by James A. Baumann
The exterior walls of the new Student Residence Hall at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Carson, have been transformed into bright, eye-catching murals that tower over the campus. Eight murals in all, each 47-feet high, make up the campus’s first major public art project in more than 10 years.
The work was created by iris yirei hu and, according to a campus release, “tells stories of people, places, and pain and often their interdependencies.” Among the figures depicted are the author James Baldwin and members of the Tongva tribe. The work was chosen after approximately 60 artists from across Southern California submitted entries for the design competition. The project was the product of the university’s Art Advisory Committee. “I hope the murals will speak well to students, and it’s meaningful to me that they will get to live with the art,” says hu. “For students, who are learning to heal, struggle, and experiment collaboratively, I think it’s significant to have images of people of color existing and working together decorating their place of residence, study, partying, life making.”
Lynn Arthur, director of university housing and chair of the housing mural selection committee, explains the appeal of hu’s work. “We had so many talented artists and impressive submissions to consider, and iris yirei hu’s work still stood out to us as an exceptional fit for this project. I was hoping for mural installations that would transform the aesthetic and purpose of this already beautiful new residence. This was my highest aspiration, and hu’s magnificent pieces have certainly fulfilled that.” In addition to its aesthetic appeal, there is a strong sense of values in her work. “Like our university, Iris cares about collaborative relationships, social justice, equality, and sustainability,” Arthur explains. “These are common themes in her work, and so much of what is on display at the student residence hall has this magical way of portraying reality and fantasy simultaneously. I think our students will easily connect with those juxtapositions.”
News & Notes
Two new residence halls being built at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, will recognize contributions of two of the university’s most famous and accomplished alumnae. The halls, expected to open partially in 2021 and completely by the 2022 academic year, will be named for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. Ginsburg graduated in 1954, and Morrison graduated one year later. The halls will be part of Cornell's North Campus Residential Expansion project, which will include 2,000 new beds with approximately 1,200 earmarked for first-year students and 800 for sophomores.
Additionally, at Rutgers University's Newark campus in New Jersey, the former law school building converted to a residence hall has been renamed Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall. Ginsburg was a faculty member at Rutgers. The hall houses 330 graduate and undergraduate students including 100 law students.
The University of Louisville in Kentucky announced it would be constructing a new residence hall that will reserve space for a number of student-athletes. The 128-bed facility, scheduled to open for the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year, will be connected via a skywalk to the Planet Fitness Kueber Center where men’s and women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse team members train. Plans call for 63 of the 128 beds to be occupied by student-athletes, while 10 will be reserved for team managers and graduate assistants. In addition, the hall will house a living-learning community for students majoring in sports administration.
It was largely understood that peer pressure would play a role in how students followed COVID-19 guidelines when campuses opened back up. Recent news stories have spotlighted cases where student influence has taken a more formal tone.
Texas Monthly magazine, in November, wrote about Rice University in Houston, Texas, and its COVID Community Court. The panel of three judges hears cases where students are accused of violating campus guidelines surrounding the pandemic. According to the article, the court “has overseen dozens of cases in recent months, the vast majority, including that of the socializing scofflaws, set in motion by fellow classmates who have been encouraged by the university to report coronavirus-related misconduct that makes them feel unsafe. Friends have turned in friends, usually without advance warning, for failing to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Most tips are submitted anonymously online, and they often include photographic evidence or screenshots from Instagram stories. In many cases, the rule-breaking is accidental. When confronted with evidence of an infraction, the majority of students are cooperative and apologetic, court members say.” Penalties for infractions generally are of the restorative justice variety, including completing community service projects, writing educational reports, and offering formal apologies.
More recently, Inside Higher Ed profiled Rice’s system as well as the Student Review Board at Kansas State University in Manhattan. The article explains that the board, which typically focuses on infractions like alcohol violations, “does not get involved until a student violates the COVID-19 guidelines three times and has already been issued a warning letter and had a meeting with a dean in the Office of Student Life.”
The LightView student housing project at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Platinum status, the highest level of green building certification. Among the building choices that contributed to this designation were intact air barriers between each dwelling that lead to improved energy efficiency, air quality, comfort, and sound attenuation. Building materials were selected for environmental purposes to limit the impact associated with greenhouse gas emissions and included locally sourced materials that were high in recycled content. Other green features include high-efficacy LED lighting; high-efficiency, low water laundry; low-flow shower heads, lavatory faucets, and toilets; and drought-tolerant plantings.
The project is managed by American Campus Communities. “Our team is honored to receive this prestigious LEED Platinum certification to recognize our passion to find ways to incorporate sustainability in ways that are compatible with affordability,” said James Wilhelm, executive vice president, public-private partnerships for American Campus Communities. “With smart, sustainable construction and operations including sourcing green energy, we are committed to doing our part in shaping a brighter future for students, employees, campuses, communities, and the planet.”
James A. Baumann is editor of the Talking Stick.