Patriotism has sprung up on the ISU campus in the form of Lady Liberty, a statue in the Molecular Biology Atrium that now bears the nation’s colors.

In response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., Lady Liberty’s red, white and blue look transformed David Dahlquist’s sculpture, “Forbidden Fruit.”

Liberty is draped in a white, flowing toga. In her outstretched arms are the U.S. flag and a red-and-yellow flame, replacing her usual burdens of two pulled-apart strands of DNA. She has not completely transformed, as the Tree of Life still sprouts out of her head and her eyes are still an eerie red.

The transformation of the rigid and robotic statue was the brainchild of Desiree Gunning and Claudia Lemper, teaching laboratory coordinators for zoology and genetics.

“She seems like she’s perfect for it,” said Gunning, teaching lab coordinator for biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology. “She’s a very prominent feature in the building, and it just seemed appropriate. I hope it says that the people of this building care a lot about what’s happening.”

Students appreciate the symbolism of Lady Liberty as well.

“I was proud to know that the school was displaying patriotism and being supportive of the nation,” said Andrea Sutherland, junior in zoology, who works and studies in the building.

“We need help right now,” she said. “Everybody’s emotions are kind of sensitive. It’s nice to know that there are people like you coming together.”

Gunning isn’t sure how long Lady Liberty will stand in the atrium.

“She could be dressed that way for quite some time until there is a reason to take it off,” she said.

The sculpture has been decorated as a snowman during winter, a ghost for Halloween and a pilgrim for Thanksgiving.

Gunning and Lemper decided to decorate the statue Friday morning and discussed ideas that day. It took about an hour.

“It was very low-budget,” Lemper said. “We used pins, glue, construction paper – anything we could find.”