We are concerned that removing the mural will have a chilling effect on the spirit of academic inquiry on campus and on the ability of educators to teach challenging topics. Students deserve to delve deeply into the U.S.’s complicated racial history by learning more about individuals involved in the struggle. Educators deserve the trust of their employers to talk about this history in a way that engages students. Instead, the choices made by Marquette officials foreclose this type of inquiry, and leave educators with the sense that they should avoid controversial topics.

Quotes from Shakur’s autobiography were included as part of the mural. One quote perfectly summarizes the importance of the mural project: “Nobody is going to teach you your true history, teach you your true heroes if they know that that knowledge will help set you free.” We stand in support of the students, staff, and faculty at Marquette who work to teach difficult, important, and underexamined history.

 

 

Click here to download a pdf of the press release