Even a 13-year-old is getting her art banned.

School officials at Culver Middle School decided Julie Driscoll's drawing of a woman kissing a man holding flowers for her is inappropriate for today's 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.

Driscoll drew the picture in an art class and her teacher suggested she use the picture as a decoration at the school's Valentine's Day sock hop.

But school officials feared the picture, titled "The Date," would encourage the middle school students to follow the poster's advice to start dating.

This ludicrous notion is archaic. One drawing will not push kids over the edge of sin. Every child goes through puberty at his or her own pace and "The Date" will not rush anyone who isn't ready to take the step toward growing up.

Adults cannot shelter their children from the "evils" of the world and even such things as a harmless kiss. Building walls around children only increases their chances of making stupid mistakes later.

Driscoll drew the picture to represent love. Her mindset alone should prove how ridiculous the school officials are reacting. The officials are the ones who have corrupted the art.

The University Council is overstepping its bounds on the NIU Judicial Code and should stop now.

Its actions are wrong for two obvious reasons: one is the overwhelming opposition from students on the body; and two is professors should teach, not enforce and interpret rules.

The council voted Wednesday to send a proposal to the rules and governance committee for further study. The proposal would amend the NIU Constitution to allow the council to amend the Student Judicial Code.

The council has no business in the judicial code and should stop messing with it. Professors teach. They do not play with the law or the Judicial Code.

There is no legitimate reason for the council to move in this direction.

If council members try to hide their motives by wrapping themselves up in some drivel about helping the students, they should be forewarned that logic will not hold water.

Hiding is the most appropriate word because nobody seems to want to talk about the real reasons for the change.

If they want to improve NIU, then do it in the classrooms. Everybody knows education is underfunded. But a resourceful professor will find the best possible way to overcome this obstacle.

Teachers are supposed to be some of the brightest people in the community. Certainly, they are capable of thinking resourcefully. And that's why they are teachers.

NIU has its own law-enforcement policy and already pays people to enforce it.

It should cease and desist before it really screws something up.