UNM's BeKind Committee is collaborating with UNM Student affairs to bring National Random Acts of Kindness Day to UNM, but not just for one day, the celebration will continue for two weeks from February 3rd to the 13th, including both new and returning traditions.
"[UNM BeKind] started this about 15 years ago, and its really just to promote kindness, being courteous, safety and even gratitude. For people to be reminded that each and every day is a good day to help someone or make them feel better if they are having a bad day." Dr. Kim Kloeppel, chief operations officer for Student Affairs and chair of UNM BeKind.
Kloeppel said that UNM BeKind's primary committee includes her as chair of the committee, Dorene DiNaro, Program Planning Manager for Student Affairs and Cindy Mason, Unit Administrator for Student Affairs.
"We have people from all across the campus," she said. "Not just Student affairs, we've got athletics, human resources, there is about 40 people on the committee and many more different departments contributing to UNMs participation in National Act of Kindness."
Kloeppel said UNM BeKind kicked off the celebration with a Donut Bar this past Wednesday and have added two new events to the itinerary, the Brain Bar and Kindness Walk Around UNM.
The Brain Bar will be located in Zimmerman Library, from 9 to 10 a.m. on February 4th, where students can study and get a free healthy snack, she said. "Giving your brain a break and refueling with some free healthy food sponsored by the Center for Academic Program Support and the Women's Resource Center."
There will also be a free 2.5 mile Kindness Walk Around UNM scheduled for Saturday, February 13th at 10 a.m. and sponsored by Recreational Services at the Johnson Center.
Another new addition to UNM's Random Acts Of Kindness, aimed at preventing road rage, are new magnets for cars with the saying: "Be Kind, Be Courteous, and Get Home Safe" in response the road rage incident that happened with Lily Garcia, she said.
"People need to be reminded that they need to be kind while they are on the road. The idea is when people are angry on the road they'll calm down," said Dr. Kloeppel. "There are also some initiatives behind it all. The Albuquerque Police Department are working with Lily's Mom, Veronica Garcia on her 'Just Breathe Campaign.'"
There will also be returning traditions, such as the teddy bear drive and Pit of Kindness, she said.
NusendaCredit Union started the teddy bear drive about four years ago, Kloeppel said, a program which has since expanded.
"We have multiple departments collecting the teddy bears," she said. The idea is to give some of the teddy bears to UNM's Children's Hospital and the others will be given to the Albuquerque police department for redistribution.
"They are going to give them away for when they have random acts of kindness as well as when there's a violent situation or a little child that needs to be comforted they’ll have a bear or a toy to give to them" Kloeppel said.
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There is 10 different stations on campus to drop toys for the Teddy Bear drive, she said, including both the men and women's basketball games during the week of this event.
Dr. Kloeppel said the Pit of Kindness will also be continuing this year with the Card Creation Station.
She said this event gives students an opportunity to create a valentine for children, or a thank you card for veterans, while participating in the social media challenge and receiving a free cookie courtesy of Satellite Coffee on February 12th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UNM Student Union Building Atrium.
"There is a Facebook page and an Instagram page that we are using with the hashtag #BeKindUNM," Dorene DiNaro, Program Planning Manager for Student Affairs said.
For the social media challenge at the Card Creation Station, she said "There will be a white board that people will write their random act of kindness that they intend to do that day and upload it to one of the social media sites using #BeKindUNM."
DiNaro said "The goal is to challenge people to be kind, to do something simple everyday to spread kindness and give others simple ideas on how to do everyday."
Denicia Aragon is a staff reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @dailylobo.
