The Tribune

By NOELLE NICOLLS

Tribune Features Editor

nnicolls@tribunemedia.net

SENIOR officials at the College of the Bahamas were blindsided last week by an "all black" student protest during the annual opening of the Colours of Harmony visual and performing arts production.

During the "All Black Everything Protest", students created all-black designs and accused the college of showing disregard for the Arts Department, claiming students from four different year groups are jammed up like sardines in one classroom.

"The protest theme was kept secret until the day of the show when the art work was mounted and unveiled.

"Everyone knows we do Colour of Harmony every year, but the subject of the work was a surprise.

"It was an undercover thing, very secretive. It was the best way to hit them, because they expected the event, but the theme was unexpected, and we knew the big people at COB would be there," said Amy Collins, a third year art major.

Students expressed their long-standing collective concerns by creating individual, all-black designs that symbolised their personal gripes.

"Thanks for migrating us into the Rabbit Hole," said a life-size painting of art student Steven Schmid. One of the pieces of protest art accused COB President Dr Betsy Vogel Boze of putting students in the "sardine shack."

For years, art students have been relegated to outside hallways and other public spaces, since the allocated classroom space at COB for the growing department has been insufficient.

Last year, students resorted to a street protest to secure a meeting with then acting president Dr Earla Carey-Baines.

This resulted in basic, albeit much needed improvements to the T-20 classroom, where art students are confined.

The administration has been consistently pressured to do more. Students say they deserve more than "a rabbit hole."

Dr Boze held a general student meeting on Friday to address student concerns and discuss the college's plans.

Art students turned out in their numbers to speak directly to the president.

"The visual and performing arts are important means of self-expression.

"Senior administrators continue to meet with students. Friday, April 13, is the last day of Spring classes at the College of The Bahamas and we are exploring options for the Fall Semester.

"The college is in the initial stages of a comprehensive Campus Master Planning process that will guide future campus construction and development," stated the COB Office of Communication.

• See the Arts and Entertainment Section in Wednesday's paper for full coverage of the "All Black Everything Protest". Learn more about 'the rabbit hole', and student concerns.