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Steve Corbett
Sunday, February 06, 2000 Page: 3A
From a distance, the object looked like a snowman decorating the front of
the South River Street home.
Isn’t that nice, I thought.
The Wilkes University students who live there must have taken a break from
studying and built a snow sculpture.
But my perspective changed as I got closer to one of the houses that Wilkes
officials converted to dorms.
Maybe it’s a lighthouse, I thought.
Perhaps art majors sculpted a comfy Cape Cod winter scene to complement the
block’s historical character.
Maybe Wilkes had staged a winter wonderland festival as a way of
ingratiating the university to the neighborhood.
That’s a relief, I thought.
When Wilkes took over and booted numerous longtime tenants, some neighbors
expressed concern that the college students would run amok.
People feared that some of the less astute undergraduates would disrespect
the normally quiet charm of this old-fashioned section of the city.
Dozens of taxpayers have made lifetime commitments to the 300 block. The
oldest house in Wilkes-Barre sits there. Residents, including me, want to
protect and nurture the neighborhood’s homey quality.
Indeed, life has changed since Wilkes moved in last year.
Instead of the soft glow of antique lamps, a tacky neon beer sign now
blazes from a second-floor window.
One night I watched a drunk urinate from a third-floor dorm fire escape.
Since then, I’ve called college security, 911 and college officials to
report numerous disruptions that compound the already university-related
vandalism, littering, underage drinking and disorderly conduct.
Despite the difficulties, neighbors still take pride in our piece of the
community.
Even if we get little peace.
On good days, though, the architecture of the century-old homes make the
long block one of Wilkes-Barre’s most appealing.
Then Wilkes students sculpted the big snow penis that helped reduce
property values as much as any crack house ever could.
A chance to break the ice
Wilkes spokesman Mark Davis said the wintry piece, 5 feet tall with
boulder-sized testicles, was visible for about 90 minutes.
A responsible female resident assistant who lives in the dorm spotted the
thing and ordered it promptly taken down. The four male students who built the
model will be reprimanded by university officials, Davis said.
The sculpture was not part of a university-sponsored event, he said.
Actually, that’s too bad.
A scholastic defense could have been mounted had the frosty phallus been
shown at the university’s Sordoni Art Gallery. As a marketplace for ideas,
universities have a responsibility to showcase controversial art.
Wilkes President Christopher Breiseth might have shown up for that.
As you might expect, he missed the show on my block Monday night.
Since there are no hard feelings, Breiseth might want to stop by when the
snow melts.
A college/community block party would be nice. You know, a picnic kind of
meet-the-neighbors kind of thing.
Ice sculptures are welcome.
But discretion is advised.
Call Corbett at 829-7215 or e-mail stevec@leader.net.