<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Uh7y9_0vlOxywU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Uh7y9_0vlOxywU00" width="983" height="600" ></figure>On Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m., over 35 students gathered in the Alley to meet with Brian Martin about his upcoming mural project and to learn more about the importance of this mural. Martin had previously revealed that there would be a mural happening on campus this year in chapel on Thursday, Sept. 12, and invited students to register for the Mural Conversation to hear more about the upcoming plans for this exciting announcement. As students of all different backgrounds began to gather around Martin and his presentation, the anticipation rose and questions were waiting to be answered. The mural titled “Thy Kingdom Come” was inspired by Martin’s conversation with two caucasian students that he met with last semester in January. The two students were led to talk to Martin about how they felt that Anderson University talks a lot about wanting to be inclusive to everyone on campus but they did not feel like there was anything on campus that really showed that and reminded students of those values. They asked Martin to partner with them and help lead the project in creating a mural that would represent what Anderson University’s campus and student body is. With Martin being the Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement (CIE), it seems like it was a perfect fit for him to be the lead for a project like this. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2fpX81_0vlOxywU00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2fpX81_0vlOxywU00" width="573" height="592" ><figcaption>Brian “B” Martin</figcaption></figure>Martin talked about the reason behind wanting to create the mural is to represent how Anderson University has been a leader in inclusion and diversity in the country when it comes to students of color receiving an education. Since the university originally opened in 1917, people of color have been invited to learn and train on Anderson’s campus and in the present time Martin and many other people around the campus strive to help make Anderson University a safe space for all students of all backgrounds. The overall purpose that Martin gave for the mural was: to inform, remind, challenge, encourage and inspire us to follow Jesus’ examples of being welcoming, inclusive and loving towards people of all races, ethnicities and nationalities. When talking about the history of Anderson University in relation to people of color and the purpose of the mural, Martin said, “It reminds us to remember the fact that from the very beginning, Anderson tried to be a place that was welcoming to all races, ethnicities, and nationalities.” The mural’s title “Thy Kingdom Come” is based on the scripture Matthew 6:9-10 which is, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Martin talked about how we at Anderson University want our campus to be like it is in heaven. Martin highlighted Revelations 7:9-10 which says, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” The purpose of Martin sharing this scripture was to give people a better understanding of what Heaven will look like and how as a community they should strive to bring the inclusion that will be in Heaven to the Earth around them and the places they are in. Throughout the process of the mural, Martin will have Ashley Nora and Holly Sims be working as the designer and on campus mural coordinator respectively. They are both Anderson University alumni and professional muralists in their fields. Nora was featured in the Wilson Gallery with her exhibit In Sight last October during homecoming week. Sims is currently an assistant professor of visual communication design at Anderson University and has done local work with her community and was recently a featured muralist in the NBA all stars earlier this year in February. Both Nora and Sims told Martin that they have been wanting to work together on a project together for a while, so getting to work on this mural together especially for their alma mater is something that they would be happy to do.Loralee De Young, an english education student, said, “…I am really looking forward to having the mural on campus. I was curious about what it would look like artistically and what kind of message it would be communicating…” when asked about how she felt about the mural conversation. The project is expected to begin in March 2025. This is because Martin needs to complete his fundraising efforts along with providing ample time to give Nora time to complete the mural design and get approval from AU’s president and board for the mural. The mural is set to be located in the lower level of the Olt Student Center on a wall near the Chick-Fil-a and the student bookstore. This a great place for the mural to be as this is a heavy traffic area for both current and future students. It will serve as a reminder for what Anderson University is trying to achieve and represent along with a small glance for students who are touring to see what the campus has to offer. On the campus tours that admissions provides, Chick-Fil-A is on that list of their stops they make around campus meaning that every single new student or family that visits AU will pass this mural. They will get to see a small part of the work that Martin and others on campus are trying to accomplish. When talking about the point of having the mural in such a well known spot on campus, Martin said, “…it is going to remind us, encourage us, and inspire us to make sure [including and welcoming all students of all backgrounds] is what we are doing.”Martin talked about how the cost of the mural will be around $4500 and when talking to the board of the university, Martin was told that he would need to find his funding for these costs himself. There are a few different departments that were mentioned in the conversation that are supporting Martin and his fundraising efforts including: Student Government Association (SGA), Peace and Conflict Transformation (PACT) department, MOSAIC, and the CIE. Martin also talked about how he and his colleague, Stephanie Moran attended a conference recently that gave them the opportunity to write a proposal to receive funding towards their project. Martin allowed different representatives of the different groups to come up and explain why they are supporting the mural and how it aligns with the goals of their groups.Korey Rees, AU’s student body president, said, “I was actually one of the students who brought this to [Martin], so this is something that is very close to my heart and I have wanted to see about as long as [Martin] had. The reason that SGA is helping pay for some of it is because the Student Government Association is for all students…I really want [students] to know that and make sure that all students feel welcome and appreciated here on campus,” when talking about why the SGA is supporting the mural.The mural conversation came to a closing with two questions of belonging: what are things that we are doing that help you to feel like you belong at Anderson University and what can we do better to help you to feel like you belong at Anderson University? Students who attended the conversation were able to record their thoughts into a google form privately. Martin opened the floor to any students who would be open to sharing their responses. One student said that the culture clubs that the CIE has helps them to feel like they belong. Another student said that they felt as though there could be more activities on campus that help to promote people being together. Having these opportunities to share thoughts and feelings allow Martin and the university to see where they still need to progress and what they are doing right to help make all students feel welcomed and included on campus.When asked about how he felt about the mural conversation, visual communication design student Antwone Whiteside said, “I feel like it is a great way to express diversity on this campus and get students to express how they feel about their culture that they share. It is something for the next generation of students to be happy to look at.”While Martin is still in the early stages of this project, the goals and purpose of this mural seem genuine and the progress towards making all people feel included and making sure that they belong on campus has been an ongoing movement since the beginning of AU. Having a visual representation of the campus’s beliefs and values surrounding diversity will be a beautiful addition to the university.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Thy Kingdom Come: Diversity and inclusion through new future mural on campus

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m., over 35 students gathered in the Alley to meet with Brian Martin about his upcoming mural project and to learn more about the importance of this mural. Martin had previously revealed that there would be a mural happening on campus this year in chapel on Thursday, Sept. 12, and invited students to register for the Mural Conversation to hear more about the upcoming plans for this exciting announcement. As students of all different backgrounds began to gather around Martin and his presentation, the anticipation rose and questions were waiting to be answered.