UO students, faculty speak about covering of 'controversial' murals

Department.

Students and faculty at the u of oh are speaking out tonight after a decision was made to cover up 4 murals at knight library, that many felt should have been gone a long time ago.

And kezi 9 news reporter kennedy dendy is live on campus to show us what led to the decision.

Kennedy?

Matt, renee- knight library is the largest library on the uo campus, dating all the way back to the 1930s.

But there are four murals inside of the historic building that many are calling racist and insensitive.

One is called?the mission of a universit?

And the words our racial heritag?

Have concerned many for years..

Some calling it white supremacy.

There also murals depicting the arts and sciences.

But the imagery of indigenous people at the bottom, has left native students and students of color feeling uncomfortable while studying or walking by.

Angela noah is the reigning miss indian at the uo.

She said when she first learned that the murals would be covered up, she felt seen and heard as a native student for the first time by the university.

"we're proud to be native there's so much beauty to our culture.

There's so much that we can teach and offer.

It does not look like a white educational institution, it looks more of stories and oral teachings and it always comes back to the spirit and making sure the body is good, making sure the community is good."

I spoke to one woman today who has worked at the library for almost a decade.

She said she has seen students protesting outside of knight library for years, so this is a big move for the university.

University officials said the murals will be covered up before october 1st and it will cost them almost $32,000.

Live in eugene kennedy dendy