture chosen to be built in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commons.

The protest was part of a meeting in a Lincoln Hall conference room for the NIU branch of the NAACP. Students complained about the final sculpture while Eddie Williams, the committee head and vice president for Finance and Planning, defended the sculpture and explained the process the committee went through.

Williams gave a long explanation on how different groups were invited to view the competing sculptures. He also gave details on what the final piece would look like, which would include slits where a light would shine through.

“I think it will be a very beautiful piece of art,” he said.

“The committee focused on ideals and symbols. It became important that we convey the message we’re all living in the same society,” Williams said.

“It (the statue) is definitely controversial, but it does raise questions and it will extend to those coming his way 50 years from now, and say what he was trying to get across,” Williams said.

enry Treftz, a Student Association senator, felt the statue wasn’t quite what he expected.

“My opinion was this sculpture was going to be something you knew was going to be the MLK sculpture,” Treftz said.

Speaking to the protesting students, Treftz said, “With respect to Dr. Williams, you have options. If you don’t like what you saw, come to the next SA meeting.

“I had visions of people throwing stuff in the middle of it,” he said.

Yawniss Rey, a junior majoring in operations management, said the statue should remind people more of King and his dream. “People will say what the hell is it?” she said.

“The way I see it, all this is just a rink for skateboarders,” said Eugene Edmond, a senior criminology major.

Colleen Halliman, Student Affairs academic advisor, said students should attend Sunday’s SA Senate meeting.

“There are 25,000 students on campus. Our voices should be heard.

“I see nothing but an upside down cone. I hope they ask for money back Sunday,” she said.

Williams said, “There is no winner in a project like this. I came to answer questions and explain what the process was.”

If the SA decides to pull back their $22,000, the committee will meet with President John La Tourette and decide whether to continue with the project, Williams said.

“I’m saddened at your reactions and attitudes toward the final piece,” he said.

John Quilico, SA vice president-elect and co-founder of the NIU NAACP chapter, said he believes the issue will come up Sunday and many students will show up.

“They’re refuting the fact they have no decision on the final sculpture,” Quilico said.

The 17-foot sculpture, “Balance of Equity,” was chosen unanimously by a selection panel for NIU’s $75,000 national sculpture competition.

Sculptor Dann Nardi described the work, “both as a tribute to King” and “as a symbol of the principles, values and ideals he so fervently championed.”