Leaked Memos Reveal Rhett Bench Originally Intended To Be Statue of MLK

BU ALUMNI COUNCILAUGUST 29, 201912:04 P.M.Dear Mr. Oertle,We hope this email finds you well. We are emailing with regard to the new sculpture being built on the bench between the BU Beach and the Admissions Center. We are big fans of your work, and are excited to see the completed sculpture! Where are you in terms of its construction?Sincerely,The Boston University Alumni CouncilVIRGIL OERTLEAUGUST 29, 20191:07 P.M.Esteemed Members of the Alumni Council,First of all, thank you for trusting me with the task of creating this memorial! I am excited and honored to take on this project. I’ve just begun working on Dr. King’s feet, and the sculpture should be done by the time students return for the Fall semester.Best regards,Virgil OertleBU ALUMNI COUNCILAUGUST 30, 201910:00 A.M.Dear Mr. Oertle,Fantastic! If you’re not too far along, we had a few ideas for poses. We really want to honor the most important alumnus to leave BU, so we were thinking he could be sitting, dignified and contemplative, on his bench by the river. Maybe hunched over with a book by Gandhi in his hand. What do you think?Sincerely,The Boston University Alumni CouncilVIRGIL OERTLEAUGUST 30, 201911:00 A.M.Dear Alumni Council,Shoot, I just saw this! I’ve actually already worked up to his waist - he’s sitting kind of casually splayed out with one ankle crossed over his knee. Figured I’d go for more of a ‘relaxing by the river’ vibe. Hope that’s okay!Regards,VirgilBU ALUMNI COUNCILAUGUST 30, 20194:56 P.M.Dear Virgil,Okay, that’s fine! Maybe he can still be holding the book in one hand. However you do it, we believe Dr. King deserves a statue on this campus, and one that reflects his remarkable achievements.Best,BU Alumni CouncilVIRGIL OERTLESAUGUST 30, 20199:49 P.M.Dear Alumni Council,Dang, I really have to turn my email notifications on!! I’ve done most of his upper body, and I have his arms spread out across the back of the bench so it looks like he’s putting them around anyone who sits next to him. I also have him wearing a BU sweatshirt. That’s cool right?Let me know,VirgilBU ALUMNI COUNCILAUGUST 31, 20198:01 A.M.Virgil -Aaahhh. Okay. This isn’t quite what we had in mind, but we trust your artistic integrity. As long as his face looks dignified - maybe a slight smile, welcoming visitors of all races and creeds to campus.Signed,BU Alumni CouncilBU ALUMNI COUNCILAUGUST 31, 201910:07 A.M.Virgil -Just checking in to make sure you got our last message. Status report on the sculpture?-BU AlumniVIRGIL OERTLESSEPTEMBER 1, 20195:00 P.M.Shoot, okay so I had a little trouble with his face...it just looked nothing like Dr. King. Like beyond repair. Time to stop drinking and sculpting, Virgil!!!! Hahaha. Anyway, I decided to go in a different direction with the project.-VirgilBU ALUMNI COUNCILSEPTEMBER 1, 20195:35 P.M.Virg -What do you mean a ‘different direction’?-AlumniVIRGIL OERTLESSEPTEMBER 1, 20197:08 P.M.You know your mascot?(See attached.)BU ALUMNI COUNCILSEPTEMBER 1, 20198:00 P.M.…….BU ALUMNI COUNCILSEPTEMBER 1, 20198:05 P.M.Dear Mr. Oertle,We love it.Congrats on a job well done!The Boston University Alumni Council