Rebbeca Lipsitch ’21 worked on a Student-Directed Project centered around the question of “How does one artistically represent the psychological effects of solitary confinement on a human?”

As one of Yolanda Wilcox González‘s change-making students, Rebecca’s student-directed project was born from a project in Ms. Gonzalez’s Theories of Justice class. Rebecca made connections with artists and formerly incarcerated people to design a solitary confinement cell to briefly simulate the destructive isolation and environment prisoners are subjected to. With help from Beaver’s Building & Grounds Department, Rebecca created a 6×10 foot model cell on-campus. In the space, there is a red light to show the lack of heat control. Only a bed and sound fill the room (Rebecca created a two and half minute audio sequence to accompany the experience). Students, faculty, and staff were able to experience her work.