The UNM community has faced tough subjects lately, including looming budget cuts and the nationwide recession, but one UNM department decided it is the perfect time to chase away stress with some kindness.
This week is Random Acts of Kindness Week at UNM, and some students think that it is an opportunity to spread good deeds around campus.
“I think people can always be kinder. There is always room for improvement and people should try harder, especially on campus because school is so stressful,” student Sarah Morgese said.
The Division of Student Affairs decided to celebrate the national week with a donation drive for two non-profit organizations, said Kim Kloeppel, Student Affairs fiscal and planning officer. Cuidando Los Niños, which helps children in homeless families, and Albuquerque Rescue Mission, which serves the homeless
community, are the two organizations.
Kloeppel said Student Affairs placed donation boxes on the first and second floors of the SUB so people can drop off canned food, toys and books for the charities.
It’s important for students to get in the habit of doing nice things, Kloeppel said.
“I think that having that basis of giving and being kind is helpful as you grow and go into adult life and professional careers,” she said.
Students who are strapped for cash can still help, even if they can’t purchase supplies, she said.
“You don’t have to have money to do things — you can just do nice things like volunteer at a charity or a non-profit,” she said.
Student Allen Hrynick said he experienced a random act of kindness at UNM when he dropped his books on the stairs in the SUB.
“Everyone just stopped what they were doing and helped me pick up all my stuff,” he said.
Hrynick said some people don’t do kind things for others — like smiling or going out of their way to help someone because it could be considered weird or creepy.
“It shouldn’t be like that,” he said. “I think the more nice things people do for each other, the more accepting we’ll be.”
Kloeppel said she first got the idea for the charitable week while working at Student Health and Counseling.
John Maguire, a marketing representative for SHAC, said Student Health has been celebrating Random Acts of Kindness week for more than five years by giving inspiring notes to hard-working staff and students.
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“Just getting a pat on the back can go a long way for people, especially during difficult times with the economy and conflicts at UNM,” he said.
Some ways to spread kindness include giving a compliment, donating blood and babysitting for a friend, according to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation Web site.
Kloeppel said many people have shown that they care about others through the relief efforts in Haiti, but more can be done locally.
“I wish it didn’t take a natural disaster or something major like that for people to show kindness,” she said. “It would be nice if they did it on a daily basis.”
