Fits and Starts is an sculpture by the Brooklyn, New York City artist Marc Swanson, the 2005 vandalism of which at DePauw University created controversy.
[1] Fits and Starts was a life-size sculpture of a deer in mid-leap that was entirely encrusted in rhinestone crystals.
[2] The artwork combined the influence of his politically conservative father, an Eagle Scout and US Marine, and Swanson's identity as a gay male.
DePauw students hit the sculpture with various objects, and parts of the deer's antlers were sawed off.
After the vandalism, the artwork was removed and stored in the basement of the Peeler Art Center at DePauw University.