A Canvas for Change

By Arleigh Rodgers '21, March 3, 2021

Canvases and creativity highlight final week of Spring Welcome.

Resident Assistant Jackson Bernhard ’22 helped lead the event, and Celia Flannery ’24 painted the canvas on the right.

(Photo submitted)

The final week of Ithaca College’s Spring Welcome was defined by colorful canvases and important conversations. A Canvas for Change, held Feb. 26, was a celebration of diversity and inclusion around campus.

The event was led by resident assistants (RAs) in the Upper Quads with the help of Darius Cureton, resident director of the Upper Quads cluster. Canvas for Change was one of many cluster-specific virtual events held during Spring Welcome. Other events for specific clusters throughout Spring Welcome included Tune in with the Towers in the first week, Spread Some Love in week two and Choose your Own Adventure in the next to last week.

Held virtually on Zoom, the event included a slideshow and icebreaker games for attendees to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion. Students in attendance were then encouraged to paint or draw various identities and what diversity means to them on a canvas delivered to them by RAs. Along with the canvas, students also received paint and brushes. After the event, attendees were encouraged to place their canvas in the window of their dorm room.

“I want to do more programming catering to diversity, equity and inclusion towards the whole campus, so this is just a small way of me starting to hopefully be able to do something bigger among the whole student body.”

Darius Cureton, resident director

Cureton said he hopes to instill values like inclusion and equity in the Upper Quads as a way to bring about community throughout the whole campus.

“I want to do more programming catering to diversity, equity and inclusion towards the whole campus, so this is just a small way of me starting to hopefully be able to do something bigger among the whole student body,” he said. “I think, too, within the other Spring Welcome events, this is just a way for students to be able to meet each other, talk amongst each other, get out and build community. The thing that's important is to understand why you're building community — that people are from different cultures, different backgrounds.”

Celia Flannery ’24 attended A Canvas for Change and created a painting that drew inspiration from her British heritage. During the event, attendees went around and shared important parts of their identities. Flannery said that to reflect this, she painted a tea cup because of her family in England and because she loves the drink. She said she also wanted to highlight the rhyming of “tea” with words that were important to her, like “sustainability” and “equality.”

a moon with the words "Black Girl Magic"

Resident Assistant Bria Bradley '21 designed this digital canvas as part of the event.

(Photo submitted)

Flannery said that she felt connected to other attendees throughout the event and that it was a highlight of Spring Welcome.

“I feel like I learned more about other people at the school, like where a lot of people come from, what their backgrounds are,” she said. “Learning everyone’s backgrounds helped give everyone an insight into the significance of their canvas.”

Kevin Perry, associate director of new student and transition programs, said that overall, Spring Welcome was a success — thanks to Environmental Health and Safety, the Office of Facilities, Dining Services, the Office of Admission, the Office of Residential Life, the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life, the Residence Hall Association, the Student Activities Board, Spring Welcome Leaders and staff volunteers, all of whom collaboratively created a month of engaging events.

“I think we did a great job providing students with spaces to engage, especially within the considerations of health and safety guidelines,” he said. “I was very impressed we made it through the month with minimal cancellations/adjustments. This is also a credit to the flexibility and support from the Spring Welcome Leaders.”