By Audrey Werth/tr news editor
Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech can be heard throughout the Rotunda on TR Campus.
A large mural featuring a famous quote from the speech and an illustration of King accompanies the speech, looped on an audio recording.
Eddie Brassart, coordinator of student activities, said he wanted to find a way to honor King that would make an impact.
In the past, he has helped to create smaller memorials but nothing as detailed as this year’s mural.
Brassart and student development associate Axel Leos collaborated on the project with a team from the graphics department.
Graphics manager Angel Briseno, who worked on the mural’s design, said he enjoyed helping with the project.
“I did some research on other murals that have been done throughout the nation,” he said. “I looked at the Vietnam memorial and memorials for Martin Luther King in D.C. — almost every memorial you can think of.”
Brassart, Leos and Briseno met to discuss ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Even though we do not come to campus that day, we wanted to have at least something the day we got back,” Brassart said.
Brassart and Leos decided the Rotunda wall would be a great place for the memorial because students and visitors frequently pass through the space.
“The Rotunda is great,” Brassart said. “You can hear the speech echoing throughout the space.”
Freshman Lia Trejo said the mural is the first thing she sees when she walks in.
“It gives me inspiration to keep trying,” she said.