Penn State faculty and students from many Centre County school districts gathered Friday to honor Martin Luther King Jr. by presenting speeches, poetry and a documentary to celebrate King's achievements.

Friday was the second day of the MLK celebration "Call to Conscience." The celebration included speakers, music and reflections on King's life.

Because of a forecasted high of 17 degrees, about 200 people at the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration March moved from Old Main Steps to HUB Alumni Hall. The unexpected venue change delayed the starting time from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Arthur Carter, assistant vice president of student affairs, discussed a pledge made by King in 1966, in which he promised to always reflect upon the civil rights movement, to solve problems with nonviolence, to "walk and talk in the manner of love" and to perform community service.

In order to help the visiting schools understand the points made by King, Carter encouraged students to use the pledge as an example in their everyday lives; he compared it to the Ten Commandments and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Marion Roddy-Hart, pastor of the Albright-Bethune United Methodist Church, reflected on King's life and held a moment of silence. She expressed the importance of the "great men of the times," including Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson and King, and their impact on American history.

"The time was always right to do what needed to be done," Roddy-Hart said.

Robin Altemus (senior-integrative arts) came to the celebration to take some photographs for her own enjoyment. She said it was disappointing that there was not a big turnout of Penn State students.

"Maybe people got turned away from the cold," she said.

Carter; Charles Dumas, associate professor of theatre and African and African American studies; John Sanchez, associate professor of communications; and student actors performed a reenactment of a demonstration during the Brown v. Board of Education decision titled "Segregation, Schools and the Law".

Sanchez described his childhood during the Brown decision in Topeka, Kan., as an American Indian.

"Desegregation did not happen overnight," he said.

His teacher told him he would become a custodian or work in a factory.

"I wanted to become a businessman and drive a pink car," he said. "Dreams -- even American Indian dreams -- come true," he said.

Sanchez proved that dreams do come true, although he did not become a businessman. "I am a teacher at one of the finest universities," he said. "[An] excellent job for any color of man."

Students from the Bald Eagle Area School District talked about their diversity team at school. The group allows students to come together and provide a respectful, diversified environment in which they can identify their similarities, despite their differences.

The team's upcoming events include a school-wide diversity day with focus on different cultures.

Students from the State College Area School District prepared a documentary in which they visited Centre County sites, including an Underground Railroad site.

Justin McDaniel (junior-public relations) said it was important that the community shows support and takes advantage of cultural events on campus.