President Eli Capilouto will be criticized regardless of what he decides to do with the mural in Memorial Hall that depicts slavery.

If the mural stays, Capilouto will be called insensitive. If the mural is removed, people will say Capilouto destroyed history.

Kaelin Massey, vice president of UK’s chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, said the mural was not a major part of the November meeting when black and African-American students discussed race relations with Capilouto.

Some students disagreed about whether or not the mural should be preserved, but Massey said all students at the meeting agreed the mural should not be in Memorial Hall.

“Stuff like that needs a museum,” Massey said. “Also, a few other students said in the meeting, ‘If you’re going to have that type of painting on campus, have African-American art displayed somewhere on campus.”

The mural also negatively portrays Native Americans. In one section of the mural, a Native American man hides behind a tree with a tomahawk, watching a white woman wash something in a river.

On the other hand, the fresco mural is a historic piece of art.

UK spokesman Jay Blanton said the mural will not be destroyed, but also said it needs to be placed in a more complete context.

It is not yet clear if it is possible to remove the mural from the wall. Capilouto is talking with experts to see what can be done.

Preserving the mural should be a priority. That being said, the piece is causing too much pain for too many students to stand as is.

The correct solution may be transferring the mural to a museum, if possible, or creating a permanent cover that could be removed to show the mural to art students or visitors.

Capilouto’s decision to temporarily cover the mural shows he is listening.

Temporarily covering the mural is the right move, and people on both sides of the issue should be patient while the university finds a permanent solution.

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