In her Dec. 6 letter about the mural on 5th floor Willow, “Thin-skinned girls looking to whine,” Heather Reynolds asked, “Come on ladies, what do you expect?”

From her response, she obviously expects support for the objectification of women and violence against them.

There are several problems with the mural. The first obviously is the girl. She’s being carried like a feed sack, an “object,” not unlike the beer keg, to later be used for the soldier’s enjoyment. She wears a low-cut dress and no shoes — obviously the hapless victim at the hands of her “protectors.”

History, past and present, have shown that a large number of soldiers participate in rape and hiring prostitutes. GI towns, which surround the bases and are full of prostitutes and illegitimate children by soldiers, prove this.

Not only is it derogatory to women, but this mural stereotypes soldiers as alcoholic rapists. In this day of patriotism, I’m surprised more men aren’t against this mural.

Sexually derogatory murals like this have no place in a state-sponsored institution.

This would never be allowed in any other place of business. True, Iowa State educates, but look at your tuition and tell me Iowa State isn’t a business first and foremost. If this were in the workplace or any other area, sexual harassment claims would bankrupt the business. I’m ashamed at Iowa State for allowing this imagery on their campus.

The whole mural doesn’t need to go. If the woman were to be removed, the mural would pass muster. Closing the kitchenette won’t do it — the problem isn’t with it being in plain sight so often, but with the content of the mural itself.

It might be said this mural is a part of the floor’s history, but I would be ashamed to be part of any history that is so obviously damaging to women.

Blair Polhamus

Freshman

Political Science, Women’s Studies