2008 Woodie Awards
MLK Jr. holiday a day of service for students
Mary Hrycenko '08
Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
"A day on, not a day off" is a theme that has been adopted by the West Philadelphia community surrounding Saint Joseph's University on the day celebrating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hundreds of people gathered in the Fieldhouse to commemorate the life of one of the most influential individuals of the 20th century.
On Oct. 26, 1967, Dr. King delivered a speech to the students, faculty and staff in the Fieldhouse. It was the last time that King spoke in Philadelphia and one of his last public appearances ever. Several decades later the celebration was moved to Saint Joseph's in remembrance of that speech, allowing even more people to attend.
In previous years very few students attended the reflection on service and hope for a better tomorrow, despite performances by gospel choirs, drama groups, and other organizations that provide a spirit in the gym that rivals the student section during a basketball game.
However, more students than ever before attended the event this year. Seventy to eighty student athletes came together to receive a blessing and truly practice "a day on" before departing into the community to do service. Projects included cleaning up community gardens and helping at churches and a local YMCA. The student athletes processed out to "When the Saints Go Marching In" performed by a brass ensemble.
In his first speech since being voted Student Body President, Michael McDonald '08 addressed the community with pride and honor. "I have not seen here an affirmation of any one creed, color, or class; what I have seen is an affirmation of humanity, a celebration of the indomitable spirit of our kind, of men and of women everywhere. Atrocities of intolerance exist in our past and in our present, but it is this day that gives me hope, above all others, that they will not exist in our future."
McDonald also addressed the crowd by admitting the school's desire to learn something about a community so few Saint Joseph's students truly understand. "Perhaps we are selfish in inviting you all to come; perhaps, we are just trying to help increase our ever-deficient understanding of this city, and of this community. But I think that it is this selfless selfishness that may just bring about the awareness of the change that this world so desperately needs, and the means for us to help achieve it."
On Oct. 26, 1967, Dr. King delivered a speech to the students, faculty and staff in the Fieldhouse. It was the last time that King spoke in Philadelphia and one of his last public appearances ever. Several decades later the celebration was moved to Saint Joseph's in remembrance of that speech, allowing even more people to attend.
In previous years very few students attended the reflection on service and hope for a better tomorrow, despite performances by gospel choirs, drama groups, and other organizations that provide a spirit in the gym that rivals the student section during a basketball game.
However, more students than ever before attended the event this year. Seventy to eighty student athletes came together to receive a blessing and truly practice "a day on" before departing into the community to do service. Projects included cleaning up community gardens and helping at churches and a local YMCA. The student athletes processed out to "When the Saints Go Marching In" performed by a brass ensemble.
In his first speech since being voted Student Body President, Michael McDonald '08 addressed the community with pride and honor. "I have not seen here an affirmation of any one creed, color, or class; what I have seen is an affirmation of humanity, a celebration of the indomitable spirit of our kind, of men and of women everywhere. Atrocities of intolerance exist in our past and in our present, but it is this day that gives me hope, above all others, that they will not exist in our future."
McDonald also addressed the crowd by admitting the school's desire to learn something about a community so few Saint Joseph's students truly understand. "Perhaps we are selfish in inviting you all to come; perhaps, we are just trying to help increase our ever-deficient understanding of this city, and of this community. But I think that it is this selfless selfishness that may just bring about the awareness of the change that this world so desperately needs, and the means for us to help achieve it."
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