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Reinstallation of ‘Wrecking Ball’ Underway at GVSU

Posted at 12:28 PM, Nov 12, 2013
and last updated 2013-11-12 21:31:00-05

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Work was underway Tuesday at Grand Valley State University’s Allendale campus to reinstall a pendulum sculpture which has recently been at the center of controversy.

The “Wrecking Ball” is being returned to campus after it was removed after several students were caught riding it.   They were making parody videos of Miley Cyrus’ pop single “Wrecking Ball.”

The piece of art has been a fixture outside the Seymour and Esther Padnos Hall of Science since 1995.  Students started a campaign called “Reinstall the Ball,” demanding that the university put it back there.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17 the head of facilities at GVSU, Tim Thimmesch said it was removed for safety reasons.  He said the decision to remove it came by consensus of himself and two other department heads.

After the ball was removed, about 50 or more students held a “sing-in” in protest of it’s removal.  They gathered near the spot where the ball once hung and sang the lyrics to the popular song at center of the controversy.

FOX 17 spoke with university spokesperson, Dottie Barnes after the protest.  We were told no disciplinary action against the students responsible for the videos is planned at this time.  Barnes said the art installation has been removed and they anticipate the problems it may have been linked to will end as well.