What began as a summer semester project has grown into a campus-wide movement designed to bring MU’s entire student body closer together.

Project United co-founders Charlie Parker, Ted Paletta and Robert Steeples created the group’s diversity initiative in co-adviser Ryan Montague’s Business and Professional Communication class. They wanted to provide a more representative student voice for diversity programs on campus.

“This is something everyone can get involved in,” secretary Morgan Jefferson said.

After receiving positive feedback from MU administrators, Montague wrote an official proposal and the three students, with Jefferson, established an independent study course where they work with Montague and co-adviser Astrid Villamilon on Project United.

The organization will specifically focus on strengthening communication within the student body. Beginning Feb. 1, Hump Day Holla will provide students with a friendly environment to participate in learning conversations, which are enlightening discussions, with others from different social and cultural backgrounds each Wednesday.

“It’s a way to just have a conversation with someone else and banish ignorance,” Jefferson said.

As a weekly event, Hump Day Holla stands apart from other events promoting diversity, most of which occur every other week, once a month, once a semester or once a year.

“We’re approaching it weekly to develop the habit and mindset that (conversation) is encouraged and expected,” Montague said. “We want to create something that’s sustainable, where students can get involved in conversation and see the direct implications of how meaningful it is to get to know someone on a deeper level, whether they are friends, acquaintances or students they have never met before.”

Project United will create Holla Hangouts, designated spots around MU where students can gather and engage in discussions. Student volunteers will help initiate conversations and provide their fellow students with a convenient outlet for participation.

To encourage conversations everywhere, students can wear Project United Hump Day Holla T-shirts on Wednesdays to advertise their support and willingness to participate in conversation. The T-shirt comes with a social contract in which its wearers agree to participate in learning conversations with anyone who might approach them throughout the day, Montague said.

“It’s more than just buying a T-shirt at the bookstore that anyone can wear at any time,” Montague said.

Project United is not affiliated with One Mizzou, the diversity initiative founded after a student wrote a racially derogatory expression on a statue outside Hatch Hall in February.

“We think (One Mizzou is) doing a great job and they have a great mindset, but we want to be a student voice and want more people to get involved,” Jefferson said.

Although Project United is its own diversity initiative, it hopes to participate in Homecoming and other MU events with One Mizzou and other student organizations. In order to create an effective student body voice, it needs to encompass a lot of different organizations and people, Parker said.

The organization also hopes to reach out to the Columbia community.

“We want to have picnics and volunteer opportunities,” Jefferson said. “We want to go to Rock Bridge and Hickman and talk about diversity. We want to spread out all over Columbia.”

Parker encourages all interested students to participate.

“There are no barriers to get involved,” he said. “We invite anyone and everyone out. If you’re black and gold, we want you there.”

Project United will have a table at Fall Fest on Sept. 14 on Carnahan Quad. The group meets 4:30 p.m. Monday and noon Fridays in 111 Switzler Hall.