> From: "Walker, William N." <walkew2@rpi.edu>
> Date: March 8, 2008 4:58:42 PM EST
> To: "RPI Employee List" <RPI-EMP-L@lists.rpi.edu>
> Subject: Visiting Artist
> Reply-To: walkew2@rpi.edu
>
> March 8, 2008
>
> To the Rensselaer Community:
>
> You may have seen coverage in the news media of actions taken by the
> university regarding a visiting artist on campus. This is to provide
> more information on this situation.
>
> After becoming aware of and discussing concerns expressed by some
> members of the Rensselaer community about a lecture and associated
> exhibit by digital media artist Wafaa Bilal, the university decided to
> allow his March 5 lecture to go forward. Most observers agreed that he
> presented a stimulating and thought-provoking lecture.
>
> We are pleased to have Mr. Bilal among us to contribute to the
> intellectual and artistic life of the Institute, and we look forward
> to his continued presence in our classrooms and studios as a visiting
> artist.
>
> During the unveiling of the artist's video game exhibition, "Virtual
> Jihadi," important concerns surfaced that the work may be based on a
> product of Al Qaeda, and questions were raised regarding its legality
> and its consistency with the norms and policies of the Institute. The
> university is considering various factors relating to the exhibition,
> and has suspended it pending a more complete review of its origin,
> content, and intent.
>
> Rensselaer fully supports academic and artistic freedom. The question
> under review regards the use of university resources to provide a
> platform for what may be a product of a terrorist organization or
> which suggests violence directed toward the President of the United
> States and his family.
>
> William N. Walker
> Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Relations