WILMINGTON, NC — Part of a respected art exhibit that has travelled North America for 18 years has been banned from campus at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.The Century Project presents photographs of women of all ages, shapes and sizes, and in a variety physical and emotional states. UCNW’s chancellor and provost banned all photos depicting women younger than 18 after receiving a complaint from an Oklahoma-based morality watchdog. The complaint, sent to every college at which the exhibit is scheduled to appear, claimed The Century Project is pornographic and “harms women.”
The Century Project has received praise from psychiatrists, counsellors, educators and the general public. It has never been challenged by law enforcement.
“UNCW was misinformed about The Century Project,” said Dr. Paul Rapoport of Heureka Productions, the publisher of the project’s official documentary book. “It should have done some easy homework to learn what the project is and does. The project has captivated and helped tens of thousands of people.
“…[B]y banning all the photos of the under 18s, the university indicates they may be pornographic or illegal, which they aren’t,” he added. “That’s unjust.
“UNCW’s unnecessary censorship does violence to The Century Project. It’s deplorable, coming from a university. Are they running UNCW as a tea party for the intellectually incapable?”
The Century Project’s creator, Frank Cordelle, likewise was displeased by the university’s decision. The exhibit visited the UCNW campus once before, in February 2002, and no such censorship occurred.
“UNCW has dealt a real blow to academic freedom” he said. “The students and others are able to decide about the project for themselves. Denying them the opportunity to see the whole project doesn’t make sense.
“UNCW holds a record high of 2,000 visitors to The Century Project from a few days in February 2002,” he added. “It’s disturbing that this wonderful reputation counts for nothing.”
The uncensored portion of The Century Project will be on display at UNCW’s Warwick Ballroom March 2nd through 6th.
