The Office of Student Affairs is encouraging UNL students — and everyone on campus, for that matter — to "Show Your Red."
The Show Your Red campaign, to be launched at the Aug. 19 New Student Convocation, recognizes students for demonstrating character traits of integrity, defined as: caring, citizenship, commitment, dependability, open-mindedness and respect. Students who are spotted doing the right thing and can be identified, will be given a pin corresponding to a character trait.
Those who can't be identified can still be celebrated — or, at least their behavior can — through social media (the campaign has a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/ShowYourRed and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ShowYourRed) or by emailing showyourred@unl.edu.
Linda Major, assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, was charged by Vice Chancellor Juan Franco with leading the effort. She sees benefits to both the personal and anonymous recognition of positive behavior.
Lane Carr, president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska student government body, agreed and said the student body will embrace the campaign.
"UNL students constantly impress me with their regard for other students, faculty, staff and facilities," Carr said. "Even more, they are dedicated to a common purpose of advancing themselves and those around them. The Show Your Red Campaign recognizes our university's emphasis in living lives of integrity, and displays it for others to try to emulate."
The campaign arose from the Cornhuskers with Character Committee, comprising UNL students and staff and established by Franco in fall 2009. Committee members used survey data and a review of literature to develop the list of character traits consistent with the mission and vision of the university. From its list of traits, the committee built a campaign on recommendations from student focus groups and a strategy begun with an advertising campaigns class and refined by University Communications.
"We think Show Your Red has a long shelf life," Major said. "The idea is simple and rooted to the personality of the campus: it's part of being a Husker. 'Do the right thing and when you spot others doing the same, spread the word.'"
Although the campaign is focused on students and organized by Student Affairs, Major said everyone at UNL is invited to participate by emailing showyourred@unl.edu when they see positive behavior — in class, on campus and beyond.
- Andy Schadwinkel, University Communications
More details at: http://www.facebook.com/ShowYourRed