By: Shaylie Pickerel Staff Writer
Free speech, politics and a step back into 1962 pop culture, is what covers the walls of Western’s Hamersly Library. On Jan.18 Hamersly Library held the opening of a new art exhibit including works done by James Masnov. Masnov has curated the exhibit named “Free Speech Culture, Politics and the Art of Expression Then and Now.” It all started with his passion for free speech and the importance of the right Americans have to express differences of opinion.
When asked why free speech is such an important concept, Masnov replied, “Defending someone’s free speech right is not the same as defending their views.” He continued, “I defend people’s free speech right even if it’s a topic I don’t agree with, which is what Ellis Stebbis had done.”
Ellis Stebbis, the interim president at Western in 1962, allowed Gus Hall, the general secretary of the Communist Party of the United States, to speak on campus. Although Stebbis did not agree with what Hall had to say, he believed in his right to freedom of speech and agreed to let him speak if both the democratic and republican parties on campus agreed.
This event inspired Masnov to research what transpired at Western when Hall spoke, and draw creativity from politics, pop culture and modes of expression from 1962.
Masnov’s exhibit has the history of Stebbis and Hall, as well as all the hate mail Stebbis received for his actions. He displays other historically significant events that also deal with the matter of free speech in chronological order. The exhibit also includes displays of art and pop culture events relevant to 1962 to give the viewer an idea of what was going on in society during the event at Western.
This exhibit underlines the importance of free speech and the opportunity for people to advocate for their rights. It also reminds viewers how far we’ve come as a society and how important it is to keep advocating for free speech.
To learn more about this event, more key events in history and everything that 1962 had to offer, find the exhibit on the second floor of Hamersly Library until March 9.
Contact the author at spickrell15@wou.edu
