One Illinois town hopes to use simple language to change attitudes.

Sullivan, about a half hour from campus, kicked off a year-long program “Virtuous Reality” last month, posting a different motivational word each week in places like businesses and schools.

The town wants words such as “assertiveness” to promote integrity and character in individuals and throughout the entire town, according to a September story in the Charleston Times-Courier.

“To not actively build character is to cause a generation, future pillars of society, to erode,” said Colleen Trefz, deemed a Virtuous Reality facilitator for the town.

That sounds serious. Future Eastern students don’t need to see any of that “erosion.”

The first virtuous word Sullivan used was assertiveness. The city defined it as “respectfully standing up for what is right.”

Webster’s Dictionary said that’s accomplished by “direct expression of both positive and negative feelings.”

If this works for an entire city, maybe it’s something Eastern could try.

The university could hang positive words in the windows of Old Main, banner virtue across the campus quads and chalk motivational speeches on the campus sidewalks.

You would never see another student frown over a test grade or stress about midterms, if only they think of the assertive message they saw in their classroom window.

There are several words or phrases that could momentarily put something positive in students’ heads or motivate them to act: relax; laugh; study; strength; and be yourself.

Relax. If I saw a sign that told me to not be as stressed- to breath- I know it would make the day easier. How many people go through a day with no one ever telling them to relax? A sign could do it every day.

If meditation or breathing exercises aren’t your thing, the Student Recreation Center can help you follow the sign’s wisdom. The Rec offers inventive exercise classes, some involving deep breathing and stretching, such as Pilate’s, Creative Cardio, Muscle Mania I and II, Salsa or Toning.

Laugh. Medical studies have shown a chuckle can have health benefits. And if you’re really laughing, it’s easy to forget about your problems at least for that moment.

Strength. This sign will help when caffeine starts to let you down. Just getting to class sometimes takes strength , but a little visual reminder could help.

Study. Instructors will especially like this one. If you forget about a test, this sign comes to the rescue.

Be yourself. In college, it’s easy to pretend to be someone you’re not. If Sullivan’s plan works at Eastern, this sign could motivate students to express themselves for who they are.

But some question whether an idea like “Virtuous Reality” would work at Eastern, let alone in Sullivan.

Bill Addison, chair of the psychology department, said the word signs wouldn’t do much to change attitudes unless the individual needed a virtuous reminder from the start.

“I would say it would have minimal impact,” Addison said.