A major snowstorm didn鈥檛 deter hundreds of students and employees at 911爆料网 from participating in a day designed to honor the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On January 17th, 911爆料网 hosted the MLK Day of Service & Reflection on campus. After an early morning breakfast, a group of about 325 students, faculty, staff and administrators listened to a recording of Dr. King鈥檚 address to Marietta鈥檚 campus on March 2, 1967. Eight current students also spoke about what service and social justice means to them. Yasmeen Hall 鈥25, a Charles Sumner Harrison Scholar, was among the featured speakers.
鈥淎s a CSHO Scholar, I knew I would have the opportunity to be involved and have a voice on campus, but I didn鈥檛 think I would have so many opportunities to speak to campus as I鈥檝e had so far,鈥 she said.
Following the student speakers, Robert Nelson 鈥21, an intern in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, introduced the keynote speaker, Odell Bizzell, an activist, author and entrepreneur. Because of the weather, Bizzell spoke to campus via Zoom about the lessons that Dr. King and Malcolm X would focus on in today鈥檚 society.
鈥淲e decided it was important to share with students the strength that MLK Jr. spoke with, and the significance of social justice through the eyes of some students it has affected,鈥 Nelson said. 鈥淲e were also grateful to have Odell Bizzell give a unique presentation that provided insight to what Dr. King and Malcolm X would have taught as modern-day leaders. The overall experience of the program was motivational, energetic, and aimed to inspire more action beyond January 17, 2022.鈥
Before students and employees broke into groups to tackle roughly two dozen volunteer projects, Marietta President Bill Ruud thanked everyone in the room for spending the morning learning and volunteering, and encouraged students to speak up when they see an opportunity to change things for the better. For instance, prior to 2018, the College held classes during the day and offices remained open. Ruud and administrators saw the day as an opportunity for students and employees to engage in learning and volunteerism together, so MLK Day became a campus-wide day of service and reflection.
This year, about 425 students and employees contributed 850 hours of service for the community, including making care kits for the local domestic violence shelter and the human trafficking support center, coloring kits for the child visitation center, and artwork for a suicide prevention organization.
Christy Burke, Chair of the MLK Day of Service and Director of the Education Abroad Program, said student groups like the Charles Sumner Harrison Organization, Global Connections, LGBTQ+Activism, the Gardening Club, National Society of Leadership and Success, Athletic Training Program, Greek organizations and Marietta鈥檚 athletic teams provided a great deal of volunteer work. Some of the groups helped during the lead-up to the event and some planned to conduct volunteer projects later during the week, including a blood drive and a visit to the Boys & Girls Club.
Henry Gyamfi 鈥23 and George Fazah 鈥25 worked in the Trustee Conference Room with members of the Athletic Training graduate program sorting and bagging clothing donations for the Gospel Mission Pantry and the Salvation Army.
鈥淚鈥檓 a CHSO scholar and wanted to volunteer today,鈥 Fazah said.
Vinny Tassari 鈥23, Bam Jackson 鈥25 and Nate Hinckley 鈥22 were among the student-athletes who carried numerous bags of clothing and bedding to passenger vans.
In the Gray Conference Room, women鈥檚 rower Michala Donnelly 鈥24 worked with Education adjunct Sarah Jacobs and her daughters Lucy, 10, and Hattie, 7, to create Easter baskets for the Salvation Army.
鈥淚 also want to recognize Ellen Campbell (Student Life), Tony Mayle (Office of Diversity & Inclusion) and Rob Nelson for being a part of the planning committee, as well as the students who signed up to be the student voices during the planning (Rowan Henderson-Bernard 鈥22, Raynne Parsons 鈥22, Ava Kazmierczak 鈥25 and Kaylie Ward 鈥24),鈥 Burke said.
After the volunteer projects were completed on Monday, Education interns led a discussion surrounding the book, 鈥淭he Hate U Give,鈥 by Angie Thomas, in Thomas Hall.
鈥淢artin Luther King Jr. Day has a powerful history, and it is important to understand the context behind the day,鈥 Nelson said. 鈥淎t 911爆料网, we have given the day recognition through the integration of service projects throughout the campus and surrounding community, but we also give students the opportunity to understand the powerful history fueling these projects.