The Rocket

Issue date: 1/20/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Jared Ursta A group of Slippery Rock University students, staff, and faculty, as well as a number of Slippery Rock community members, participated in Monday's candlelight vigil to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The march was to commemorate the numerous peaceful marches King Jr. held during his life. As the group marched they sang several spiritual songs such as "Kumbaya" and "We will overcome." The events were sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Programs.

Media Credit: Jared Ursta Keynote Speaker Rev. Linda Oliver, associate pastor at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, delivers her speech at Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day closing celebration.

Nearly 700 students, faculty, staff and administrators spent Monday, their last day of winter break, celebrating the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in the Office of Intercultural Programs' third annual "Day On, Not a Day Off" celebration.

Robert E. Clay, assistant director of intercultural programs, said the program was started in 2004 by the Office of Intercultural Programs in hopes of getting the community to recognize and appreciate what King has done, not only for African Americans but for humanity in general. A special committee, the King Day of Service Planning Committee, was established to coordinate the day's events.

"This is not a black event," Clay said. "The King fought for all humanity. It is sad that in 2006 people still allow their prejudices to blind their participation in events that cater to all students."

Clay said "Day On, Not a Day Off" was an all day event and included six project sites around the Grove City, New Castle and Slippery Rock areas. There were a variety of performers, speakers and presenters, including the Rev. Berta Newsome and the Rev. Linda B. Oliver.

The events started at 11 a.m. with a kickoff ceremony in the University Union. The emphasis of the kickoff ceremony was on the annual Rev. Dr. King Performance Competition presentations. SRU Student Lannea Adamson won the competition with an interpretive dance.

Service projects and a candlelight vigil were held after the opening ceremony.

The concluding ceremony was held at Miller Auditorium and included the presentation of the prestigious Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Civil Leadership Awards.

Recipients of these awards were Clay, Director of Intercultural Programs DaNine Fleming and English professor Frederick White. Clay said this esteemed award is given to those individuals who are advocates for social justice.

The ceremony also included a presentation by the performance competition winner. The performance competition was designed around Rev. King's message and personal journey dealing with social justice, civil disobedience and non-violent revolution.

Students, faculty, staff and administration from multiple cultural backgrounds participated in this event to celebrate King's life.

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