Since a moratorium was placed on murals at the Cesar Chavez Student Center earlier this semester, the Native American mural that was planned has been delayed.

“The decision to place a moratorium on all murals was based on the Palestinian mural,” said Hector Jimenez Cardenas, who heads the Native American mural committee, a group of students working to put together the mural. “President Corrigan hasn’t even seen the first draft of our mural.”

Cardenas explained that the decision for the moratorium was based on details in the Palestinian mural that some believed could be a symbol of violence.

Ellen Griffin, director of SF State’s Office of Public Affairs, said the reason for the moratorium was to ensure that consistent guidelines are instated and followed for murals.

“The Native American mural never made it to the president for review,” Griffin said. “The moratorium was put into effect so that the organizations would show more sensitivity to their obligations to put into effect plans and policies for utilizing the space.”

Originally, according to Cardenas and Griffin, President Corrigan asked the Student Center Governing Board to utilize the open space on the outside of the student center. The student center in turn asked the organizations to make murals that would reflect their character.

“There was never any decision on what to put up,” said Griffin. “If there are no decisions, there is no artwork.”

Although the Native American mural is still in the early stages of construction, according to Cardenas, representation of minority organizations is past due.

“The plans for the Native American Mural started in 2002,” Cardenas said. “More than one generation of students has contributed, and we are way overdue in terms of representation on this campus.”