Editing October 2007 Knox Banner Incident

The '''October 2007 Knox Banner Incident''' was a series of events occurring around the weekend of [[Homecoming]] 2007.

==Installation==
As part of the gussying-up process for Homecoming and the accompanying [[Board of Trustees]] meeting, [[Facilities Services]] installed light pole banners in various places around campus, most notably along [[South Street]] between [[Prairie Street]] and [[Academy Street]] and also on [[West Street]], [[Berrien Street]], and [[Cedar Street]].  The banners were mounted on newly installed horizontal mounts on the top end of the [[Sternberg lights]] and secured with plastic ties.  These ties were within more or less easy reach of the ground due to the short stature of the Sternberg lights.  There were two sign designs: the school's [[Old Main]] logo, and the [[We Are Knox]] slogan.

==Removal==
Late Friday night before Homecoming, a large number of the signs, including most of the signs along South Street, were removed.  Others were, according to the e-mail from [[Roger Taylor]], vandalized with stencils and spray paint, and these were promptly removed.

On Monday, October 22, 2007, Roger Taylor (through [[Lisa Welch]] and [[Karrie Heartlein]]) sent an [[all-campus e-mail]] about Homecoming that included at its end a discussion of the banner incident.  It suggests that [[Student Senate]] will be asked to yammer ineffectively about the matter at its next meeting.

===Roger Taylor E-Mail===
To: the Knox Community --

Homecoming 2007 was a special celebration of Knox College and the 150th birthday of Old Main. A record number of alumni and friends of the College attended.

The number of activities for returning alumni has been dramatically increased, thanks to the hard work of many faculty and staff. Readings, lectures, and exhibits have enriched the celebration.

The College always has tried to find ways for alumni to meet current students. Interactions between students and alumni show the alumni that Knox students have the same sensitivity toward others that alumni had when they were students.
 
As reported in the October 18, 2007 edition of "The Knox Student", the College made a  special effort this year to involve even more students in Homecoming activities, including as guests, hosts, and ambassadors at Homecoming activities. One of the special student activities -- the Old Main birthday cake, student organization  "bake off"  -- gave hundreds of alumni and students a chance to mingle.

Alumni told me that they just loved talking with students during the various Homecoming events. I thank all of the Knox students who made alumni feel welcome this past weekend.

The men and women in the Facilities Services staff made a special effort to enhance Homecoming this year and to brighten the campus for students, faculty, and staff. They worked very hard last week installing Knox banners on light poles on South and West Streets and around campus.

Regrettably, late Friday evening or early Saturday morning, vandals destroyed many of  the banners and defaced others. Stencils and spray paint were used to deface -- demonstrating that the vandalism was premeditated. The content of graffiti on the defaced banners strongly suggests that the acts of vandalism were committed by members of the Knox Community.

Facilities Services staff with whom I have talked have expressed disappointment --  to say the least --  that their hard work to enhance the campus was marred by vandalism.

I have asked Dean Romano and the Student Senate to provide me with their counsel on this sad situation.

Roger

==Controversy==
The signs, being low to the ground, were tempting to many.  Some students wanted them as souvenirs, while others felt that the signs separated the school too much from the rest of Galesburg and looked out of place at such a small school (when compared with larger universities, where such banners are standard fare).  Still others liked the signs.

==Pumpkin Banner==
Monday night or Tuesday morning following Homecoming, a moldy pumpkin with the words "We Are Knox" written on it in magic marker was impaled on the empty mount of a Sternberg light in front of [[Wilson House]] along [[South Street]].  The pumpkin was obviously meant as a parody of the banners.  The students responsible have not been identified, although some speculate that [[IVCF]] was involved.

[[Category: Events]]