Statue should be returned

Between 5 p.m. April 1 and 9 a.m. April 2, a statue donated to IU was stolen from the courtyard behind the Indiana Memorial Union. A part of campus for the past 10 years, the 4-foot tall statue, entitled "Soul," was donated to the University and is worth an estimated $25,000. IUPD believes a group of students removed the statue as a memento during the NCAA Championship mayhem that swept Bloomington. While this might have been an innocent prank initially, the basketball season is over, the rioting has ceased and the statue must be returned immediately. In the past, students have stolen the Showalter Fountain fish during times of celebration and rioting. IUPD has now bolted these fish down, making their theft of them more difficult. During the NCAA celebration, the fish were removed from the fountain to prevent stealing. When the celebration ensued during the NCAA madness, there was speculation about whether the tradition of thievery would recur. It is not feasible to lock down all of the art and signage on campus. Instead, students should learn to celebrate in different ways. The theft of this statue was unnecessary and not a reasonable act of celebration. Students who may be concealing this statue should think about what the statue means to other students and to the University. While it might be a source of entertainment to those who stole it, it is a source of beauty to the campus. Members of the IU community appreciate the art that contributes to IU having a campus nationally recognized for its beauty. A theft from the campus is not entertaining, and it is time the statue is returned so everyone can continue to enjoy it for years to come. Keeping the secret of the statue's whereabouts penalizes all students. What would-be donor would want to contribute to the beauty of a campus where art is in danger? What artist would want to create something for a community that does not value aesthetics? A statue the size of a small child does not just disappear into thin air. It is being housed somewhere, and most likely more than one person knows where it is. The joke isn't funny to anyone any longer. Give back the statue. Anyone with any information about the location of the statue is asked to contact Detective Richard Seifers at rseifers@indiana.edu or (812) 855-4292.