#LoveUAkron campaign celebrates UA

THEY CAME, they read, they wrote and they smiled today as they shared what they love about The University of Akron.

“They” are the students, faculty, alumni, community members and even prospective students who came by the lawn between Buchtel Hall and the Student Union to participate in the #LoveUAkron campaign hosted by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. With a choice of brightly colored markers, individuals could write the reasons they love UA on sheets of paper that were then hung on red clotheslines strung among the trees.

The idea grew from similar love letter campaigns seen in various cities, says Stephanie Weber, a junior majoring in sales management at UA who is interning at the Knight Foundation in Akron this summer.

“With the hashtag #LoveUAkron, people can share their reasons here or on social media,” explains Weber, who hopes to work in nonprofit management or economic development after graduation. “We’re taking an organic approach and it is catching on. There are a lot of loyal Zips out there, like me, who are sharing what they appreciate about the University.”

At the Knight Foundation, Weber is working with Bronlynn Thurman, a program associate, and Kyle Kutuchief, the Akron program director, who earned a Master of Public Administration here in 2006.

“This year is an odd year, kind of a blip on the radar when you think about it in the history of the decades of greatness at the University and what the institution means to the current students, alumni and community,” Kutuchief said in a July 13 article in the Akron Beacon Journal. “A lot of the good stuff is being lost in the backdrop of this year. We need to get that narrative back on track and remind people of all the good stuff happening at UA.”

For Mike Kulick and Kat Creamer, who both work in Career Services, hanging their love letters was all about support.

“I love working with our students, and I wanted to come out and support the University and our community,” says Kulick, associate director of cooperative education and internships.

“Like Mike, I wanted to support the University,” says Creamer. “It’s where I earned my master’s degree and where I developed my passion for working with students. I like being part of the community and the culture here.”

Jen Case, who teaches in UA’s English Language Institute, stopped by with one of her students, May Alfraiheen, to hang their letters.

“I love my international students,” wrote Case, while Alfraiheen’s letter read, “I love the flowers and trees.”

“I want to support the University in any way I can,” says Mark Stasitis as he wrote his letter. “I love The University of Akron,” adds Stasitis, the director of labor relations and immigration services in Talent Development and Human Resources.

Lexie Hanson and Jen Vliet, both student assistants in Residence Life and Housing, stopped by on their break to write letters.

“I love all the opportunities to participate,” says Hanson, an accounting major and Williams Honors Scholar. “I’ve made great friends and connections here.”

“People here are generous with their time,” adds Vliet, an education major specializing in integrated social studies. “They want to help you succeed.”

“I thought it would be nice to show gratitude for this place of community,” says Alexis Dafonseca, a graduate student in psychology, after hanging her love letter.

Addie Hujar and Marisa Polatas, students assistants in Career Services, paused in writing their love letters to note what UA means to them.

“With all the people I’ve met here, The University of Akron has become my home,” says Hujar, a marketing major and Williams Honors Scholar. “A lot of protesting took place in this area over the last year. This project is a very symbolic way of turning a negative into a positive.”

Polatas agrees.

“I think it’s cool for prospective students to see all these letters and read all the positive things being written about professors and classes,” says Polatas, a psychology major and Williams Honors Scholar. “A lot of good things are happening.”