MUNCIE, Ind. (NewsLink) — A Ball State student could be in hot water after his art project was reported to police as vandalism in the Atrium Tuesday morning.
Ball State student Noah McCormick says all he was trying to do was spread a message while working on a class project. While he says it's simply just art, the university is saying it's vandalism.
"They asked to speak with my professor and which they went out and spoke...and we're like 'oh this is pretty weird,' and then our professor said 'Noah, they would like to speak with you.' So I go out there and it's kind of one of those weird things like 'oh, what did I do?'"
Students voiced their opinions after McCormick went on Twitter to talk about his experience.
He called out university officials, even tweeting at President Mearns.
"Not only the art community here at Ball State, other students as well were just talking about how disrespectful and how unfair this was for the university to throw away my art."
Messages were written on the floor, on eight tables and posters on the wall.
"Nothing was destroyed, it was all vinyl decals...it was all easily taken off the floor, obviously. It was easy enough for them to rip it off in 15 minutes or so."
While McCormick waits to hear what his potential punishment could be, he just hopes there will be a change, so no one else ends up in his situation again.
"There are no rules that says you can put things here, you can't put things here. If the university would've came to me, 'Hey! This isn't an appropriate place, can you move it somewhere else?' I would've been more than glad."
Ball State responded to NewsLink's request for comment.
"Ball State University’s police department responded to a complaint at about 8 a.m. [Tuesday] of 'criminal mischief/vandalism' in a dining facility. A Ball State student working on a class project placed his 'art' on tables and floor within the dining area. The student did not notify the university of his intent to display his 'art' in this manner. Officials at the university are talking with the student about following university protocols for class projects."
It's unknown when McCormick's punishment, if any, could be decided.
