NDSU remembers Martin Luther King, Jr.
All around campus, students, faculty and community members took time out of their busy day Jan. 11 to help NDSU celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Volunteers met in areas on campus such as the Memorial Union and Old Main to read passages from a book filled with speeches by Martin Luther King Jr.
“The excerpts in the book were selected by Coretta Scott King,” said Malika Carter, assistant director at the NDSU Multicultural Student Services Office and event planner. “The book was given to me by a mentor of mine when I was in community college, and it’s something I enjoy reading.”
Carter began coordinating the event last year in hopes of getting NDSU more involved in commemorating the day.
“There is no standing commitment by the university to promote understanding all the different messages,” Carter said. “Some of the messages spoken by (Martin Luther King) are still pertinent to today and I think it calls us to a higher being.”
Debbie McDonough, administrative assistant for Equity, Diversity and the General Council for NDSU, said she volunteered to help because, “he has some very interesting writings that still pertain to today, even though they were from 30 to 40 years ago.” Carter said the entire Multicultural Student Services Office volunteer time and help identify who will be participating in the event.
Carter said no matter how many people participate in each reading, there always has to be one reader and one listener.
“MLK wouldn’t have been a great leader unless there was someone listening - this is why its important to have both,” Carter said.
Carter said around 300 students, faculty and staff participated in the readings last year, and even though numbers were fewer this year, there was still a lot of campus support.
“There are people who are planted around campus who make it a priority to carry social justice everyday,” Carter said.
“Despite this, there are some, though, who are oblivious to the issues that still exist today.”
The Multicultural Student Services Office hopes to make improvements to the event in years to come Carter said.
“Details such as spending extra time marketing the event to new and transfer students, getting campus organizations to participate and getting local churches and area businesses involved are all factors that will possibly be considered next year,” Carter said.
Anyone who has any questions or suggestions about next year’s event should reach Malika Carter at 701-231-7383 or visiting the Multicultural Student Services Office located in Ceres 302.