On Friday, Nov. 14, the Student Government Association, or SGA, held the annual Fall Wall Painting Day at Wright State University. Student clubs and organizations were invited to decorate the tunnels along Organization Avenue between the Medical Science and Fawcett Hall buildings.
The ritual has continued to be a key example of student expression at the institution. It encourages students to bring their own paint and brushes to decorate their space on the wall.
Many of WSU's approved student organizations attended the event, each claiming a portion of the tunnel wall for modeling new designs or basic touch-ups. The goal was simple: to provide students a common area to celebrate their club's identities, advertise their groups and add to WSU's visual culture.
Sloka Ravinuthala, the President of SGA, was celebrated at the event as a leader dedicated to creating community among students. She was essential to the planning of the event, volunteer coordination and making sure each member felt encouraged and involved.
SGA has worked to improve its presence on campus and increased its outreach initiatives under Ravinuthala; making her known in many circles for her communication, teamwork and commitment to developing programs that represent the vast range of interests at WSU.
"This is one of our biggest traditions because it gives every student group a voice. Students are reminded of our campus's diversity, creativity and involvement when they pass through these tunnels," Ravinuthala said.
Participants provided outlines of their proposed design, boxes of paint, and bundles of brushes. While some groups produced completely new artwork, others updated previous murals that have faded over time.
Madhavi Ramireddy is a Medical Science student who stopped by the Fall Wall Painting Day to take in the energy of the event and support the organizations involved.
"Even just being here is fun," Ramireddy said. "Seeing all the creativity around me makes me feel more connected to campus."
Cultural clubs, academic associations, fraternities and sororities, wellness teams and service organizations were among the groups represented. Many carried encouraging remarks, information on forthcoming events or representations of the goals of their group.
Rohith Velakurthi is a graduate student majoring in Microbiology and Immunology who attended the event.
"Every corner of campus is represented when you look at the walls. Everything is visible, including culture, academics, sports and tradition," Velakurthi said.
The tradition of painting of the tunnel's walls has proved to remain a favorite among student organizations.
