A photo depicting two women in a sexual manner that was published in the university’s student literary journal is not pornography, according to Liz Fields, who took the photo. But USI College Republicans disagree.
“It’s not pornography,” said Fields, a sophomore art education major, regarding the controversial photo, titled “Lose,” featuring Leslie Mundy and an unidentified woman.
The picture shows two women in bed. One is naked and the other has her hand next to the other woman‘s genitals.
“The Aerie has run nudes before,” said Scott, managing editor of The Aerie. “The last issue exhibited some nudity, but it seems that certain people have taken offense on this occasion.”
USI College Republicans have made it clear that they believe the photo published in The Aerie is pornographic.
“Why does the University of Southern Indiana abstain from using the word ‘Christmas’ in a press release, but has no qualms publishing soft-core porn,” the USI College Republicans ask on their Website.
“This question is prompted by a photo of two naked women in bed kissing, while one appears to masturbate the other, which appeared in the USI-funded Aerie, a USI journal of arts and letters.”
Dr. Glen Kissel, USI College Republicans faculty advisor, said, “USI had no problem using the word ‘Zen’ as in Zen Buddhism, last May in a press release publicizing a sailing class. So why are ‘Zen’ and soft-core porn no problem, ‘Christmas’ such a problem?”
Kissel also spearheaded the protest of a nude art exhibit in the Technology Center last year.
The Republicans’ Website also states, “It was learned that the Aerie in part of the Student Activity Fee paid by virtually all USI students.”
The Website also supplies a link to the photo with the following warning: “Parental warning contains nudity.”
The Aerie staff hosted a reading on Oct. 5, and no one – including College Republicans – came to protest the photos. The reading went on as planned.
“Nudity is not the problem,” said Scott. “It is the fact that there are two women in the photo.”
“No comment,” said Kissel, regarding The Aerie and the controversial photo. Although the Website discusses the photo on the main page, “The college Republicans have taken no position.”
President H. Ray Hoops said the university administration has taken no stance against The Aerie.
USI was the first school in Indiana and the third school in the nation to designate The Shield and Access USI “public forums” free of censorship.
“Student editors make content decisions,” Hoops said.
The Aerie [now known as Fishhook] is a student journal that showcases the work of students in photography, creative writing and poetry. It is published twice a year, once a semester.
On Page 2 is a disclaimer: “The views and opinions displayed in the magazine may or may not reflect the opinions of the editors and staff.”
A note on the table where copies of The Aerie were displayed in the Tech Center [Arts Center] read: “Being pulled.”
This could have been the source of rumors that the journal was going to be “recalled,” or “pulled,” according to Kissel, whose office is in the Tech Center. He said the table was to be removed, not The Aerie magazines.
“We had it replaced,” said Eric Sprouls, chair of the engineering department. He made the work order for the table to be removed.“
It blocked the door and it wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place.” he said.
Most of the attention is on Fields’ photo, but the journal also includes an ode to Hunter Thompson, the father of gonzo journalism, and a story titled, “Marriage Costs More than a Penny,” by The Rock Defender.
The issue that was allegedly stolen also be found in University Archives & Special Collections.