2008 Woodie Awards
Campus boot display memorializes fallen Pa. soldiers
By Matt Georger
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Focus
"It's not a peace protest," she said. "It's a memorial for the soldiers lost from Pennsylvania."
Each pair of boots is labeled with the name, rank, age and hometown of the soldier it represents, as well as a small American flag. The rows of boots resemble a cemetery, an image that is enhanced by the pictures, notes, cards and poems placed in and around many of the boots.
In the center of the display are a Pennsylvania state flag and an American flag, encircled by several pairs of boots representing soldiers from the Slippery Rock area. In between the flags are two pairs of boots separated from the rest. One pair is for second Lt. Christopher E. Loudon and the other is for Capt. Jason M. West, both SRU graduates killed in the war.
Daniels said he was not sure how students would react to the exhibit.
"It's about sacrifice and service to country and to our state," he said. "I think it will allow students to reflect on what (the soldiers') deaths mean for the student. I found it to be profoundly sad."
Although "Eyes Wide Open" is meant to be a memorial and tribute, the political aspect of the war is evident as well. More than one piece of paper accompanying the boots contains statements condemning the war and the president. They are written by friends and family members who are angry over the loss of a loved one. But this isn't the only place where harsh political statements can be found.
A book of patron comments also travels with the exhibit, allowing viewers to write down how they feel about what they have seen. The Slippery Rock chapter of the book features more than a dozen comments. About half of the statements offer some form of praise to the organizers, while the other half relate negative feelings about the war. One anonymous guest wrote that he or she doesn't think the soldiers would appreciate the exhibit because it undermines a cause they believed in.
Mallory Hodson, a 21-year-old junior political science major, and James Flatt, a 22-year-old senior finance major, are two of the student "listeners" trained to operate the exhibit. They were trained by AFSC to deal with the emotions people may feel when viewing the exhibit as well as listen to and answer questions. Both said the student response to "Eyes Wide Open" has been mixed.
Each pair of boots is labeled with the name, rank, age and hometown of the soldier it represents, as well as a small American flag. The rows of boots resemble a cemetery, an image that is enhanced by the pictures, notes, cards and poems placed in and around many of the boots.
In the center of the display are a Pennsylvania state flag and an American flag, encircled by several pairs of boots representing soldiers from the Slippery Rock area. In between the flags are two pairs of boots separated from the rest. One pair is for second Lt. Christopher E. Loudon and the other is for Capt. Jason M. West, both SRU graduates killed in the war.
Daniels said he was not sure how students would react to the exhibit.
"It's about sacrifice and service to country and to our state," he said. "I think it will allow students to reflect on what (the soldiers') deaths mean for the student. I found it to be profoundly sad."
Although "Eyes Wide Open" is meant to be a memorial and tribute, the political aspect of the war is evident as well. More than one piece of paper accompanying the boots contains statements condemning the war and the president. They are written by friends and family members who are angry over the loss of a loved one. But this isn't the only place where harsh political statements can be found.
A book of patron comments also travels with the exhibit, allowing viewers to write down how they feel about what they have seen. The Slippery Rock chapter of the book features more than a dozen comments. About half of the statements offer some form of praise to the organizers, while the other half relate negative feelings about the war. One anonymous guest wrote that he or she doesn't think the soldiers would appreciate the exhibit because it undermines a cause they believed in.
Mallory Hodson, a 21-year-old junior political science major, and James Flatt, a 22-year-old senior finance major, are two of the student "listeners" trained to operate the exhibit. They were trained by AFSC to deal with the emotions people may feel when viewing the exhibit as well as listen to and answer questions. Both said the student response to "Eyes Wide Open" has been mixed.
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