I am addressing the disappointment in Ken Graves and Eva Lipmans' photographic exhibit In the Company of Men ("Photography exhibit shocking, outrageous," April 14 letter). The author had preconceived notions of photographs displaying the heroic male persona. However, if she had comprehensively read the Artists' Statement at the entrance to the exhibit, she would have understood that her predetermined expectations were wrong. The Artists' Statement clearly says, "in contrast to the idealized, heroic male figure, our men are seen in the company of other men situated in recognizable settings that have strong institutional bias... [displaying] a myriad of ways men inhabit the institutions." The artists present the multiple ways certain activities may be observed.

The photos capture fleeting moments of masculine vulnerability. Shot two seconds later, each would tell an entirely different story. The photo the writer called pedophilia-like actions of a man and boy, I view as a father whispering to his awakening son, merely portraying the tenderness and love of a father. It is a shame that the writer was unable to view the exhibit through unprejudiced, open eyes.

As she claims, if the exhibit is pushing limits, it is certainly not out of control, and Penn State is doing its job. Universities facilitate and acknowledge all types of ideas and explorations, especially those that challenge boundaries. They force progress in societal thinking by encouraging new, innovative ways of thinking and analyzing situations. Graves and Lipmans' exhibit invites the viewer to challenge society's superficial definition of proper gender roles. Isn't that the "Penn State way"?