The Muhlenberg Weekly

Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News

Karen Green, Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs, was the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event.

Thurs., Jan. 17, the campus came together in the Center of the Arts Recital Hall to celebrate and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event was organized by Dr. Ethel Drayton-Craig, the Director of Multicultural Life and the Multicultural Center. Dr. Drayton-Craig collaborated with a student committee in the fall to plan this event. She explains that "the committee grappled with what would make Dr. King's commemoration relevant to students who were far removed from the 60's." The students wanted to show what else Dr. King stood for besides the well known I Have a Dream speech.

The event began with a poem about Dr. King read by Samuel Hayden '10. Eric Thompson '10 then posed the question that if Dr. King were alive today would he look at the world and believe that his dream had come true, or would he think that it had fallen short? Dr. Drayton-Craig explains that the student committee wanted to make their presentation relevant to students by bringing up issues about the world in which we live locally, nationally, and globally. Issues such as health insurance, money being spent on military action instead of social uplift, and the aid needed in Darfur were brought up by various speakers from the planning committee.

Dr. Richmond gave a moving speech about how Dr. King's greatest message to us is how he lived day to day and that as a campus community we too can achieve greatness in our own daily lives. "Take notice, watch each other, see how you treat one another on this campus," explained Dr. Richmond. Dr. Drayton-Craig selected Dr. Richmond for the commentary because of her relevant Brown Bag discussions last semester in the Multicultural Center. Dr. Drayton-Craig says that "the issues were contemporary and Dr. Richmond is passionate about them."

The Black Students Association chose Dean Karen Green to be the keynote speaker for the night. Dean Green emphasized in her speech to remember, celebrate, and act. She stressed the importance of being careful not to forget Dr. King's message because the past can often be repeated if we are forgetful. "I'm encouraging you to remember what it is that makes you who you are. If we are honest with one another we might discover that we have a lot more in common than we think," stated Dean Green. Dean Green encouraged students to use Dr. Martin Luther King day as an opportunity to serve others and step outside the College bubble to help those who are far less fortunate than we are. The speech was then followed by a performance by InAcchord, who sang Imagine by John Lennon.

The Girls Next Door also performed during the event along with the Muhlenberg Gospel choir who sang three songs; Trading My Sorrows, Love, and High and Lifted Up. Dr. Drayton-Craig confirms that the event was a definite success despite the snow storm. Students stayed for the entire program and many expressed to her how meaningful the messages were about service, reflection, and the importance of sensitivity to our own attitudes and simple gestures. This was the fifteenth year that the College celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Day and Dr. Drayton-Craig expects another celebratory event like this one for next year.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools