Martin Luther King parade receives extra funding

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. FIU hosts a myriad of events to commemorate his work every year, and has been doing so for the past 21 years.

This year’s is expected to be one of the largest yet, having combined the efforts of Multicultural Programs and Services, the Black Student Union, Student Government Association, Parking and Transportation and other groups around campus.

Last year, MPAS was able to ascertain donors for the purposes of providing buses for students to attend the event.

This year, such was not the case.

MPAS was unable to get a hold of the donations necessary to fund the transportation and ultimately sought help from the Student Government Association.

“We dipped into our discretionary fund,” explained Sanjeev Udhnani, Vice President of SGA, “this is the third time this year; the discretionary fund is meant to fund services to students. This was something important, as was sending Body and Soul to London, and giving money to Hope for Children of the World this summer.”

SGA put forward $1400 from the discretionary account that will go towards providing 2 buses and 3 drivers for the MLK event next week.

“Want 1-2 buses more for students MPAS would like to see more buses, we’re playing to what we have right now,” Udhnani said, “The event is only a week away, we funded what he had originally expected.”

“250-300 students went last year to participate in the parade,” he recalled, and suggested, “more are expected to come this year.”

Buses will arrive on campus at 7:30am, and leave at 9am.

“A lot of students are going and wearing their organization and club t-shirts,” Udhnani said, “unlike last year where we had a caravan of convertibles, this year we have a float to represent the FIU community.”

The event will be broadcast on television, and will be located along 54^th street and 17^th avenue.

It is projected that between 5000-8000 people will attend the event next week.

The Black Student Union has been an active contributor every year to the events that commemorate the legacy of MLK.

Jerron Jackson-Johnson, President of BSU, explained the contributions that the organization has made this year to the events sponsored by MPAS.

“BSU has produced volunteers for the various events as well as financial contributions,” he said, “There are ushers and volunteers that will be helping out with the breakfast, day of service, parade, youth forum and peace walk, and MLK dinner. BSU has planned the MLK Dinner that will be co-sponsored by Campus Life and Residential Life.”

This year there are a few new events for the MLK events.

These include a movie night on January 17^th, MLK Law Night about the murder of Emmett Till on January 23^rd, and a Forum on January 25.

“The MLK Breakfast will hold about 570 people, the Day of Service will have about 250 students from FIU, Parade will have about 240 students, and the MLK Dinner will have about 170 in attendance,” detailed Jackson-Johnson.

“SGA has helped substantially towards the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. initiative,” he said, “They have supplied funds that helped the committee secure buses for students to travel to the MLK Parade and other MLK events as well. SGA supports in any way they can and we appreciate their efforts.”

The different organizations around the university have gone to great lengths to orchestrate these events in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and provide an opportunity for students to remember and reflect on his deeds.

“The goal of BSU is to make a difference,” Jackson-Johnson said, “We know that our contributions to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration are another way for us to do so, but it does not stop there.”

Students are encouraged to go to the events that start next week, and moreover those who can are encouraged to donate what they can for events of this nature in the future, and for the provisions the university’s organizations make available for students to access higher education.

Jackson-Johnson further elaborated, “Information for the events can be found on the website, mpas.fiu.edu. Donations are accepted for the MLK Scholarships that the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services gives.”