While the work of Brandon Stanton’s photo blog Humans of New York, is well known, a similar, lesser-known group is here at the University of Oregon. Humans of UO is a group on campus that conducts brief interviews with people on campus and posts one of its quotes along with a photo of the members on the Humans of UO Facebook page.
The group was founded by Megan Garland after she had a discussion with a fellow student at an International Student Association event called Coffee Hour.
“The idea is from him (Humans of New York)… but it’s different because we’re on a university campus,” said Garland.
Eventually, its reach expanded beyond ISA and members began to interview around campus in order to reach a larger variety of people. Leigh Scheffey and Negina Pirzad later became involved.
The group’s goal is to show off the diversity of the university, explained Garland. There is a variety of students who attend the UO that a majority of students never see.
The trio also enjoys learning a lot about other people.
“You get these stories and you get to know something about someone immediately,” said Garland.
A lot of times, it can be discouraging to ask someone to give a five minute interview and have their portrait taken, she explained.
“You have to be ok with rejection. Not everyone will not want to be interviewed,” said Garland.
But the group is not interested in posting gossip. People are well informed of how the information will be used, and are only asked a couple of general questions, such as “When you were most happy?” or just about their day in general, Scheffey explained.
“We don’t like to put people in negative light. That’s not what it’s about,” said Scheffey.
The group has over 1,500 likes on Facebook and hopes to expand to Twitter and Instagram, explained Pirzad. Humans of UO interviews between 10 and 15 people a week and posts about twice a day. Sometimes, it can be awkward for the girls when they run into people they’ve interviewed before.
“The other weekend we went out to a party and there were 10 people there that we had interviewed,” said Pirzad.
As Garland and Scheffey are slated to graduate this year, the group is looking to bring on more people.
“There’s definitely interest, it just takes the right people,” said Pirzad.
If you are hoping to bump into the group and be interviewed, the trio always walks around campus on Fridays between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. They tend to stick around 13th Avenue and the EMU and are attracted to large groups of people. Humans of UO is looking to interview everyone who is willing.
“Even if they don’t say something interesting, they’re still a person on campus,” said Pirzad.
Those interested in the Humans of UO can look at their Facebook, where the group’s work is posted.