Program commemorates King

Chris Labzda / senior photographer A portrait of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was displayed in front of the stage in Wilson Hall Auditorium. The portrait was spotlighted during the entire program.

While many of the 1,300 students in attendance appeared to hear the Rev. Jesse Jackson speak, several other events comprised the formal celebration last night in the Wilson Hall Auditorium.

Kicking off the evening was an introduction performance by the Contemporary Gospel Singers. They sang "Lift Ev'ry Voice" by James Weldon Johnson, with the audience standing to join in the singing.

"We were honored to be asked to perform at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration," said senior Michael Tinsley, the choir's director. "It's tradition for us to perform, and I'm honored to follow the ‘Keep the Fire Burning: Be the Dream ‘ theme."

President Linwood Rose asked the audience, "Would you have walked with Dr. King, or would you have walked away?"

After telling stories from his childhood in which he had to make that very decision, Rose said, "Each life has individual value, each life has dignity."

The invocation was led by sophomore Daniel Teweles from Hillel and following was a spoken-word expression piece by Morgan Dye, Community Outreach co-chair.

Delivering the litany of commemoration, junior Marie Rosado from the Latino Student Alliance lead the audience in a piece about King.

Two essay awards were presented to local elementary school children by sophomore Shemiqua Bauldie and junior Shelby Giles, Community Outreach co-chairs.

The award-winning essay was written by Elkton Elementary School fourth grader Adrienne Herring.

"I say we live by example and teach our children not to discriminate," she said while reading paragraphs of her speech. "We need to treat everyone the way we want to be treated."

Herring said she was a little nervous to speak in front of so many people, but felt honored that she won. Jackson greeted her after she left the stage to shake her hand and take a picture.

Two Community Service Awards were presented by senior Phillip Duhart, president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Art Dean, the assistant director of Admissions and Daniel Wubah, director of the Presidential Commission on Diversity.

Duhart said Dean was selected because he was instrumental in "exposing minority students to JMU." He said Wubah was selected because of his acquisition of "over $1 million in research studies and aid for under-represented minorities."

Junior April Stewart, a program committee member, sang "Amazing Grace."

Sophomore Johnelle Brown, a program committee member, introduced the Rev. Jackson, who spoke for about an hour and took time to answer audience questions.

Various organizations and departments took place in a candle-lighting ceremony while a Microsoft PowerPoint slide show of images was played.

Senior Grant Schafer, who represented the office of Judicial Affairs, said, "He represents an organization that Martin Luther King (Jr.) would stand for. There's a good mix of people."

Closing remarks were delivered by J. Stacy Edwards, the director of the Center for Multicultural/International Student Services. The benediction was delivered by John Grace, the coordinator for Campus Ministries.

The program was sponsored by CMISS, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Black Student Alliance.

Student tickets for the program were sold out in under one and a half hours, according to junior Jazmina Griffich, one of the co-chairs of the Martin Luther King Jr. committee.

Student Body President Levar Stoney said he learned a lot from the event.

"What stood out the most is that we could think of the ways we are different," he said, "but we should search for things that bring us together."