Unions' Public Art Blog

On the ground level of the MU Student Center, visitors can now explore an exhibition that brings renewed attention to one of the University of Missouri’s most significant yet often overlooked historical resources: The Savitar . As MU’s yearbook from 1894 to 2005, The Savitar documented generations of student life, campus culture, and institutional change. For decades, it served as the visual and textual archive upon which many of our past exhibitions, research projects, and interpretive narratives have relied. Panoramic view on the left       Panoramic view on the right The name “Savitar” derives from Hindu religious texts and serves as an epithet for the Vedic solar deity Surya. In the  Rig Veda , the earliest extant collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns, Savitar is described as a life-giving force and an all-seeing witness capable of discerning the moral actions of humankind. As a divine figure associated with vitality, observation, and judgment, Savitar provides a s...

On the first level of the MU Student Center, the Mort’s Case display is currently dedicated to the history of student activism at the University of Missouri. The exhibition highlights more than five decades of student-led movements, presenting archival photographs, and documents that trace how MU students have engaged with major national issues, campus concerns, and global political debates. Organized chronologically and thematically, the display illustrates how activism has shaped student life and contributed to broader discussions on civil rights, war, racial justice, and international solidarity.  Exhibition Overview – First Level, MU Student Center Exhibition Content The central header, “Student Activism” , introduces the overall theme. Across three glass sections, the display traces demonstrations related to: National debates— including protests against  the Vietnam War , and actions concerning capital punishment. Campus-specific concerns, such as responses to racism an...

  An Exhibition Across Two Levels of the MU Student Center On display across both the ground and first levels of the MU Student Center, the Biological Sciences Exhibition celebrates the enduring legacy of scientific innovation, teaching, and discovery at the University of Missouri. Through a rich selection of historical instruments, research materials, and fossil specimens, this two-part exhibition traces how generations of Mizzou biologists have explored life—from the microscopic to the planetary scale. Ground Level Exhibition: From Teaching Traditions to Nobel Discovery The ground-level Cases present a historical overview of the Division of Biological Sciences, featuring early laboratory instruments, archival materials, and milestones in research excellence. Together, these objects illustrate how Mizzou’s scientific community has shaped biological education and discovery for more than a century. Exhibtion Overview, Ground Level, MU Student Center One highlight is the section de...