One day last month, I walked to Altgeld Hall to view the choices of sculptures for the King Memorial Commons.

I had difficulty deciding between two, the representational statue of Martin Luther King, and the Nardi sculpture.

Which I chose is irrelevant and not necessarily what this letter may lead you to believe. However, I felt and still feel that they were both equally inspiring in different ways.

I am not an art connoisseur, having completed only one art history course as a general education requirement. However, I was emotionally moved by the Nardi work.

The photo in The Northern Star, does not capture the beauty of the sculpture.

I remember when the Alexander Calder stabile, located behind Lowden Hall, was purchased for display at the Sears Tower.

I remember too the controversy surrounding the Vietnam War Memorial. People could not see how such a strange looking block could be representational of the horrors of the Vietnam war.

Vietnam veterans protested. There was an unhappiness that the artist was Oriental. Threats of withholding funds were made.

Today, it is a place where people touch the memorial, leave tributes of flowers, flags, photographs, letters and other personal items.

I understand the feelings of the people who are not happy with the Nardi choice.

Sometimes, what is right in front of us does not initially seem evident, and of course, there are differing personal tastes which need to be taken into account as well as emotions.

However, I do not understand the personal attacks on Eddie Williams, evidenced in Sean Leary’s column.

He alone did not make the choice. I believe Mr. Leary’s points could have been made in a more mature and non-insulting manner.

I believe that in a university community where people are constantly learning, a thing of beauty will be appreciated.

Perhaps one or two pranks could occur, but that would be the case regardless of which sculpture was chosen. As with the Calder, I don’t believe that this fear will come to fruition.

I think that people need to go see the Nardi sculpture and view it with an open mind. It is a peaceful, thoughtful, original, integrative piece of art, one which I believe encompasses the same qualities of Martin Luther King, and is a compliment to his memory.

Lydia Kaplan

Office supervisor

Biological sciences