Lights. Camera. Equality.
On Wednesday, students, staff, faculty and community members gathered in the SUB Atrium, taking photographs and short videos, sharing pins reading “welcome” in various languages and creating a short film.
This was part of an effort to appreciate diversity at UNM through the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign.
Danielle Gilliam, the administrative officer at the UNM Global Education Office, said the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign has already been brought to over 20 other universities.
“(This is) to let the global community of international students and scholars know that we want them to study here, in the U.S.,” Gilliam said. “International students and scholars bring invaluable perspectives into UNM’s classrooms, research labs and community, for example, which stimulates innovation and collaboration in meaningful and important ways.”
Yesterday, the campaign launched on UNM campus with the creation of a video that included over 100 students, faculty and staff who supported the cause, and who were photographed and filmed within just two hours, she said.
The film’s final product illustrates the many faces of UNM and is set to music with clips of messages of welcome for all, Gilliam said.
“We intend to carry the campaign out through the end of the year with additional social media, feature stories and other content to continue to spread a positive message about the value of global perspectives on campus,” she said.
UNM decided to take on the project in the form of a video, Gilliam said, as the final product will visually show the many faces of UNM.
Linda Melville, the GEO director for International Student Scholar Services, said the anti-immigrant rhetoric on the campaign trail has been concerning the international education community, but President Trump’s recent travel ban propelled this campaign into quick action.
Gilliam said the collaborative initiative generated campus-wide interest and demonstrates “the high levels of positive support our campus has for our global Lobos.”
UNM is currently home to over 1,600 international students and scholars from over 100 countries in the world, she said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
“Many people in the U.S. are happy to have immigrants here,” Melville said.
However, a lot of people interpreted the executive order to mean that much of the U.S. was not so happy about this diversity, she said.
UNM’s participation in the campaign began due to the desire to “combat this with a voice of welcome,” she said.
Melissa Krukar, a senior liberal arts major, said she participated in the video after she was notified through an email.
Krukar said videos like these are valuable tools for spreading information, and it is important to thank GEO for their efforts. She said it is necessary to highlight topics like these regardless of the political climate, but that it is especially imperative now.
“I think it’s important to give support to people who need it,” Krukar said. “I want everyone to feel welcome on campus.”
While Krukar feels welcome at UNM herself, she said that feeling welcome on campus should not be a privilege, but a right.
Staff Graduate Project Coordinator Stephonae Nelson has participated in the protest against Milo Yiannopoulos, the Women’s March and other events.
Nelson said she participated in the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign because she feels it is important to uphold standards of welcoming others, regardless of whether you identify as an immigrant or not.
Not everyone can be a protester, she said, but even small efforts to speak up for what you believe in are important.
“There are a lot of mixed messages in the national and international media about current political events that can discourage our global community from feeling welcome here in the U.S.,” Gilliam said. “This campaign is needed to show that headlines don’t represent the full picture of the U.S. and that there are supportive communities that want global engagement and welcome international students and scholars.”Gilliam said she would like to thank everyone who participated in the campaign.
“These small actions make a big difference in the lives of our students, staff and faculty who come from so many backgrounds and cultures,” she said. “More importantly, I want to encourage others who are supportive to be proactive and show your support for our diverse community. A small gesture — even just saying, ‘you are welcome here’ — goes a long way.”
GEO hopes to release the film within two weeks, and it will be available on various UNM sites and social media, Gilliam said.
Elizabeth Sanchez is a reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
