State Comptroller Russ Saito ignited a dispute over censorship and the notion of political agendas yesterday by ordering the removal of about 300 drawings, paintings, poems and letters by Oahu public school students in the basement of the Capitol, while a civil unions supporters' exhibit of photographs was allowed across the hall.

The students submitted artwork expressing their feelings about Furlough Fridays.

“;They're trying to suppress children's voices,”; said Marguerite Butler Higa, of Save Our Schools Hawaii, an organization opposing Furlough Fridays. A permit was granted to display the art from Jan. 21 through Feb. 26, but the exhibit will be removed Monday.

“;The thing that I don't understand is, Where are these children supposed to have a voice if it's not at the state Capitol where the decisions are being made that affect their futures?”; added Liam Skilling, also of Save Our Schools Hawaii.

Even state Sen. Will Espero jumped into the mix, expressing “;dismay and concern that the state Department of Accounting and General Services may be censoring the message of the art show.”;

Saito said the Furlough Friday problem began with the original application. “;It came as a request to display student artwork, and that is not student artwork. It's a political message but it's not art.”;

Predominantly anti-furlough, with a few negative depictions of Gov. Lingle, the work generally conveys disappointment and anger at the lost school days. But a few students indicated they like the time off, and one even complained about the extra homework given as a result.

Jennifer Chandler, a mother of a Noelani Elementary School student, questioned why other controversial exhibits had been allowed to run their course without facing early removal. In particular, large black-and-white photographs from Equality Hawaii, an organization that supports civil unions, were on display in the Capitol basement across the hall from the Furlough Friday presentation.

“;It's just weird because you'd think that would be more of a controversial topic,”; said Chandler.

Abiding by the original permitting plan, the civil union photographs will move from the Capitol to Borders at Ward this weekend, according to Tambry Young of Equality Hawaii. “;Our Capitol is a place for expression, and this is very tastefully done,”; she said of the exhibit.

When asked why this display, which could be interpreted as conveying a political viewpoint, was allowed, Saito admitted that his deputy had signed the permit for him, and its nature was not clear to them. “;For all intents and purposes, it snuck by,”; he said. “;If I had known what it would look like, I would have had the same position.”;

Though the civil union photography generated some complaints, its one-week run time cut limited the controversy before Saito needed to intervene.

He insisted that no political agenda is behind the removal of the Furlough Friday exhibit. “;It is not a matter of free speech,”; said Saito. “;The difference here is that we are mounting the art on our walls, and there is no one to speak. When a rally is over, people go home. By allowing it to remain mounted, the state could be viewed as taking sides, and it's still an issue that is being debated.”;

Chandler countered, “;If there is no home for these voices, where do we take them next? It is the kids getting impacted, and what do you do with that? Do you silence them?”;