It was a day of cultural collaboration and understanding for the many students and faculty members that participated in the 2003 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
The day's activities, sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Government, offered students the opportunity not only to educate themselves about the civil rights leader but also to continue his legacy through 63 off-campus service projects.
For students short on time, there was a quick but still fulfilling way to volunteer.
"I'm always on the lookout for fun and interesting service projects," said Amber Mizerak (junior-advertising), who stopped in the HUB-Robeson Auditorium to participate in the "service to go" activity by making a card for sick children in local hospitals.
Other students took the opportunity to honor the civil rights leader by attending one -- or many -- of the 16 workshops and presentations offered throughout campus.
During a debate focusing on the Village, the student-run protests that took place two years ago, a panel of four students analyzed the effects the demonstration had on the university, and what still needs to be done to promote diversity awareness.
"The university has a responsibility to prepare its students to be productive citizens," said Takkeem Morgan, Black Caucus vice president.
He added that while the university has changed the way it addresses issues of tolerance since the protests, more still needs to be done to ensure that students get a diverse education that will allow them to succeed in the workplace.
One of the positive influences that the Village had was that it increased communication between student groups on campus, not just those with ethnically oriented goals, he said.
"People have different ideas of what diversity means," said Nyla Bell, a member of Black Caucus. "During the protests, we weren't fighting for diversity in terms of numbers, but for diversity in the classroom."
Diversity in the classroom needs to be a standard part of the curriculum, not just special topics courses, Bell said.
Issues of racial diversity weren't the only topics addressed throughout the day. A presentation by Allies discussed the intertwining histories of the civil rights and gay rights movements and how they can work together to advance their causes.
"We're all fighting for different causes, but in the end everyone is fighting to reach the same goal," said Kelly Ross, director of Allies.
The day's festivities commenced with a musical celebration and speech by State College Area High School principal, Barbara Farmer, who offered words of inspiration to those seeking to make social change.
"Happy Valley, now is your time to make change," she said, citing the impending war on Iraq as an important reason to take social action immediately.
Many students agreed that King's messages still resonate today.
"I think today's theme of peace can be a good reference for the ideology that the United States should consider adopting in the future," said Liz Derias (senior-psychology and African and African-American studies).
