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The Hiram Archer Student Success Academy (HASSA) and Comets Activity Board is hosting the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inaugural Luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Cutler Student Center, Community Room.
This event is free, and the organization that brings the most guests with 10 or more people can win $250.
At the event there will be words from Kyra Bolden, Michigan Supreme Court Justice. There will also be live entertainment from The University of Olivet Chorale, MJ and The Band, Flautist Brandon Marceal and Robert Kyle III. Additional guest speakers will include Dr. Dustin Byrd, Dr. Tonya Bailey, and Eric Thomas.
Joshua Gillespie, dean of student life, said event attendees should expect, “...some great information, some encouragement about living life, loving people, not based on the color of their skin or their orientation, or their religion, but the content of who they are, their character.”
Gillespie said, “...if it goes well, I plan to put a diverse committee together, to make sure that we have the voices and faces that represent what King represented, because I would like to do this every year.”
The food, which will be served buffet style, will include chicken, mashed potatoes, beans, and salad. A vegan option will also be provided, according to Gillespie.
HASSA is a student-led organization at The University of Olivet that supports students of color in their academic, cultural, personal, social and spiritual development.
Founded in 2016, HASSA has a key role on campus in raising awareness for the black community in aspects of civil rights, educational and institutional prejudice.
While in their transition phase, and searching for a new student leader, the organization presents the student body with events like Soul Food Thursday, Comet Fest, and Greek Life Showcases.
HASSA has a hand in leading several projects and service-learning activities that encourages student participation throughout campus .
The students involved in HASSA take action on excursions and helping with events, such as the Martin Luther King Luncheon, they help promote leadership development, community service and social liberties skills and have been a staple for the students who take part in HASSA.
The importance of civil rights brought to the attention of American citizens plays a predominant role in the HASSA.
According to Ballotpedia, Bolden is the youngest, black woman to be appointed as Michigan Supreme Court Justice. Bolden graduated from Southfield High School, then got her bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University. She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D) from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Bolden’s professional experiences are civil litigation attorney, judge, and state representative. She assumed office on Jan. 1, 2023 and her term ends Jan. 1, 2033.
The University of Olivet Chorale, directed by Joel Moore, will perform “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” featuring soloist Quentin Villa, junior. The Chamber Singers, a smaller advanced choir, will perform “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent.
The event will also feature performances from MJ and the Band, and Brandon Marceal. According to Gillespie, MJ and The Band is a trio comprised of a keyboardist, a bassist, and a drummer. The band plays a variety of music genres.
Brandon Marceal is a flautist from Jackson. Marceal’s official website states that he blends many different styles of music to “create a sound that resonates deeply with audiences.” Marceal is considered a “rising star” in the present-day jazz scene.
Gillespie hopes that these artists will bring entertainment and energy to this event.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday that honors the life and legacy of King. The movement for the holiday began after King's assassination in 1968, when Michigan Congressman John Conyers proposed a bill that failed.
Coretta Scott King, King's wife, became an important campaigner in the 1970s and 1980s, as public support increased. Celebrities like Stevie Wonder, whose 1980 song "Happy Birthday" supported the cause and helped to raise awareness.
The bill was passed by Congress in 1983 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. However, states, such as Arizona, opposed the holiday until the 1990s. South Carolina was the last state to formally mark the day in 2000, bringing the national recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to all 50 states.
Written by MPC 210: Media Writing II class
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