Just over two weeks ago, a notice was posted on the door of the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s Red Zone that read:

“Due to vandalism and negligence of the Red Zone, the dean of Arts and Humanities has ordered this area locked until further notice.”

Michael Berry, a senior music major, was one among many students who had been to the Red Zone, which is on the first level of Doudna, when he wanted to relax.

“I heard it was vandalized,” Berry said. “I think it’s pretty crazy.”

Jeffery Lynch, interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, said more than $8,000 in damage has been done to the Red Zone.

“I needed to send a message to the students,” Lynch said. “So I locked it.”

Students turned the room’s furniture, which was made in Italy, into pyramids and forts, even using the room’s round tables as bowling balls.

“The kids turned it into a romper room,” Lynch said.

In addition to damages done to the furniture, a sign asking Red Zone users to respect the space was stolen.

Andy Baldwin, a junior music education major, now goes to a practice room or the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union since the Red Zone has been closed.

“Everyone has their own thoughts of it,” Baldwin said. “I think people were abusing the privilege that we had to use the room.”

Baldwin said students acted irresponsibly.

“They gave us fair warning of how to respect it and some people didn’t heed that warning,” he said.

The Red Zone has been taken over by students, in Lynch’s opinion.

“We envisioned it as a place for faculty and students to meet and talk,” Lynch said.

The Red Zone was open to all students, but some students told other students they were unwelcome in the space because they were from other departments. Lynch stated that this was “unacceptable.”

“Nobody owns that space,” he said.

Aside from vandalism and a few unwelcoming students, professors have complained of the noise coming from the Red Zone, which had disturbed offices and classrooms.

“I am not angry,” Lynch said. “I’m just kind of disappointed.”

Lynch plans to meet with students and discuss the intent and the cost of the Red Zone before it is reopened.

Sam Bohne can be reached at 581-7942 or at shbohne@eiu.edu