DES MOINES—Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation which would force the University of Iowa to sell a recently-discovered relic which is valued at more than $500 million.
Earlier this month, a University of Iowa undergraduate discovered a bathroom hand dryer which had somehow escaped vandalism for 15 years. An investigation confirmed the appliance had no signs of hilarious markings like ” “Push butt, rub hans gently.”
The piece is thought to be one of the most pristine and valuable hand dryers in existence. UI officials planned to put the unit on display in the Old Capitol Museum, but the Republican-sponsored bill in the legislature would force the University to auction off the item and use the proceeds for bathroom improvements around campus.
“What is the central role of the UI — to build a museum to offer students or to educate students?” said Rep. Bernard Watts, R-Osceola, one of the bill’s sponsors. “With the slumping economy, it just doesn’t make sense to sit on an asset like this.”
“And besides,” Sen. Mike Marshall, R-Marion, “we could buy several dozen Dyson hand dryers with the money we make from this.”
The plan mirrors legislation introduced earlier this year calling for the sale of a $140 million Jackson Pollock painting the university owns. However, the hand dryer proposal has been met with much fiercer criticism.
“If we show such reckless disregard for a gem like this hand dryer, what message does that send to future generations? What will keep them from scratching letters off any hand dryer they come across?” UI President Sally Mason said.
