A new mural by Jonathan Conner, a Graphic Designer for the university’s Marketing Department, now adorns the walls of the student center, celebrating iconic symbols associated with campus and promoting school spirit.
Measuring 6ft tall and about 30 ft wide, his project took 2 weeks to complete, with shifts
lasting from 8 to 10 hours. The project is a part of a series of renovations within the Student
Center. Located adjacent to the food court, it was made possible through collaboration among the
school’s Marketing and Communication, Student Life, and Facilities Management teams, funded
entirely by vending machine revenues, according to James Pillar, Vice President of Student Life.
The mural features from left to right iconic symbols of the university and area. The piece
was inspired by the “Greetings from Asbury Park” album by Bruce Springsteen, which the team
felt highly resonates with the University community.
On the left, the piece features specific details to the Monmouth student body, such as
logo, pep band, lyrics to the fight song, and Shadow the Hawk.
Towards the center the mural focuses on specific landmarks within campus, including
Ocean First Bank Center, the gates to the residential side of campus, and the Hawk statue.
Finally, on the far right, Conner depicts key elements of the surrounding areas, including
Asbury Park’s mascot, “Tillie,” Urban Coast Institute to represent Marine Biology, a surfer, the
beach, a guitar to represent the Music Department, and an outline of the East Coast.
Conner, who has worked with Monmouth since 2013 and has painted murals since 2008,
said, “I tried to come up with things that I most associated with the school,” featuring symbols
that resonate with the identities of Monmouth students and of the Jersey shore at large. “Because
I work in marketing and communication, we have a good idea of what everyone on campus is
doing, incorporating a little bit of everything,” Conner said. His favorite aspect? “That the
coastline is on the right side of the mural, like a real map.”
James Pillar, Vice President of Student Life, explained the importance of the project.
Previously, the wall was teal and orange, which are not Monmouth colors. “Before [this mural],
we felt that the Student Center could have belonged at any college campus. We wanted to capture
as much as we could about the Monmouth experience, something more personalized than just
Shadow (the mascot) or the M,” he said. Pillar believes the mural serves to communicate to both
current and prospective students that they are, “a part of a diverse community.”
“Our goal is to give students a space to create their identity,” Pillar added. He highlighted
the importance of raising awareness of opportunities available across various departments,
asserting that, “the more we educate our student population about what we offer, the more
opportunities on and off campus they are exposed to.”
Vaughn Clay, Director of Student Engagement, explained the need for the mural in the
building, explaining how the Student Center is often considered the “living room of campus.” He
noted, “This is a place where students gather to socialize, meet with clubs, attend events, and do
homework. It’s likely the hardest working place on campus because of the number of people
coming through on a day-to-day basis.”
Tara Peters, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communication, played a role in
the project’s logistics, helping to procure materials and prepare the space. She praised Conner’s
artistic talent, stating that the decision to hand-paint the mural, as opposed to using wallpaper or
other alternatives, was intentional. “Hand painting gives the piece character,” she feels.
Taylor Lombardi, Art Director for the Marketing and Communication Team, was
optimistic about the new project. “A mural is different because we could have a little bit more
fun with the designs because they are placed in the Student Center. I am impressed with the
outcome, it shows that all it really takes is an idea to have something new and different.”
Dr. Corey Dzenko, Associate Professor of Art History, offered an artist’s perspective on
the mural, describing it as “a collage of different Monmouth symbols tied together by color
palette and content.” However, she raised concerns about inclusivity, wondering whether it fully
represented the diverse student body. “The only student representation that we see is basketball
or pep band students,” she noted. “It’s hard to present everything that we do, but the way that you present yourself shows your values. We should be valuing education and diversity of
perspectives that come from the different disciplines.”
Dzenko also pointed out that the logo throughout the piece is the “University Spirit
Mark” as opposed to the official “University Seal,” which she feels would be more appropriate.
Dzenko expressed concern about the cohesiveness of marketing and what messages this tells to
students.
Several students have responded positively to the mural. Senior Caroline Brennan
recalled that the old space was “really boring,” while sophomore Will Snowdon, noted that the
project “brightens the space and brings school spirit.” However, some, like Senior Nora
O’Rourke missed some elements of the previous space, “I miss the surfboards.”
Looking ahead, the Marketing and Communication, Student Life, and Facilities
Management teams are exploring the possibility of another mural in the dining hall. They hope to
use the feedback gathered to continue innovating methods of marketing and representation at
Monmouth.
