Last Wednesday afternoon, more than 500 pinwheels had been planted in front of the Student Union to help celebrate the International Day of Peace.
Pinwheels for Peace has grown considerably since it was started by two art teachers in Florida in 2005; it has since become a United Nations (UN) initiative. Last year, approximately 3.5 million pinwheels were installed globally.
Why pinwheels? The reasons are twofold. First, the pinwheel is a symbol of childhood, meant to remind participants of a time when life was simpler, more joyful and more peaceful. Second, the motion of the pinwheel lends itself to a play on words, according to Hadar Borden, administrative director of Undergraduate Academies.
"The pinwheels represent a world of peace – a whirl of peace," Borden said.
The movement has seen continued growth at UB, as well. The inaugural event was held by the Undergraduate Academies in 2009, and yielded about 25 students making pinwheels in a Richmond Quad locked lounge.
"I remember sitting around, making pinwheels, eating pretzels and drinking Capri Sun," said Meghann Nielsen, a junior psychology major. "Now, it's a campus wide event."
This year, several of the pinwheels featured the "NOH8" logo, a reference to the recent death of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old Williamsville North student who committed suicide after being bullied for his sexual orientation. Local students have appropriated the "NOH8" symbol and have written it on their hands as a message that bullying is not okay.
Originally the "NOH8" logo was designed as a protest to California's Proposition 8, which banned the marriage of same-sex couples.
"To have this event follow what happened recently in the community is a good way to connect," Nielsen said. "Let's make this event more than just the academies, more than just UB. Let's make it about our community where we live."
The UN makes it clear on its website that the pinwheels are not a political statement. It doesn't want peace to necessarily be associated with war, but rather emphasize the importance of peace and tolerance in everyday life.
While Nielsen thinks some students may have participated just because it was an eye-catching project, she believes that others really responded to the message of the day.
"Sure, some people just do it because it's cool; others though really get the awesome message of hope," Nielson said.
One such student was Robert Angus, a freshman biomedical sciences major, who not only made his pinwheel, but also volunteered to man one of the craft tables for an hour.
"At first I didn't know what it was about," Angus said. "But then I found out from another student and decided to get involved."
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