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observes MLK Day with banquet
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by Anna Politano:
Newswriting Student
Cameron
Campus Ministry and Cameron University worked
in conjunction Monday in order to celebrate
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
A
panel discussion took place at Cameron’s
theatre in the early afternoon. Panelists
were Dr. Scott Ellsworth, author of Death
in a Promised Land, Imam F.B. Rasheed, a
Muslim cleric, and Dr. Sarah Janda, assistant
professor of history at Cameron. Local Baptist
minister Gary Bender was the moderator of
the panel session.
Cameron
students and staff discussed with the panelists
the theme Racism: Lessons from the Past
for the Present.
The
celebration continued early in the evening
at the Great Plains Technology Center where
the 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
holiday banquet took place.
Local
leaders, Cameron students and staff attended
the banquet where Dr. Scott Ellsworth was
the speaker. Ellsworth is a native of Tulsa,
Okla., and he is well known and credited
for his extensive study on the Tulsa race
riot of 1921.
A
13-member committee organizes the banquet
every year and selects one nominee of the
Lawton/Ft. Sill area to receive a humanitarian
award.
The
award recipient for 2004 was Helen Shackelford,
one of the founders of the St. John’s
Baptist Church feeding program.
According
to Judy Nelson, Cameron Campus Ministry’s
administrative assistant, the purpose for
celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day is
to remember the lessons from the past and
apply them to the future.
“I
think this is a vital day to keep before
our community. This day is not very recognized
in our society, and I believe it helps to
build bridges,” Nelson said.
Dr.
Sarah Janda believes it is essential to
observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and
learn from his character.
Janda
is also appreciative of the support President
Cindy Ross provided during the celebration
events.
“It’s
incredibly important that Martin Luther
King Jr. Day is commemorated. He was more
than just a civil rights advocate for blacks;
he was also a firm believer in humanitarian
rights, and he dedicated his life to support
the rights of poor people as well as ethnic
and racial minorities,” Janda said.
“Cameron is very lucky to have a president
who actively supports the celebration of
King’s Day. President Ross has supported
the whole program, and we are very lucky
for that.”
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