Yesterday's events ranged from the unveiling of a jelly bean portrait to a more somber candlelight vigil, drawing hundreds in commemoration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
"Who would have thought that a portrait of Martin Luther King in jelly beans would be so respectful?" questioned Kathy O'Connell, host of WXPN-FM's Kids Corner program, praising the project.
The Jellybean Nation campaign -- co-sponsored by Penn's WXPN-FM radio station and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline -- kicked off the daylong celebration with a continental breakfast and a performance by the singer and saxophonist Susan Jackson, better known as SOOZ.
"One of my measures of success," O'Connell said, "is that afterwards grown-ups were going up to SOOZ to get her to come to their schools."
The program -- called "Stand Up! Speak Out!" -- brought together local children and Penn students to celebrate diversity and to remember King's legacy.
O'Connell and University President Judith Rodin welcomed attendees.
Rodin explained the jelly bean metaphor's significance in understanding diversity, saying that jelly beans, like people, may appear different on the outside but are essentially the same within.
O'Connell praised Penn's MLK Day schedule of events, which included a variety of community service events along with a social work teach-in, a race relations discussion and a candlelight vigil.
"What really is amazing is this truly was a grassroots holiday," she said. "People made this holiday."
"To see it become truly a day of service is ... amazing [and] very gratifying."
Later in the day, a number of Penn's student leaders met in the Greenfield Intercultural Center to discuss campus race relations over Chinese food.
The dinner was co-sponsored by the MLK Program Planning Committee and Penn's Division of Public Safety.
King "was able to work collaboratively with other groups," Vice President of Public Safety Maureen Rush said in addressing the students. "As I look around this table, I see his legacy," Rush added.
Students contemplated methods to increase interaction among Penn's student groups.
"I think all of our issues are common issues," College sophomore Quanisha Smith said.
Wharton senior Obinna Obilo lamented what he saw as an "us versus them" mentality at Penn.
"There's so many smart people on this campus," he said. "We have such a hard time dealing with issues that come down to ... being human, or life itself."
Sean Vereen, the center's associate director, was pleased with the meeting.
He said that King "showed that the black freedom struggle was actually a freedom struggle for all peoples."
"Hopefully what we did today was to show that minority issues are everyone's issues."
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held its annual candlelight vigil at 7 p.m.
Students marched to Houston Hall, braving the cold temperature, carrying candles and singing the songs This Little Light of Mine and We Shall Overcome.
"I feel like it's important to celebrate the holiday just as a memory not only to [King] but to the whole civil rights movement," College sophomore Melissa Johnson said.
Arriving at Houston Hall's Hall of Flags, over 50 attendees -- from Penn, Philadelphia and surrounding schools -- were addressed by University Chaplain William Gipson.
"This is the very first American century when there has not been legally sanctioned segregation," he said.
"So let us come to this vigil committed to do something that generations before you have not been able to do, and that is to create an America open to everyone."
After the vigil, Engineering junior and event organizer Imo Udom noted that many Penn students spend a lot of time complaining about the University.
"What we forget is, what have we done for the school?" the Alpha Phi Alpha brother said. "What have we done to make a difference?"
