USF celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day: ‘A day of reflection’

Reginald Louis said it’s a privilege to be the president of the Theta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the first fraternity created for Black students.
But for Louis, the true honor is that Martin Luther King Jr. was also a member.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was number five in his line,” the sophomore health sciences major said. “His line name was Silent Drummer, for many reasons we don’t know.”
Monday marked the 30th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a National Day of Service.
To help celebrate the holiday, USF kicked off the week with the Stampede of Service on Jan. 16. There was a parade on Monday, where the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and student organizations also celebrated King’s legacy.
Then, on Wednesday, the university hosted the MLK Commemorative Brunch at the Marshall Student Center. The theme was “Living Out Dr. King’s Dream.”
USF President Rhea Law welcomed over 200 attendees to the event and said the university is carrying out King’s message.
“We believe the campus environment is where differences are respected and appreciated,” Law said. “Our university’s commitment to inclusive excellence promotes more effective teaching, yields greater learning outcomes and better prepares our students for the success that they will have in their careers.”
King advocated for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin. The act aims to ensure that people are not excluded from any program or activity funded by the federal government.
Last month, a USF student organization filed a civil rights complaint against USF, alleging the university has a history of discrimination and a hostile environment.
Related: USF student protesters file civil rights complaint against university – The Oracle

Lauren Plummer, a senior studying biomedical science and the program director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, kickstarted the event taking the stage to welcome attendees.
“Today is a day of reflection, honor and community,” Plummer said. “On behalf of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, we thank you all for being in community with us as we reflect on Dr. King
Tiffany Moore Russell, the regional director of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., delivered a call to action, saying people should continue King’s fight for racial equality.
“The fight for racial justice is ongoing, and we must continue to move forward,” said Russell, the keynote speaker for the event. “Whether through peaceful protest, social media activism, or policy advocacy, all of these movements are essential to continuing Dr. King’s vision.”
Russell said she believes policy changes and reforms demonstrate that the fight for equality is ongoing, fueled by the efforts of those who continue to advocate for justice.
Russell emphasized the importance of King’s message. She said there are three key actions to ensure his dream lives on, such as fighting against voter suppression, providing ballot education and building bridges across communities.
After Russell gave her final words, the audience stood and gave a resounding round of applause.
Louis said he hoped attendees would walk away with the same message he held onto.
“I hope that everyone can truly understand what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream was,” Louis said. “To understand that his work, his presence, his efforts and sleepless nights just to make sure that everybody is understood equally – that’s what equality is.”