Montclair State Spends $210,000 On Bronze Statue, Students Outraged

Montclair University Students are outraged over the school’s decision to spend $210,000 on a 12-foot bronze statue of the University’s red-tailed hawk mascot, reports say.

The cost of the statue could have paid for a year’s tuition for 18 in-state students, who pay tuition costs of more than $11,000 each year.

School spokeswoman Suzanne Bronski told the Associated Press that the statue will inspire students, build community, and generate support for the school’s athletics. The bronze statue was paid for with mandatory fees from the Student Government Association and about $4,000 in donations.

In a statement to the Alternative Press, MSU President Susan Cole added that the Student Government Association voted to approve a $100,000 contribution from the discretionary budget, which was then matched by the University’s Capital Plan funds.

University students have created an online petition entitled “We Can’t Park Our Cars Inside a Giant Hawk” to voice their opposition. The petition’s mission notes that the funds should have been allocated to solve Montclair University’s parking problem.

The online petition has more than 260 signatures so far, accompanied by student comments expressing “disgust” and calling the project “a disgrace.” Montclair student Justin Mathai gave this comment with his signature.

“I think it’s absolutely disgusting that part of my tuition is being wasted on such a frivolous project. There is no value that this statue will add to our campus environment. The funds should go towards parking or maintaining the current classrooms and technology so that they work reliably. The university is wasting the money of students like us and we demand that it stop immediately. As paying members of the MSU community, we should have a say in how our contributions are used.”

As the statue has been already built, the goal of the petition is simply to make sure the student opposition is heard. ABC News reports that the statue, which is being crafted in Toms River, will make its first appearance on campus at the start of the Fall 2015 semester.

Do you oppose the University’s decision to spend $210,000 on a bronze statue? Sound off in the comments.