By IAN BENJAMIN
Executive Editor
The words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were echoed at a dinner and gala held in commemoration of King’s legacy of service Friday here at Saint Rose. Student leaders, faculty and staff addressed the same issues which King addressed 50 years ago, such as racial and economic inequality.
“Things need to change,” said freshman Colin Ruggiero, a student leader who participated in a service trip volunteering in one of the neediest communities in the country.
The dinner and gala arrived on the tail end of events commemorating King’s legacy that have spanned the nation. On the national day, President Obama participated in a community service project at the Browne Education Center in Washington, D.C., while, closer to home, a community-wide video project recreating King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was filmed at Union College in Schenectady. Simultaneously, a Day of Service was held at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Center. All were part of the effort to commemorate King’s legacy through service and affecting non-violent change.
Attendees at the Saint Rose celebration began filtering through the front door of Saint Joseph Hall slightly before five–many dressed to the nines–to be greeted by tables lined in white linen. Underneath the soft light cast by the overhead chandeliers, the modest crowd mingled sipping on mock-tails. After the crowd was seated comfortably eating a variety of Southern fare the program commenced. The first speaker to approach the lectern was Shai Butler, president for diversity at the college.
“We packed this ballroom four years ago and celebrated the auspicious occasion [of Barack Obama’s election],” said Butler. “I’m so excited to see you all here tonight to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King,” she said, before inviting Ken Scott, director of community service, to give the invocation.
Scott’s first act was to invite the audience into the “sacredness and quietness of this moment, whether that is prayer, reflection or meditation.” Scott gave thanks to the “community, planners, [and] musicians” and “those who have handled, cooked and are serving the food. Inside all this we ask for the inspiration to give honor to the name of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
With the event officially commenced, tables were asked to enjoy the well-appointed buffet table which was filled with Southern fare. Everything from fried chicken and spicy pulled pork to mac-and-cheese and sweet tea was offered.
Once everyone was again comfortably seated, Myles Clendenin, the 2011 recipient of the president’s leadership award, was introduced by Butler. He reflected upon the experiences which led to that award including the challenges he encountered as a Resident Assistant overseeing 25 male freshmen in Brubacher Hall, as well as the unexpected success of the PB & Jams last year. Clendenin helped organize the PB and Jams event, which had volunteers creating sandwiches for local shelters. The final sandwich count was more than 1,000, greatly exceeding goals.
“To see a dream unfold you need to work hard at it. You might fail a couple of times,” said Clendenin, but “never give up.” Continuing the theme of service, sophomore Enedina Maya and freshman Colin Ruggiero took over the mic.
Maya and Ruggiero were part of a service group which traveled to Washington, D.C. for five days over winter break. The group, composed of 19 students and six Saint Rose staff, served at an organization, So Others Might Eat, which works in one of the neediest parts of the city. According to the organization’s website, it’s mission is to “feed and clothe DC’s homeless and poor” as well as “train people for jobs and house homeless families and single adults.”
“I’m here because I’m privileged,” said Ruggiero. “I’m privileged enough to come to this great college and I’m privileged enough to go down to D.C. to work and learn.” He drew a line between classroom and service learning. For Ruggiero, the former teaches one to “make a contribution to the world” through a job whereas the latter, service learning, teaches one about “where we are in the world today” and that “some people are locked into this system and some people are locked out of it.”
After Ruggiero described the plight of poverty, Maya urged the audience to “go down there and serve and see it for yourself.”
The service trip to Washington was not Ruggiero’s first. He was also part of the Saint Rose group which spent their spring break in New Orleans. He took part in the continuing reconstruction efforts to repair the city after the devastation caused by hurricane Katrina. Ruggiero was inspired to attend the service trips by his sister, a Saint Rose graduate, who had told him about her experiences one when she attended herself.
Barbara Ungar, associate professor of English and published poet, said that she had contemplated reading one of her published poems, but that “nothing is good enough for Dr. King.” Stating that “no one is as great a poet as the great doctor himself,” Ungar chose to create a found poem out of three of King’s speeches which exist in the public domain, including “I Have a Dream” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Having bestowed her piece upon the audience, the podium was once more occupied by Scott, who gave the closing remarks.
“In this season of Dr. King where is the College of Saint Rose? Where are their students?” asked Scott rhetorically. “Tonight, part of this celebration is a celebration of Saint Rose students who are in this room. They have gotten out of the classroom, gotten off of this campus, gotten into a city where there [are] still economic inequalities, racial injustices.” In an act recognizing students at Saint Rose that have manifested King’s legacy here at Saint Rose, Scott asked volunteers who were present to stand. They were applauded.
The speech-giving was short, slightly more than 20 minutes and allowed for the participants to spend the majority of the time socializing and, later, moving on the dance floor. Music was provided by The Power House Band who performed a version of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” and The Nasties’ “I Wanna Rock You All Night Long.” With full stomachs and good music, it wasn’t long before most of the audience was out on the dance floor.
————————————–
The Fourth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Gala and Dinner was organized by Arleny Alvarez-Peña, director of intercultural leadership. For more information about Saint Rose service trips, contact Joan Horgan, director of campus ministry, at horganj@strose.edu or Ken Scott, director of community service, at scottk@strose.edu. All proceeds from the gala went to support the president’s leadership and inclusive excellence award.
