Students from an organizational communication class were put in charge of creating a time capsule in order to celebrate the university’s centennial year. To do so, they created a Facebook page for students to submit photos of the campus regarding a theme.
“I am part of an organizational communication class that is in charge of the project. We were told that we could choose to take on a project during the semester as opposed to a more traditional class experience, and we opted to create a time capsule for the centennial. It was presented to us as a possibility among other things, but ultimately the class decided on starting the time capsule project,” said Rebecca Guerrero, senior communication major and former Prospector Staff reporter. “I am part of a group of the class called Image that is in charge of collecting UTEP’s image from a grassroots, student perspective. It’s been a harrowing process, but a really fun one, too.”
While Guerrero is part of the class that works on the timeline, she also actively submits her photos toward the Facebook page called the UTEP Centennial Time Capsule. Any student is welcome to participate by sending in a picture corresponding to the chosen theme and writing #UTEPTIMECAPSULE and #MYUTEPPOV in the picture description.
“The themes decided for the pictures are based on what is most likely to change in the future,” said Adriana Hernandez, junior communication major. “For example, the theme right now is fashion. Just imagine how students in 100 years will be dressing and what they will think of how we dress.”
Since the organizational communication class is in charge of the time capsule, there are more students than the Image team working on the project. According to Hernandez, there are ideas floating around as to what else will be going into the capsule and possibly having it located in the Centennial Plaza. However, through this process of obtaining items for the time capsule, the class is in need of more campus participation in this project.
“Sadly, not many students have been submitting their pictures so far,” Hernandez said. “We are working on tactics to get students involved in the project. I believe that students should help UTEP in telling its story. This is an opportunity for students to be part of something bigger and to leave a mark in Miner history.”
The time capsule will play an important role to come in the next century. The students of the future will be able to look back in time and observe this generation, and perhaps even
learn a thing or two from us as well, Hernandez said.
“It’s always important to remember our history and where we come from,” Guerrero said. “People who don’t study the past and remember that it was real—people who existed there and made real decisions—are doomed to repeat their mistakes. It always falls on the shoulders of the young to correct the mistakes of our predecessors. I hope that whatever the issues are in 100 years, UTEP kids aren’t afraid to make change for the better and stand up for what they believe in.”
Once the time capsule is opened in a 100 years Guerrero imagines life will be much different than it is now and has very high hopes about the future.
“When you think of what life was like 100 years ago, it’s insanely different,” Guerrero said. “The leaps we’ve made in technology are astounding and if we keep moving at that rate, who knows? Maybe we’ll have hover boards to get to class.”
Guerrero hopes that people react with excitement and maybe a little bit of nostalgia when it’s finally time to open it.
“Hopefully, it will give them a sense of importance; that the people who made this time capsule are gone, but it’s their time now to make something great of this life,” Guerrero said.
The Facebook page is still open and anyone is welcomed to submit their pictures.
“It’s a great concept,” said Mathew Boston, senior computer science major. “If you take a picture, it will last longer. We are only able to know our history because individuals took the time to document it, just like they’re doing in the UTEP time capsule.”
As the year progresses, the communication class will have a new group working on the time capsule project for next semester. However, the project will still be ongoing and needs students to participate by submitting their photos online.
“I really hope students get excited by this project and really want to be a part of it,” Hernandez said. “UTEP is a second home for all of us, and it is our responsibility to tell its story and communicate to the students
of the future.”
Amber Gomez may be reached at [email protected].
