How to submit:

To submit a quote for the Great Beginnings window, e-mail Ann Brownson at aebrownson@eiu.edu.

Submissions should be great first lines in history, such as first lines of a book, play, speech, lyric or other documents.

“We the people.” may soon share space with “Start me up” in one of the most visible parts of campus.

The deadline for quotes for the Great Beginnings window in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union is March 15.

The project dates back to an Aug. 30 speech by Eastern President Lou Hencken.

The plan is simple: collect quotes and use them to decorate the window in the Bridge Lounge of the union that overlooks the library quad.

The quotes are supposed to be about beginnings.

Although Hencken mentioned a few quotes, he asked the campus and community to submit more.

The Great Beginnings Window Project Committee has 148 submissions, said Ann Brownson, committee chair.

However, she is disappointed that only two quotes come from students.

This may be because students have not heard of the program.

Brownson said she hasn’t made posters or distributed fliers for several reasons. In her opinion, they don’t do much good. She also hasn’t had a budget for the project, although she says she probably could have gotten one if she had asked.

Faculty and staff have turned in most of the quotes.

Lindsay Partlow, a receptionist for the Office of Housing and Dining, was one of the few people in the union to have heard about the project. Her directors had talked about it at office meetings and she had read it in the paper.

“I think it’s a neat idea,” she said. “I just don’t know much about it.”

There have been submissions from the community as well.

All of the quotes will be examined and ranked by the members of the committee. Brownson expects only about 20 of the quotes will be used. She is unsure since the design of the window is not yet formalized.

The currently submitted quotes consist primarily of lines from books and poetry. Brownson was surprised that not very many songs were submitted.

“I think everyone should submit quotes,” said Laurel Fuqua, the Student Activates Committee office manager. “I will submit, if I can find a wonderful quote.”

Johnna Morecraft, community and professional programs coordinator of Lake Land College, walks through bridge lounge Thursday afternoon. The windows will eventually be replaced with windows that have quotes etched into the glass.

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