Nadine Rodriguez/Staff Writer
At a public level, what the man stood for was hope, said Christopher Tonarely, a senior fine arts major.
On Jan. 16, a day for celebrating the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr., most in the community will acknowledge his success with using nonviolent forms of resistance to overcome injustice, and at the time prevented blacks from entering public spaces like as restaurants, hotels and public schools.
“To me, he stands in for the voice that would not be heard,” said Alex Ballester, a senior public relations and fine art major. “He made everyone listen to him. And with just his words, he was able to make himself a huge presence that was able to aid in the abolishment of segregation.”
Other than having the University closed the day of, the University is doing its part in celebrating Martin Luther King Day this year, hosting several events throughout the month of January. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum will be hosting the Martin Luther King, Jr. Exhibition Series, “Casting Shadows” from Jan. 19 to March 19. It will address issues of race, diversity, social justice, civil rights, and humanity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue and to enrich our community with new perspectives.
“He was a man who believed in peace, a man who strived for love over the the hatred that surrounded him, a man who pushed his beliefs into practice and lead those who followed him through a path that can only be described as selfless sacrifice,” said Sergio Chaviano, junior political science major.
On Jan. 16, the University will also have a contingency joining the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade that is held on 54th street annually. In addition to events, scholarships in honor of Martin Luther King are also provided by the university, such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Scholarship and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Award.
“I usually attend an event or watch documentaries about the civil rights movement on Martin Luther King Day,” said Marissa Oria, a senior English major. “Honestly, my favorite quote from him would have to be
‘We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.’”
For Chaviano, MLK represents a “symbol of courage and perseverance. A man who truly exemplified the quote, ‘take the path less traveled by.’”
“Hope is something more powerful than any one person could muster, something rare to find, and I think what makes him important to me is that he represents that hope, that person that comes up every now and then who speaks louder than the others and fights for more change than others,” said Tonarely.
Photo retrieved from Flickr
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