Student to protest removal of art
04/27/2007
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Highland — A Highland High School senior plans to stage a protest at the Highland roundabout today after officials removed her artwork from a hallway display, citing complaints from other students that the work was offensive.

Kate Jamruk's piece, "Operation Bush," features a likeness of the game "Operation" with President George W. Bush's head on top. Bush is wearing a clown nose in the piece, and extending from his "heart" is a large question mark.

The work is one of many that Jamruk hopes to submit with her application to art school.

Jamruk said this week that Principal Andy Carmitchel asked her to take the piece down after students complained, saying it offended their conservative sensibilities.

Jamruk then placed a box with a hole in it around the work and put up a sign inviting students to look, she said. Later she went to school and the piece had been taken down, she said.

When contacted Thursday, Carmitchel said he didn't want to discuss details of the matter.