Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/67452
in the making Histo stto Exhibit examines student infl uence on CMU's past hk ory Over the last century Central Michigan University has experienced everything from name changes to streaking, anti-war protests, panty raids, and facility construction and renovations. One element binds such events together: students. As CMU celebrates more than a century of learning and growth, the Clarke Historical Library's new exhibit –"Student Life and Learning at CMU"– takes a closer look into the student perspectives that have shaped the university. The exhibit focuses on a combination of social and academic elements and depicts items dating as far back as the university's founding in 1892. "My goal with every exhibit is to make a relevant connection you can apply to your own experiences, Libraries coordinator of exhibits and projects. "I believe this exhibit is important to the university due to its rich content. Students and faculty can relate to the exhibit because of their role and it being their university. " says Janet Danek, CMU University " Past and present combine Current social media are having an infl uential eff ect on the Clarke Historical Library's current exhibit. Featured and interspersed throughout "Student Life and Learning at CMU" are comments from CMU alumni of today who shared their experiences of the past by commenting on questions the CMU Alumni Association posted on its Facebook page. This partnership helped the library utilize social media and tap into the more than 18,500 alumni and friends connected to the Alumni Association through Facebook. Over a three-week period the Alumni Association posted a series of questions and used SproutSocial, which is another social media platform for alumni to respond. "I am not sure we would have been able to reach as many alumni and receive the great answers we did without the help of social media," says Bryan Griffi n, director of annual giving. "I think this was a great example of how social media can help us engage our alumni, while also helping with a project on campus. " Now that the Clarke Historical Library is presenting the exhibit, the Alumni Association is featuring it on its social media outlets as well. 8