The Oberlin Review
<< Front page Commentary September 28, 2007

Letters to the Editors: Art Rental Not Perfect, but Neither was the Article About It

To the Editors:

As 20th in line for this year’s art rental, even I can agree that the system is flawed.

However, I believe that the idea of a lottery or upperclassman-only rental completely misses the point. Art Rental is one of those really cool things about Oberlin that draws in freshmen, yet many people never get to rent because it is so poorly advertised. Despite this year’s turnout there was still very low awareness that art rental had even occurred in any science labs or seminars. If “the cause of art is the cause of the people,” then why are we limiting art rental to art students and their friends?

My bigger problem, however, is with the suggested lottery system. Art Rental for me is about sacrifice, and I have tremendous respect for the people who showed up at 6 and thus took home their first choices. One student this year tried to explain to me that someone who arrives at 11:30 p.m. wants the art just as much as those who arrived at 6. I completely disagree, and would much rather see a Picasso on the wall of the person who sacrificed six hours of their time to get it.

My suggestion for future art rentals? Put the list up at midnight on Tuesday, and let people wait (in line) all day Tuesday, with no prelists and no leaving allowed (except to pee). I’ve got my eyes set on the Dali, and I’ll be there at 4 p.m. next year to get it. And if someone else is there at 3 to beat me, then I’ll consider Art Rental a success.

–Tim Dustin College Senior

 
 
   

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