CommUNITY Peace Brunch, March, Vigil Monday
Central Michigan University will be kicking off Martin Luther King Week on Monday with the CommUNITY Peace Brunch.
The program will include comments from University President George Ross and essays written by the MLK Oratorical Contest finalists from 10 a.m. to noon in the Bovee University Center Rotunda.
Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Hadden will be giving a keynote speech.
Detroit sophomore Jawanza Hill said he took part in last year’s march and also performed at the brunch with his gospel choir.
“I really want to make time this year, because it's important to get out and experience exactly what MLK stood for,” Hill said.
In addition to the Peace Brunch, a CommUNITY March and Vigil will be held from 3 to 5 p.m.
The march will begin at the Bovee University Center, as well as various residence hall locations, and convene in downtown Mount Pleasant where the vigil will be held.
Transportation will be provided back to campus for hot chocolate and donuts in the UC following the vigil.
Hill said CMU does a great job of representing what King wanted through the events.
A residence hall council competition will determine how many students take part in the march. The residence hall with the most attendees will receive $500 to add to its hall council budget.
Assistant Director of Multicultural Academic Student Services Keisha Janney said students didn’t always have this day off from classes, but after seeing the value in it, asked for the day off to participate in service and recognition events.
Janney said the overall goal of MASS is to get students, faculty and the community to think of this as a day on, not a day off.
“This day should be about things like giving back to the community and helping to raise awareness about equality in the U.S.,” Janney said. “MLK Day was enacted to honor Dr. King’s legacy and work.”
