Friday afternoon, a particularly warm-weathered day, the Black Student Union hosted the Unity Project with UPC and the Ladies Society for Collegiate Success, inviting students to fill the Green Space in an interactive unifying activity.
The Unity Project consisted of an interactive art project meant to spread understanding and awareness of similarities among students.
“The Unity Project is one of our spring events, and it's about just showing Auburn how we are all connected and unified — unity project,” said Jayla Coleman, special projects publicity chair for Black Student Union.
Each pole within the piece was labeled with an identifier. Participants took yarn and wrapped it around the poles they identified with connecting their string to others' identifying with the same things.
“You connect it with everything else you identify with, it becomes who you are,” Coleman said. “Everyone overlaps each other because we are all connected because we are all people.”
The Black Student Union’s motto is "Unity through Education," and Administrative Vice President Zuri Foster said this project displays it by pinpointing everyone’s similarities to create something beautiful.
“My favorite part is it starts and ends with, ‘I am an Auburn student,’” Foster said. “That is something that we all have in common, which is so important because it is why we are all here, and I think once we notice our similarities and differences, it is easier for us to come together and make sure that Auburn feels like the Auburn Family.”
Coleman said all of the projects and events have the commonality of unity.
“We want everyone to feel included
Coleman said she was excited about the turnout of the event and the support the project received as it illustrates how the student body is all connected to one another.
“It is really pretty to look at,” Coleman said. “It just shows how unity, inclusion, diversity [are] very beautiful thing[s], and you have to look past who you are and look at everyone as a whole.”
Foster said this is the most interactive event of the numerous ones the organization is putting on in celebration of Black History Month. The organization held its Soul Foods Bazaar earlier in the week promoting the Auburn Family environment and is preparing for its guest speaker.
BSU will be hosting Opal Tometi, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, in the Student Center Ballroom at 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
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