One of the touchstones of Ursinus’ dedication to inclusion and equity is the yearly observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Week, a cross-campus and interdisciplinary celebration, remembrance, and continuation of the ideals championed by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. Each year, the list of festivities and conversations includes an Interfaith Service held by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.
This year, the ceremony opened with a speech by Interim President Gundolf Graml, in which he spoke about Ursinus’ focus on actionable contributions to its community and to the wider world, including through this year’s inaugural Experiential Learning Week, during which participating students shadowed, toured, and assisted with a number of charitable organizations, such as the Laurel House, a local shelter for domestic violence survivors. He also invited attendees to join him in ringing a bell emblazoned with the words “The Beloved Community,” used each year in association with MLK Week and symbolizing each participant’s dedication to building an inclusive, egalitarian, non-violent community as championed by Dr. King in his speeches and writing.
Following Graml’s speech, students Cassandra Heinsohn ‘28, Morgan McKinney ‘27, Tovah Tolub ‘27, Dithya Arkalgud ‘26, Abdel Elgendy ‘27, and Sara Samimi ‘26 each spoke on a selected civil rights topic, ranging from the empowerment of women in religion, to immigrant rights, to climate change. Additionally, Laisha Torres ‘26 performed “Raise Every Voice and Sing,” and Jordyn Spady ‘28, Brody Ackerman ‘29, and Amalia MaGee ‘27 performed a dance to Spady’s poem “What’s Between Heaven and the Hot Comb?”
Following the student speeches and performances, keynote speaker and Collegeville mayor Aidsand “Ace” Wright-Riggins spoke on the recent civil disturbances in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the killings of Minneapolis residents Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. He discussed the intersection of ICE and militarism — which Dr. King opposed vocally — as well as cancel culture as a form of militarism which may hamper antiracist efforts. He encouraged attendees to love those who hold bigoted beliefs, citing Dr. King’s insistence that loving another person doesn’t mean choosing to support their beliefs or choosing to spend time with them, but rather choosing to see them as human and working to free them from their oppressive beliefs. This, he said, is integral to building the Beloved Community which Dr. King dreamed of.
Chapel Coordinator Brandon M. Winfield ‘22 closed the ceremony by leading the audience in singing “We Shall Overcome,” a song associated with civil rights protests since at least 1959.