Stacey Savoy claims that “the primary cause of intellectual failure is ignorance of our origins”(Savoy 44). Origins, in its ambiguous form, emphasizes the diverse ways in which we can reflect on our past-- through a place, a state of being, or through a group of people. In looking at all the concepts together, we learn that to fully understand oneself, it is important to understand who came before us. In this sense, Williams College community members who strive to understand their presence, in relation to inclusiveness on campus, should be encouraged to understand Native American and campus history.

The unnamed mural placed in The Log was painted by Stanley Rowland in 1942, tells a story of origins. Colonel Ephraim Williams is seen with Mohawk tribe leader, Theyanoguin. After being colonized by the British, the Mohawk Tribe allied with the British against French and Indian forces over Lake Georgia. On the way to the battle, both leaders died. As a result, as Williams had stated in his will, Williams’ wealth served as a foundational provision for Williams College.

When the painting was first placed in the Log in 1942, The Log was a place for students who were excluded from fraternities, to gather. Although fraternities eventually came to an end, The Log remained available for students and other community members. When The Log was opened from renovation in November 2015, college community members who took a closer look at the painting raised concerns about the appropriateness of the painting in view of its potential inaccuracies. They questioned what role it had within the Williams community and the relationship between the mural and a diverse student population. As a result, the painting was temporarily covered while questions were further examined by the Committee on Campus Space and Institutional History.

The committee reflected diversity of Williams in its inclusion of students, professors, alumni, and other represented members. The mural also allowed local college community members who were not on the committee to give written responses indicating their opinion of the painting. After scrutiny, the committee decided that the painting should stay up and serve as an opportunity in the Williams community to discuss inclusiveness.

Hopefully the mural provides historical insight on the college and prompts important discussions on the importance of origins, how to prevent exclusion and how to best educate others on these topics. If you are interested in developing a legacy of inclusiveness, please visit the mural, located in The Black Room of the Log and read more about this mural to decide its relevance in your life

For more information on the mural, visit this link.