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Many students were shocked and amused when, on return from Spring Break earlier this month, they saw the harmless, playful vandalism of the statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Marcus Aurelius holds a special place in the heart of the Brown community due to his integral role in the founding of the school in AD 169 and in the defense against roving bands of Germanic raiders from New Hampshire in AD 175. It is for this reason that the playful defacement, including a bowler hat and a red, spongy clown's nose, has not been taken lightly.
"I thought it was cute and clever," said Tommy Collins '09, "but I think jokes like this are better suited for less important figures in Brown's history. Like one of the Brown brothers, maybe, or James Manning. Really, anyone but Marcus Aurelius. Brown just wouldn't be Brown without his influence."
The controversy over whether the vandalism of the statue is amusing or insulting has formed a deep rift through the Brown community. The one side, which includes Collins, says that blatant disrespect for the University's founder, while humorous, is totally unacceptable, while the other urges that the incident in question was not "vandalism," but "decoration."
Tammy Jacobs, RISD '08 thinks "it's great that Brown students are finally starting to honor those who are important to them with art. At RISD, we show our respect by gluing clown noses and bowler hats to those we love. Then, we all take off our clothes and paint each other."
Collins responded to this by calling Jacobs a "hipster freak" and demanding that "she go back down the hill and smoke some cloves."
The last few days have seen an increase in the conflict, with numerous acts of violence against the pro-"decoration" group by an anonymous student claiming to be named Maximus. Maximus has been known to stand outside the windows of outspoken pro-"decoration" students, hurling bricks with clown noses glued to them through the glass and into the rooms.
Kieran Dempsey '10, an outspoken advocate of the decorations who calls them "entertaining," lives on the third floor of West Andrews Hall two windows from
the left, if you're interested.
"I was just getting into bed when I heard this freaky-ass howl outside my window, immediately followed by something red and spongy smashing through my window and knocking my roommate's printer onto the floor. I looked out the window and saw this crazy Spaniard screaming up at me, saying, 'Is this not what you want? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?'"
Although no students have been injured yet, Brown officials are installing decoration-proof windows in all buildings and increasing the number of DPS officers on duty at night in attempts to stop Maximus before he causes anymore damage. Any students spotting a swarthy student wearing leather armor and throwing bricks through windows are asked to report the incident to DPS.
