State Rep. Monique Davis keeping statue she says she helped acquire

By J. Coyden Palmer

State Rep. Monique Davis keeping statue she says she helped acquire,

In an ironic twist of fate, a longtime political supporter of Chicago State University is emulating a work of art in life by defiantly refusing a request by school administrators to return a statue it says was taken from campus. State Representative Monique Davis (D-27th) is remaining defiant in efforts to return “Defiance,” a $25,000 statue of a female African slave, to CSU despite repeated requests by school administrators. Davis said she is getting a “legal opinion” before returning the artwork, which she claims was purchased in part by a procurement of funds from her office.

The statue was originally purchased to be put on display in an office on the CSU campus. The funding for the student financial aid center, which was closed in 2008 after the monies were cut, came from a supplemental appropriation from the Illinois General Assembly of which Davis oversaw. A University source said school investigators are still trying to determine where the statue was taken from. The source also could not confirm if the statue was ever displayed on the campus. Other published reports say the statue was in a warehouse on the CSU campus. School officials would only say the statue was somewhere on the campus, but were still investigating when it actually was discovered missing. Students and faculty at CSU have complained for years that Black politicians from the Illinois General Assembly treat CSU as their own political dumping ground for friends and supporters to whom they owe political favors. Davis herself is an alumna of CSU, along with state legislators Connie Howard, Donnie Trotter and Marlow Colvin. University officials would not answer questions about the issue when the Crusader inquired, but they did release a statement that in part read:

“Several years ago, under a previous administration, a former employee of Chicago State University authorized the purchase of a statue called “Defiance.” In October of 2009, the statue was identified as missing from the campus and was subsequently found in the office of a state representative,” wrote University General Counsel Patrick Cage. “The fact that this statue went missing points out security needs we must address to protect University assets. We’re taking appropriate steps to recover the statue.” Cage went on to say that CSU’s new president, Dr. Wayne Watson is committed to improving the South Side school by focusing on fiscal management and control. Recent state audits in the past two years have shown this to be a problem area for CSU as well.

Davis said she is planning a news conference soon to further explain her position on the issue. She is upset that the media has depicted her as a thief. She said she has no plans to keep the statue even though she admitted to having a bond with it. Davis might not think she is a thief, but members of the CSU community do not agree.

“I was shocked to hear about this because I always felt she was one of the better politicians in our community,” said Damaris Sexton, a CSU alum. “I’m sure that if I had taken some school property with me when I graduated I would have been arrested. But I’m more so bothered with Ms. Davis’ sense of entitlement.”

Davis is running unopposed in the February 2 primary election. She has been in office for 21 years. The statue debate is just the latest controversy to befall Davis. Last month the Chicago Board of Education sued Davis for nearly $84,000 in back rent they say she owes after going seven years without paying rent on the property in the 1200 block of west 95th Street. CPS Inspector General James Sullivan said that after Davis unsuccessfully renegotiated a lease in 2002, CPS officials asked her to leave the property, but took no further action. Sullivan said Davis actually owes more than what they are suing her for because as the leaseholder on the property, she is responsible for the property taxes that have not been paid either. Davis responded by saying that last year was the first time the Board sent her a new lease for the property, which is why she had not paid.

CSU Police Chief Ronnie Watson said his officers and he have gone by Davis’ office several times since October of last year to try to recover “Defiant” but with no success. Watson has told media members that he has been given the run-around by Davis and her staff members when it comes to retrieving the statue. The Crusader will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Story posted: 1/30/2010

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