The West Campus Pumpkin Explained

Is there a reason why this jack-o-lantern sculpture ended up behind Nickerson Field?

by Sammy Seabury

Photo by Anna Wojeck

Every day, hundreds of students pass by the mysterious pumpkin statue between the Boston University Police Station and Nickerson Field. With no plaque or formal name, we are all left to wonder about the history behind the West Campus Pumpkin.

There is almost no information about the Pumpkin online, aside from one Instagram post.

According to Boston University Campus Planning & Operations (@bu.cpo), the Pumpkin was sculpted by artist Ed Monti in the 1980s. 

In reference to Monti, BU CPO states that “[the Pumpkin’s] playfulness and charm reflect the sculptor’s own personality.” The Pumpkin was one of multiple sculptures on BU’s campus that Monti created before he passed away in 2016.

Further details about the Pumpkin are limited. It was torched out of Stony Creek granite, originating in Branford, Connecticut. It was previously placed on Bay State Road, before being moved to its current home on BU’s lively West Campus.

“The mystery behind it is fun. My friends and I always question how it got here, and we’ve come up with some conspiracies for sure,” said Maura Medenilla, a West Campus resident and junior in BU’s Sargent College.

The unassuming jack-o-lantern is viewed as a random addition to campus for most months of the year. Yet, as autumn begins, it becomes a perfect sight on the crisp walk to class. 

“It’s such a random thing to see at a city university… but I kind of love it,” said Medenilla (SAR’26).

Regardless of the time of year, the West Campus Pumpkin will continue to be a representation of the spontaneity and joy of Boston University campus life. For now, the story behind the pumpkin remains slightly shrouded in mystery, inviting students to make their own tales and traditions around this quirky addition to West Campus.

Maybe, the Pumpkin should be kept a mystery to keep its charm alive.