Buried Expression

Victoria Merriman '98 completed the final portion of her visual and environmental studies (VES) thesis Saturday night in Rehoboth, Mass. Unlike most thesis-producing seniors, however, Merriman was denied an opportunity to share this moment with the Harvard community because several House masters denied her request to use Harvard property to complete her project. The failure of the officials involved to accommodate Merriman is a disservice to the community and sets a dangerous precedent of censorship.

Merriman's thesis titled "Burial" consists of a display of prosthetic limbs being lowered into the ground as part of a simulated burial. This project is a controversial and unique presentation of death. Several masters of the Quad Houses objected to allowing Merriman to perform the project at the Quad, given the recent suicide of a Quad resident.

Although we respect the objections of the Quad House masters of the river Houses, especially near the MAC quad, do not have such valid objections. Several masters objected to Merriman's proposal on the basis of feared destruction of the landscaping and the underground conduit system. While the grounds would have been temporarily disturbed, this objection is short-sighted and reactionary. According to Merriman, she had provided an extensive plan containing preventative and restorative actions for the grounds. Furthermore, she had secured the support of the manager of landscaping services for her project. As for concern about the conduit system underground, there are plenty of areas on campus that would not have this problem. The House masters should at least have more aggressively explored other options for Merriman.

Harvard implicitly consented to Merriman's project by allowing her advance to the final stages of the project. Merriman's thesis had the approval of her adviser, a senior lecturer in VES, the assistance of several undergraduates and $5,000 worth of grant money behind it. If the University has any intention of imposing judgment at the final stages of a thesis projects, it has the responsibility to pay more attention to the project initially. Considering Merriman said she had the support of administrative officials, this was an instance in which the College should have overruled the decision of the masters and allowed the project to take place.

The decision to forbid Merriman's use of campus space to complete her thesis was a disservice not only to her but to the entire Harvard community. Many who were interested in the project were denied easy access to see it.

Harvard's unfriendly decision jeopardizes our freedom of expression. As John Stuart Mill said, "Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom." To this end, Harvard should do as much as possible to create an atmosphere conducive to and supportive of free expression, lest we risk the loss of potential genius.