UF President Machen to speak at Writing on the Wall Project Closing Ceremony

January 23, 2006

GAINESVILLE,Fla. – University of Florida President Bernie Machen will speak at the Writing on the Wall Project Closing Ceremony and Teardown at 1 p.m. Friday at the Plaza of the Americas.

The Writing on the Wall Project is an annual diversity program that brings the UF community together to literally and metaphorically break down a wall of hatred and oppression. The project began the week of Jan. 16 with committee members staffing tables at the Reitz Student Union Colonnade to provide information about the project. Interested students, staff and faculty painted bricks with words or sayings that had been hurtful to them in their lives. This week, 400 individually painted bricks will be put together by a local construction company to build a 40-by-9 foot wall in the Plaza of the Americas. The wall will symbolize the barriers between people in society.

“This is the fourth annual Writing on the Wall Project. Each year participation in the program has grown,” said Kathy Hobgood, assistant director of housing and project adviser. “We’re excited to have President Machen speak at the closing ceremony as we tear down the wall and symbolically tear down hatred and oppression.”

Once the wall is constructed, student committee members staff the area 24 hours a day in teams of two. This “vigil” serves two purposes. One is to provide security for the wall. The second is to provide personal presence at the wall to answer questions, explain the project, and help process the emotions that often result from viewing the wall. Committee members also provide fliers inviting all to come to the closing ceremony to help tear down the wall.

“The tearing down of the wall is visually and emotionally powerful,” explained Mandi Hughes, project co-director. “The assembled crowd lines up along the ropes attached to the wall and helps destroy the wall and ultimately each brick.”

Joining Machen for the closing ceremony will be Ivana Black, a UF student who will be reflecting on her student life, and Vikram Rangala, UF Honors Program writing coach and adviser.