At this year’s Bergfest – an annual event where students have the opportunity to reflect on their academic achievements so far and celebrate their successes – the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit set up its own stand featuring a creative project: students had the chance to design tote bags based on their own take on ‘equal opportunity and diversity’. Blank bags left over from the last screen-printing event were used for this, thus giving them a second life.
The design featuring the magnolia tree in front of the main university building, which adorns the standard bags produced by the unit, was so popular that most students used it as a template. The result was a series of unique pieces, some of which are almost indistinguishable from the original.
Whilst painting, we were able to discuss the topic of diversity with the students. Students transitioning from their Bachelor’s to their Master’s degree often had very specific ideas and suggestions for greater equality, which we always greatly appreciate. Incidentally, the creative process also had a relaxing and almost meditative aspect to it – according to one student’s feedback.
