Green and White Society plans “We Are SRU” event

Slippery Rock University’s Green and White Society will host “We Are SRU,” Feb. 23 during Common Hour. The event is open to all students, faculty and staff. Photo by Rebecca Dietrich, emerging technology and multimedia major from Pittsburgh.

Feb. 9, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - For Courtney McCalmont, differences are not a matter of division, but rather unity.

McCalmont, a junior integrated marketing communication major from Harrisville and president of Slippery Rock University's Green and White Society, is putting her belief into action through the Society-sponsored Feb. 23 "We Are SRU" initiative.

The event will see a variety of student clubs and organizations provide food, games, music and "upbeat energy" for fellow students during Common Hour. Each game or activity will relate back to the goals of the organization providing them.

For example, Best Buddies, which creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will offer "disabled cookie decorating." As students decorate cookies, they will experience some form of disablement in an effort to foster awareness of the challenges faced by the people they serve.

The festivities will take place outside of The Suite located on the second floor of the Smith Student Center. The event is free and open to all students, faculty and staff.

   McCALMONT

"The message behind this event is, 'It doesn't matter your age, sex, race or political opinion, it is our differences that make us SRU,'" said McCalmont. "We're hoping the event will create excitement on campus that positively celebrates those things that make us unique."

McCalmont's motivation for organizing the event was her perception of the "world beginning to separate around her."

"With everything that is going on in the media and in our country right now, I felt that it would be a great idea for our organizations to come together as one," McCalmont explained. "I hope that this will promote school spirit and 'Rock Pride' amongst all of us."

McCalmont also sees "We Are SRU" as a natural extension of the Green and White Society being "committed to the development of programs and activities that instill a sense of pride and tradition within our student population."

In addition to food, games and music, the Green and White Society will be provide a photo booth and ask students to take a photo with a handwritten sign that showcases unique facts about themselves. The photos will then be combined for use in a video that McCalmont said would be posted on social media "to share and show the diversity we enjoy on campus."

"Students can write anything they find interesting or special about themselves," said McCalmont. "The goal is to really think about what makes you, you."

The photo/video project has caused McCalmont to brainstorm about her own singularities and strengths and about what she will write on her own sign.

"'What makes me unique?' is a question I hadn't really thought of until now," McCalmont said. "I think I would write 'dreamer.'" From the time I was very young, I've always had very big dreams and I never settle for anything less than what I want, regardless of what other people think."

For McCalmont, the event is not only a personal mission, but also something she hopes will flourish and expand well after she is no longer at the University.

"If this goes well, my goal is to turn this into an annual event ... a tradition," said McCalmont. "This is the sort of event you can never have too many times. After all, if we are all exactly the same, how would we stand out?"

MEDIA CONTACT: Maizee Zaccone | 724.738.2091 | mxz1016@sru.edu