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Volume CXXXII, Number 17 |
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Art competition marches into Lamarche
HANNAH DEAN
STAFF WRITER
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| Artwork submitted by students to the Delta Sigma/Delta Upsilon Fraternity Competition decorates the walls of Lamarche Lounge in Smith Union. Winners of the competition will be announced next week. (Karsten Moran, Bowdoin Orient) |
In 1999, the Delta Sigma fraternity had just sold its house to the college. However, the legacy of creative college participation and willingness to think outside of the box-politically and artistically-was not sold along with the property. Instead, members of the fraternity were determined to keep the legacy of Delta Sigma alive.
Burgie Howard, Director of Smith Union and Student Activities, played an instrumental part in organizing the use of the Delta Sigma fund. The determination to support "interests of Bowdoin student life" and "artistic sensibility" culminated in the birth of an art competition. "The first year," said Howard, "we displayed the show at the newly created craft center" but "it quickly became obvious that we would outgrow that space, as interest was very high." The display was soon moved to Smith Union in the Lamarche Lounge where it has been for the last three years.
This year, there have been 59 submissions and the judges have been coordinated by Peter Simmons '78, a representative from the Delta Sigma Alumni corporation and the Executive Director of the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival.
Simmons was able to provide some background information concerning the Delta Sigma fraternity. Traditionally, the fraternity represented some of the most liberal tendencies on the Bowdoin College campus. In 1946, "the local chapter accepted its first African American member and on prohibition from the national organization the fraternity defiantly accepted additional African-American members."
Ultimately, said Simmons, these defiant motions resulted in the fraternity's expulsion from the national organization in 1954. Furthermore, said Simmons, "when women were admitted to Bowdoin in 1970, Delta Sigma welcomed them, allowing them full membership and voting privileges from the outset."
Delta Sigma's history of openness was reflected in its support of artistic endeavor and notoriety. For example, Delta Sigma was "best known for its dance hall….the murals that covered most of the wall space inside the house, and an eclectic mix of non-traditional students and activities."
In step with the colorful tradition that DS had established, the houseestablished an activities fund and a scholarship fund in memory of the DS organization." The idea behind this fund, said Simmons, is to "preserve some of the intellectual diversity and the dynamic artistic environment that existed at Delta Sigma." Presently, the organization acts as "a separate legal entity to participate in the administration of the Activities Fund."
The art contest, which continues in the vein of the Delta Sigma legacy, is "the most exciting use we have made of the activities fund" said Simmons. The competition is open to all Bowdoin College students and cash awards are given to as many as five participants. In the egalitarian spirit of Delta Sigma, however, there is no grand prize. Furthermore, due to the wealth of creativity that is displayed, "the jury usually has difficulty confining it to five awards."
"For my part," Howard commented, "it is really one of the neatest programs we are able to pull together each year. The competition allows people to see another side of their classmates and friends. The DS/DU competition provides the campus with a wonderful opportunity to see this work, and give it the recognition it deserves." For the lucky few, a cash prize reinforces the fact that they are making art an intimate friend and contributing to our collective common good.
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