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December 2005
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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“Be”
Campaign Ignites Campus Unity and Creativity “Everything has a theme. Your college experience needs a theme,” says Student Government President Kyle Taylor, who came up with the idea. With more than 160 clubs and organizations, AU offers students the opportunity to be a part of something meaningful to them. The “Be” campaign challenges them to find that outlet and not only feel a sense of unity within their group, but throughout the university as a whole. Each club and organization can choose a “Be” slogan to represent its group. Approximately 75 on-campus organizations have ordered “Be” shirts through student government to advertise and represent what they feel their purpose is. The original goal was to sell 5,000 shirts. They have sold more than 12,000, says Taylor. “To be honest, with the number of shirts and buttons that we’ve sold, it already feels like a success,” says Taylor. Student government members chose “Be Heard” as their theme in order to stress to students that members represent the AU community and serve as the students’ voice. Women’s Initiative, a women’s advocacy group, chose “Be Empowered” to encourage women to be “informed, efficient, proactive, motivated, self-sufficient, and socially involved,” says Jen Smyers, a junior in SPA and SOC and director of Women’s Initiative. Several political groups chose a play on words for their slogans. The College Republicans can be seen wearing “Be Right” T-shirts, while the College Democrats walk around campus wearing T-shirts that say, "Be a Smart Ass." Even the residence halls are creating themes, like Centennial Hall’s “Be Suite.” The last week of November was dubbed “Be Week.” A few events that emphasize the spirit of AU were created especially for this week. The “Be Fit Be Cause” Tread-a-thon had the goal of keeping a treadmill running for three hours to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. The 72-hour “Be Expressive” Film Festival garnered 140 people, five teams, and five films, said Taylor. The film festival encouraged self-expression, which AU emphasizes through this campaign.
When Taylor sees a “sea of ‘Be’” shirts at a basketball game, he'll consider the campaign a true success. “[Students] don’t feel like they’re constrained because they’re cheering on AU, they’re representing their group,” he says. “They’re proud of their group, and because of that, they’re proud of AU.” Because student government leaders change every year, Taylor doesn’t know if the campaign will carry over into the next academic year. The foundation for the campaign is set, however. Taylor sees it as a long-term plan that offers student groups the option to change their “Be” slogan each year to stay fresh. American Word, a new student-run online magazine, currently represents itself in the campaign as “Be Told.” Next year, the organization may change its slogan to “Be on the Edge.” The "Be" campaign has the potential to unify more than current AU students, too. Shirts for prospective students are being made that say, “Be at AU: Future Eagle,” says Taylor. Student Ambassadors are guiding prospective students around campus in red shirts that say, “Be Admitted,” encouraging them to apply and become a part of these separate identities that are, ultimately, AU. Taylor says the next goal is to get alumni involved, using a slogan such as, “Be Proud: AU Alum” or “Be AU: Proud Alum.” The merchandise could be sold online or in the bookstore for easy access. “[When] you’re back on campus for an event, wear your ‘Be’ shirt,” says Taylor. Alumni
interested in helping to spread the word should contact Taylor at kyle.taylor@american.edu
or 202-885-6423. |
Taylor
says he’s happy to see the campaign burgeoning throughout campus;
the athletic teams, Bender Library, and each of the different schools are
getting involved. The athletic department recently ordered hundreds of
“Be There” shirts.