Perhaps the Writing on the Wall Project did bring about change this past year.
Last year, Alex Hayes, a UF anthropology junior, painted a brick that read, "A black man will never be president."
But today, a black man will become the 56th president.
The seventh annual Writing on the Wall Project, which starts today, aims to break down walls of hatred by knocking down a brick wall adorned with offensive words.
Bricks will be available for anyone to paint on the Plaza of the Americas until Wednesday. The project will then move to the Reitz Union Colonnade until Friday.
Despite the significance of the project to some, others criticize it and its supposed lack of impact, said Rikki Seguin, the project's co-director.
"We don't expect immediate widespread change," Seguin said. "But the project is there to promote dialogue about often-taboo subjects."
The 40-foot-by-9-foot wall will be constructed on the Plaza of the Americas from Jan. 26 to Jan. 30, and it will be knocked down by sledgehammer-wielding students during its closing ceremony on Jan. 30 at 1:15 p.m.
