The University of Alabama is having a…umm…long…err…stiff…ehmm…hard problem. Craig Wedderspoon, head of the sculpture program at UA, recently installed a 10-foot-tall sculpture entitled “Argyle”. Wedderspoon saw it as an abstract artistic expression, which was all fine and dandy until people started trying to go past the abstract.

“We had a lot of people come by and comment ‘giant phallus,’ ” said Wedderspoon, head of the sculpture program at UA’s Department of Art. “When confronted with something abstract, we may not know what it is, it’s curious how quickly it is we go to our sexual organs.”

Yes Mr. Wedderspoon, curious indeed. Wedderspoon, who’s previously had similar comments on his work, denies any (intentional) innuendo. It’s a good thing that we don’t have any statues like this on campus that could be potentially misconstrued. Oh wait…

In October, we wrote about the three class gift proposals facing the seniors of 2010. One of these options was to purchase the sculpture that is already on display in Armsby Quad. “Connected”, by artist Harry Gordon, is an 11-foot high sculpture carved from two fallen oak trees. As noted in our original article, at least one person has commented that this sculpture looks like an…er…um…well it looks like someone’s putting their mouth on someone’s Hairy Gordon.

So why is it that we haven’t had anywhere close to the same reaction at Penn State? Is it because less people walk by our statue? Is it because ours is less obvious? Is it because we’re not sexually oppressed Bible-Belt dwellers? What do you think, Penn State? Have you noticed this statue? Does it make you weak at the knees?