Group invites public input on EMU mural responding to racist graffiti

The Eastern Michigan University (EMU) community and Ypsilanti residents are being invited to give input on a new mural conceived as a response to recent incidents of racist graffiti on EMU’s campus.

The mural was originally planned to be installed in January, but organizers backed off that deadline to allow more time for community feedback. Mural proposals will be accepted until October 2017 and the mural is now slated to be installed next fall.

Co-organizer and EMU senior Steven Kwasny says the idea for the mural came to him while talking and listening to people at the rallies and protests following the graffiti incidents, as well as less formal meetings with friends and peers to talk and chalk positive messages on EMU sidewalks.

“What occurred was an attack on our student body, and in my eyes an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” Kwasny says. “There had to be something done about it.”

After bouncing the idea off of a couple of friends, Kwasny took it to the school administration, who he says have been highly supportive and grateful for the student-led effort. With the school’s approval, he started casting a wide net, reaching out to department heads, faculty members, and student organizations.

“Everyone in the EMU community is welcome wholeheartedly — students, staff, faculty, alumni — anyone can submit a proposal,” he says. “The outreach has gone far and wide. There’s no micro-targeting, just everyone on campus.”

Last week organizers hosted an outreach day on campus, featuring Ypsilanti community and EMU leaders. Response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, Kwasny says.

“There hasn’t been a single person I’ve talked to who has said this is a bad idea or has put up any roadblocks,” he says.