Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Whitely, Student Government President Brandon Mitchell, and Student Government Vice President Ashley Taggart cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the 165-image mural.

The University of Miami community celebrated the completion of “The U: Dynamic History, Vibrant Traditions,” a 108-foot-long mural that chronicles the institution’s 85-year history, on November 8.

Containing some 165 images and divided into five sections, the mural is a collage of different eras, reflecting student life during each of the five UM presidential administrations—from Bowman Foster Ashe to Donna E. Shalala. Nearly 10 feet high at its tallest point, it adorns the west wall of the Whitten University Center, starting from the entrance next to the WVUM radio station and running south toward the temporary location of the Rathskeller.

Mural highlights include a black-and-white photo of Winston Churchill at the University of Miami’s 1946 commencement ceremony in Burdine Stadium; a 1950s-era photograph of fraternity members competing in a sack race; vintage photos of students attending a classroom lecture, studying in an on-campus apartment, and enjoying a pep rally; photos of Hurricane national championship athletic teams; an image of President Edward “Tad” Foote walking the Coral Gables campus in 1992 to inspect the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew; and a photo of President Donna E. Shalala at her swearing-in ceremony in 2001.

The Division of Students Affairs, UM Student Government, Campus Planning and Development, the Richter Library, Real Estate and Facilities, Athletics, and University Communications helped make the mural possible.