Students, faculty and community members spent yesterday commemorating the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
For only the second time, the celebration of King's birthday was declared a University-wide holiday, one of the few holiday's officially celebrated by Penn.
The morning began with a breakfast at Dubois College House, where University President Judith Rodin made a few remarks and keynote speaker Rev. Bernard James encouraged people to work hard and work together to fulfill King's vision.
"To actualize the dream, we have to be ready to roll up our sleeves and go to work," he said. He added that students should avoid the temptation of being too "individualistic" and should join "support teams" to effectively promote King's dreams.
James' speech made a considerable impression on some students.
"The keynote inspired me... motivated me," said Wharton junior Brian Larkin, a member of the Black Student League.
Max Covil, a College of General Studies student and chairman of the Black Graduate and Student Professional Association, emphasized the importance of serving others in his closing remarks at the breakfast.
"I'm asking everyone here today to embark on a lifetime of service," Covil said. It "becomes each of our individual duties to break down the barriers in helping and loving each other."
Groups of students and children from the local community headed to Houston Hall, the ARCH and Drew elementary school after breakfast to participate in community service activities.
At Houston Hall, volunteers made "cheer-up" cards, lap blankets and socks stuffed with dental hygiene goods for breast cancer patients at an area clinic. Several Alpha Chi Omega sisters helped children in constructing these gifts.
According to Julie Stapleton-Carroll, who organized the event at the ARCH, volunteer participation was up this year.
"We had wonderful volunteers last year, but we really had an outpouring of volunteers this year, one volunteer for each kid," Stapleton-Carroll said.
"I'm happy to see a lot of different groups here," added Afi Roberson, executive chairwoman of the MLK 2002 Planning Committee.
At the ARCH, children participated in painting banners depicting King. The banners will be displayed on Locust Walk and at Thursday's Interfaith Program, an event in conjunction with yesterday's celebration.
People also packed into the Hall of Flags at Houston Hall to listen to presentations concerning civil rights and the relevance of King's teachings today.
The day culminated with a candlelight vigil, in which about 70 people marched from Dubois to the Hall of Flags yesterday evening. The students first lit their candles, then proceeded to Houston Hall while singing anthems "We Shall Overcome" and "This Little Light of Mine."
After brief opening remarks from Wharton junior and Alpha Phi Alpha chaplain Weldon McMillan, Rodin once again addressed the crowd, calling for understanding, acceptance and appreciation of racial differences.
"I think America should be a patchwork quilt... our differences are as beautiful as our similarities," Rodin said.
After performances by a capella group Inspiration, the meeting was opened for people to come forward and discuss what King's legacy and vision meant to them.
Events to commemorate King's birthday will continue until Feb. 1, ending with an Intercultural Performance Gala.
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