b"BORDERLANDSMARY AND THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCEAn online exhibit, curated by students from Marianist universities, invites viewers tosee the spiritual, cultural and historical linkages between Mary and the migrant journey.By Jan D. DixonBelow: Neomi DeAnda, Ph.D., O St. Marys University using video conferencing. Shen a flight last March, Neomi DeAnda, associate professor of religion and a Lay and Jillian Ewalt, associate professor and librarian forMarianist at University of Dayton, read an visual resources at the Marian Library at UD, hademail that rocked her world. Due to the coronavirus, developed the course, combining Neomis expertise onassociate professor of religious businesses and institutions in Ohio were going into Latinx religious experiences with Jillians knowledgestudies, University of Dayton lockdown. That meant UD was shutting down, as well. of Marian art from the librarys collection. Opposite page: Lotoria, a type The pandemic unleashed a crazy set of circum- The idea came to us when Jillian showed me aof bingo game, was created bystudents Daniel Bandelaria, stances, says Neomi, who immediately began rethink- photo of rosaries that had been found near a detentionDanika Garza, John Kunzmann ing how she would adapt her courses. I literally was center at the United States southern border, saysand Kathleen Schumacher to working on the fly. Neomi. A custodian found the rosaries and statuesexplore the topic of Body as Fortunately, much of one course, Mary and Borders, of Mary in the trash. They were taken from peopleBorder Space for the Maryand Borders exhibit. already was being conducted remotely across UD and who had been detained or turned themselves in forasylum.PHOTO: JULIE WALLINGThe two professors decided to use these visuals,plus holy cards, art and other objects from the libraryto engage students in a course about internationalborders, focusing on the immigrant experience. Two years ago, St. Mary's campus ministry beganplanning a trip to the Mexico and U.S. border. Whenwe learned about their plans, we asked if we couldpartner with them, says Neomi. In 2019, represen-tatives from all three Marianist universities Chaminade University of Honolulu, St. Marys andUDmet and launched a multi-university projectcalled Marianist Universities Border EducationalExperience, which eventually led to the Mary andBorders exhibit.In addition to learning about Latino/Latina expe-riences in the U.S., we hoped Mary and Borders energized by the Marian collectionwould be aportal for viewing the nuances and complexities ofwhat is happening at our southern border, saysNeomi. We wanted the students to question: Whatis going on with our asylum system? Our immigrationsystem? And what is religions role in that?4 Call 1.800.348.4732"