College students and local law enforcement are usually cast as foes, but student Juan Soto considers a member of the police department his friend.
Soto's photo for the Ohio University Fulbright Scholars Association's annual Camera Speaks exhibit features him alongside officer George Anderson of the Ohio University Police Department in front of College Gate.
This is the third year for Camera Speaks
a project that asks international Fulbright Scholars to take pictures of their surroundings based on a theme. This year's theme is New Nexus of Friendship.
I was sitting in the second floor of Gordy when I met George. I looked up and saw a policeman and it was a little scary because in my country the police are only around if something is wrong
said the 40-year-old former Fulbright Scholar from the Dominican Republic.
After introducing himself, Soto was surprised to learn that Anderson spoke Spanish. The two quickly became friends.
When Soto was asked to contribute a photo to the OUFSA Camera Speaks project, he asked OU sophomore Stephanie Buechele to snap a picture of him and Anderson.
What's great about the Fulbright program is that it brings students from countries that we don't normally have represented in our undergrad program
Krista McCallum Beatty, advisor of OUFSA, said. You can see that diversity from the photos here and even in the different angles the students take.
While Soto's photo is a portrait style, Ana Mojita's photo, Circle of Friends
is a close-up of three hands.
I liked putting my hand
my boyfriend's hand and his friend's hand in a circle on the yellow G
but I'm also wearing a religious bracelet
said Mojita, who is from El Salvador.
The friendships are an important part of the Fulbright experience that lead to ties between scholars around the world, said Sothy Khieng, president of OUFSA.
I haven't traveled much outside of Cambodia (his home country)
but through this association I have learned about the cultures of so many different people
he said.
The Camera Speaks exhibit is part of International Week and will be displayed in the Front Room through May 26.
