Posted on Dec 16, 2008

Union will turn 215 years old next year, and the offices of Multicultural Affairs and Campus Diversity have got the event covered – so to speak.

In the works is the Union Unity Quilt, a project that entails stitching together little pieces of personal history from the campus community to make a large quilt that will hang in the Unity Lounge on the third floor of Reamer Campus Center.

“We all come to Union and bring our family histories with us. Our diversity goes beyond skin color, religion and gender,” said Karen Ferrer-Muñiz, director of Multicultural Affairs and Campus Diversity. “I hope people will leave little pieces of themselves behind in the quilt.”

Ferrer-Muñiz is inviting students, faculty, staff and alumni to donate pieces of fabric for the quilt. Each swath of cloth should contain a little piece of the giver’s own history, be it a recipe, song, family crest or a picture ironed on the fabric. Other ideas: a country’s flag, custom or ceremony, special proverbs, music lyrics or colors. 

Beginning this month, Ferrer-Muñiz is accepting fabric pieces that measure 18-by-18 inches, or ready-made patches measuring 12-by-12-inches. Non-quilters who want to contribute will have an opportunity to take lessons on campus throughout this year.

Union was founded in 1795. In honor of the 215th anniversary in 2010, Ferrer-Muñiz plans to hang one large quilt in the Unity Room and several smaller ones in other notable places around campus.

“I think this is going to be something awesome to keep for years and years and years,” she said.           

Working with Ferrer-Muñiz on the project is Judi Gordon, experiental education coordinator at the Becker Career Center and a quilter. For more details and guidelines, contact Ferrer-Muñiz at ferrermk@union.edu.