Center for Multicultural Education celebrate MLK day

By Jerrod Huber

January 17, 2011 No Comments

Center for Multicultural Education recently brought people together to make a quilt remembering one of America’s great leaders, Martin Luther King Jr.

Leah Hayes is the programming assistant for the Center for Multicultural Education and helped organize this event in Blum Union for participants willing to share their thoughts and feelings.Center for Multicultural Education

“Everyone gets a square to write on about what peace and unity is and what MLK really means to them,” Hayes said.

This event started on MLK Day and there were about 30 people gathered around the tables in the Blum lobby working on their squares and sharing their thoughts.

Sophomore Jump Coordinator, Christina Jennings, was there in honor of MLK and expressed her feelings about the mood everyone was in.

“I noticed how everyone was coming together and sharing stories with each other and making new friends,” Jennings said.

“Random thoughts from people I never met before were very interesting.”

It was a celebration of history and the achievements of MLK. For some it was not about a day off, but a day to give back to all the accomplishments and things MLK did for society.

Jacob Scott is a student senator who attended the event and was serious about showing respect and appreciation for MLK.

“I care about Dr. King’s contributions to society and strive to be that kind of example,” Scott said.

When the quilt is finished it will be displayed in Blum Union for all to see the hard work each and every person put in to it. Scott said the quilt is a great example from Western students about what freedom, justice and values mean to them.

WAC and CME are sponsoring a march on Jan. 23, in honor of MLK Day. It will start at 3 p.m., at the corner of Noyes and Messanie streets and end at the Bartlett Center on 18th St.

The march is intended to get the community to come together in awareness of the peace MLK fought so hard for. The location the march takes place has witnessed several violent crimes recently and was chosen for this reason. Hayes said with shootings in the area, they thought it would be a good place to bring the spirit of MLK

“We are trying to go to the places where we need the most peace and unity and give back to the community,” Hayes said.

After the march ends, there will be a community gathering at the Bartlett Center with pizza and entertainment for everyone.

Last year about 50 people showed up for the march, but they are hoping to have more this year. WAC and CME are arranging for a bus to take people from Western to the Noyes and Messanie location.