The Wall of Aspirations, a six-foot portable chalkboard given as the senior class gift of 2013, is a new way for U students to express themselves and inspire others.
A gift from the senior class of 2013, the temporary wall serves as public forum for student thoughts and opinions. If successful, a permanent ‘Wall of Aspirations’ may be constructed in the Union building.
“This can be a part of the Union and grow with it,” said Alex Au, a 2012 U graduate in biology who proposed the gift.
Visitors to the ASUU booth at PlazaFest were invited to write responses to the question “What inspires you?”
The answers ranged from “children” to “working at the Union front desk” to “veterans.” One scribe even said “Miley Cyrus twerking” inspired them. The prompt question will change with each event the wall travels to.
Currently, the wall is in a trial period, but has plans to make its way around various campus events including upcoming football games.
The idea was inspired by a similar wall in New Orleans, La. where people would express aspirations they had before they died. The original plan was to have a permanent wall built at the Salt Lake City Main Public Library. However, after his experiences at the U, Au said he “wanted to give back to the university.”
The wall also serves as a dedication to Stayner Landward, former dean of students.
“He’s been a great mentor to me as well as a lot of people who are at the university right now,” Au said. “He became a voice for a lot of students and people who were unsure of what their future was at the university.”
Erika Minjarez, a first year student at the S.J. Quinney College of Law and former senior class president, teamed up with Au to implement the wall at the U.
“I thought it was cool to have a place where students could share where they’re coming from. I think it’s really important that students feel like they have something, [that they] have a place where they can go and be more than just a student. We have a unique student body and [we should] highlight that uniqueness and [those] stories,” Minjarez said.
As an undergrad, Minjarez said she felt like she was on campus to just get an education.
“When you start hearing stories and where [other students] are going, it makes it so much more real and lively,” she said.