To commemorate the spirit of Civil Rights marches a large group of students braved the frigid temperatures to march down McKinley Ave. for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
About 60 people joined in the MLK Unity March, hosted by the NAACP student chapter, Ball State Multicultural Center and Muncie MLK Planning Committee. The march was part of the kick off for Unity Week, an annual week of events hosted by multicultural student organizations since 1980.
The group marched from the Multicultural Center, down McKinley, which was blocked off for the march, turning around at the Scramble Light and heading back. The group cheered and sang songs including “Amazing Grace”, despite the cold weather.
Assistant director of student life Barry Hawkins said this year’s annual march was a success and he looks forward to the rest of Unity Week.
“[Events like this march] promote unity and bring the campus together,” Hawkins said. “They unite us behind a positive cause. It’s been phenomenal.”
Multicultural center graduate assistant Kyle Hayes said the Unity March honors MLK and his legacy.
“It’s a great way to show support for MLK day, it builds community with everybody here,” Hayes said.
Unity week began Monday morning with the MLK breakfast held in Cardinal Hall. Hawkins said it was the most successful breakfast yet, with nearly 400 attendees. Afterwards, students had the opportunity to work on their résumés and connect with potential job placement.
Monday night, a service was held at Christ Temple Global Ministries to commemorate MLK and end the first day of Unity Week activities.
Senior family studies major Kaylyn Gyden attended the march as a representative for the NAACP student chapter. She has participated in the Unity March every year to do her part to honor the Civil Rights movement.
Gyden said the turnout this year was greater than in the past, despite the weather. She plans to attend other events of Unity Week to support multicultural student organizations.
“Knowing the history of the marches and the sit-ins and having the opportunity to do so in 2013, why not [participate today],” Gyden said. “They did it for us, we all know the importance of walking.”
