Twenty-one years ago today the innocuous statue that now sits between Fayerweather and Keefe Campus Center came under fire and was the subject of a "storm of controversy," according to The Amherst Student. The sculpture was attacked first by critics who called it "naive … simple … not very exciting." Students also expressed confusion about the shape of the statue, wondering whether it was a "W" or an "M," or whether it could possibly be related to a cardiogram line, signifying life and death. Faculty members expressed concern of a different type, worrying that the statue would become the centerpiece of fraternity rush rituals. College officials, however, thought the heated debate healthy in that it provoked students and staff to ask questions about the place of art in their environment.

Weighing three tons and constructed out of steel and stone, "Arch Homage IV," as the statue was titled, was donated by alumnus John Greenebaum, whose only requirement was that it be displayed for one year. Greenebaum stated his purpose in contributing the statue as the following: "I don't think art should be confined in museums and I hope that the outdoor sculpture will serve as a link between the Amherst community and the world of art."

Professors in the fine arts department thought this a noble goal, but one not achieved by this particular statue. Creator Ernest Shaw intended the piece to portray issues of tension, with the interplay between the man-made steel and the natural stone. The title comes from the fact that arches symbolize change, although the piece is not a literal arch. Fine Arts Professor Emeritus Jay Sullivan said at the time, "I don't think the piece lies within the concept Shaw wishes to articulate." Shaw himself seemed to enjoy the fact that his piece sparked so much debate, stating, "Art is like a mirror, especially abstract art. You can only see in art what you bring to it."