Students are working this week to restore an art sculpture next to Jerome Library while also instilling a sense of pride in the University, they say.

Doctoral student Jason Schmitt is leading his Interpersonal Communications class in the project to take their knowledge of restoration and use it to give back to the University. The class will be patching holes, smoothing rough areas and repainting the cement sculpture that has been a part of the campus since the 1960s.

Schmitt’s IPC 102 class–part of the Partners in Context and Community–is held in Kohl Hall. Schmitt said that the theme of the hall is leaving a legacy, which is how the project initially began.

Students were assigned to research different aspects of sculpture restoration. They learned about the basic procedures of restoration, as well as the best way to improve the look of the sculpture and preserve its condition. Once the research was finished, the students had to present their findings to the class in the form of a speech, Schmitt said.

The work began yesterday as students started patching holes and smoothing the surface of the weathered sculpture in preparation for painting, which will start tomorrow. Schmitt and his class will be working during their normal class hours to complete the project. The goal is to finish restoring the sculpture in one week, he said.

However, if the project is not finished within the week, the class will devote the following week to completing the project.

Despite the time commitment, the impact of the project will be worth it for his students, Schmitt said.

“The students can come back 10 years from now and have a sense of accomplishment,” he said.

The class has received support from the University and several student leaders on campus including Alex Wright, president of the Undergraduate Student Government. The initiative of the class is inspiring, Wright said.

“Students who have pride in the University have made a connection with BGSU that goes beyond getting an education,” Wright said. “It has become a second home to some people, and they work hard to make it a better place. It is also great to see students take the initiative to address what they see as a problem at BGSU. The easiest way for students to feel pride about the University is to find one part of it that they feel strongly about and work diligently to improve it.”

Leah Domer, a sophomore involved with the project, hopes that the restoration helps students realize that the campus is something to be proud of.

For Domer, the project isn’t just a worthwhile experience, but something to learn from.

“We are not only learning, we are making a mark on campus, which is a nice feeling,” she said.

This type of project is the first of its kind for the class, but if it is a success, it may not be the last, Schmitt said.