Jodi Balazs, a junior art education major, took to the King Memorial Commons Free Speech Area with her art installation “Interjection” Thursday.

To her surprise, while awaiting classmates for a critique, the University Police, who could not be reached for comment, showed up and confiscated the artwork.

Balazs said UP took the artwork because she did not have a permit. The police asked other questions as well, including what the artwork was about.

Balazs said UP told her at least one NIU student complained that the work was offensive.

The art installation was about social inequity, civil rights, racism and the like, Balazs said. The back of the piece included portraits of civil rights leaders such as Frederick Douglass.

As for the offensive part of the installation, Balazs had an idea what people may have complained about.

“Most likely it would be the shape and the color,” she said. “There were a lot of different analogies but people said it looked like a [Ku Klux Klan] hat.”

Despite controversy, the artwork held deep meaning.

“It’s about confronting the symbol of people that propagate racism and inequality,” Balazs said. “Hopefully it’ll change their minds in a worldly sense but then I hope people take it and apply it to life.”

The artwork has since been returned to Balazs.

So called “free-speech zones” have been a hot-button issue on American university campuses for a number of years.

At NIU, the university saw a need for a place to be designated, said Larry Bolles, director of university judicial affairs. However, this does not mean the designated area is the only place for free speech.

As far as permit requirements, the MLK Commons Free Speech Area does have a reservation system in place.

The reservations are mostly limited to large groups, large displays or events that require public address-type equipment, Bolles said.

Although most individuals do not need reservations to access MLK Commons, those who do can contact the office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, Bolles said.

Art exhibits are not uncommon on MLK Commons and many may not require any kind of reservation.

“If it’s just a few, small pieces, you probably don’t need a reservation,” Bolles said. “It’s always smart to check because you don’t want to have your exhibit in the middle of a dance contest.”