|
||||
  
 
 |
King vigil marks progress America has made, along with USU's need for diversity By
Shante' Tinsley More than a hundred students and faculty from Utah State University gathered to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tuesday night when the Black Student Union hosted a candlelight vigil in the USU Sunburst Lounge in his name. Jonathan Abebe, BSU president, welcomed the crowd by sharing a story of a young boy who dared to ask, "What if there where no black people?" The answer was simple. Without black people there would not be inventions like the comb, the iron, traffic lights, light bulbs, lawn mowers, furnaces, pencil sharpeners, printing presses, and refrigerators, to name a few. The program's guest speaker was Jean Tracey, a popular black activist. Tracey grew up in Alabama and attended one of the last segregated high schools. She learned early what it was like to be black in a white world. Her grandparents were former slave workers, and once she was thrown out of school for fighting with a white boy. Tracey's message to the students was to get an education. She also spoke of the need to vote and quoted Dr. King. "We can never be satisfied as long as there is a Negro in Mississippi who can't vote and a Negro in California who believes there is nothing to vote for." Tracey then held up an old restaurant sign that read, "We serve blacks carry out only." A vocal solo was performed by Jill Hoffman, who was accompanied by Todd Milovich, both USU faculty. Ross Peterson, the BSU advisor, then spoke of diversity on the USU campus. "In 30 years we've made no progress," said Peterson. He was speaking of the need for more diversity within the faculty and student population. Peterson reminded the students that those things that may affect them, indirectly affect others directly. In the words of Dr. King, he said Americans need to "remain awake during the revolution." Iris Sanchez, a USU student, shared her opinion of the impact of Dr. King's life. "When I remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am reminded of value, dignity and self-worth," said Sanchez. Students and faculty were brought together to remember the life of King and show their respects by lighting a single candle in his honor. As the program ended the audience was reminded one last time that by attending the vigil they were making a stand for human rights.
|
Archived Months:
January
1999 January
2000 January
2001 |
||