The long sidewalk from the dorms to the Cafe is going to get an aesthetic update that will also double as a marketing opportunity for student organizations:

"In 2009, representatives from Communications and Marketing, Facilities, and Student Government came together to identify projects geared toward increasing visibility of diversity and school spirit at Florida Atlantic University. In Student Government’s effort to promote this commitment to embracing diversity while simultaneously making school spirit more visible on the Boca Raton campus, the 2009-10 Student Government Executive Administration requested the following:

1) The creation of 18 vertical light pole banners to be installed along the walkway from Dade Avenue to Parking Garage #2.

2) The naming of the walkway “Diversity Way.”

This project will consist of student photographs promoting diversity of groups, clubs, and/or student programs, which will be chosen for the banner images. The selected images will alternate along the walkway. Each of the 18 vertical pole banners will have room for extension banners. Each extension banner will be reserved for 16 in. x 8 in. advertising space, made available to student organizations to promote club/organizations on a semester by semester basis. Front and back images can be purchased on each pole, totaling a maximum of 36 images/advertising spaces. Each advertising space will cost student groups $50 to cover the expense of printing and installation."

The full document is here.

Banner examples start on page 5 (you'll want to set the magnification to 25%)

Kudos to SGA for sponsoring this! They're also putting hammocks up on campus soon.

This appears to be similiar to the block painting exercise, but more permanent in nature…

Btw, do they still do block painting any more??

Rick said

This appears to be similiar to the block painting exercise, but more permanent in nature…

Btw, do they still do block painting any more??

No, that went away in probably 2002, when they started to upgrade the dorms and build some new ones. I enjoyed em back then!

TeamBeer said

No, that went away in probably 2002, when they started to upgrade the dorms and build some new ones. I enjoyed em back then!

The last block painting event was during Homecoming 2004. After that, construction started and sidewalks were taken away and replaced with grass. It worked out well for student recreation.

smittysahoot said

The last block painting event was during Homecoming 2004. After that, construction started and sidewalks were taken away and replaced with grass. It worked out well for student recreation.

Pretty much. The sidewalk that runs north-south and parallel to the Gonq had painted pieces and could easily host them again. Housing has said the painted blocks would get slippery when wet and students could fall but I'm sure there's a way around that… non-slip paint or something.

I think they're just using it as an excuse to maintain some sort of uniform campus aesthetic. There used to be student murals all over campus, if you remember: the sidewalks, the globe in the Student Union stairwell, the Owl in the Breezeway food court and a small mural in the Breezeway between Sanson Science and Behavioral Sciences. Now it's all gone. Former SGA president Abe Cohen proposed a wall to the BOT near the Student Apartments for student organizations to paint and promote our history… nothing ever came of that. FAU is against painted surfaces with the sole exception of painted windows for Homecoming (because that's for a short duration).

It's a shame because that's the kind of activity that builds community and pride in your institution.