Campus Conversations

MLK day 2012: Ella Turenne

February 10, 2012

As I reflect on the OCE's activities surrounding MLK Week, I can't help but be extremely proud of what we have accomplished. In a week-long series of events, we have teased out what it means to take non-violent social action with the legendary Rev. James Lawson, worked in partnership with community organizations in Los Angeles, reflected on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech delivered at Oxy in 1967 and experienced what it would have been like if Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. ever met. Throughout all this, we have come to recognize that a community of students, faculty and staff who are committed to engagement is extremely important. We understand that there is much to do, but together we can accomplish a great deal. Two of Oxy's core values are community and service. In our office, we aim to embody those two values with the programs we put together and the students we support. We put out the call for this to be a Spring of Service; not just a one-time deal, but an intentional and reciprocal effort on all of us to engage with the city and our communities. This is something the entire city is taking part of. Whether it's through a student group, one of the OCE's programs or a fabulous idea you have, we hope that everyone will take the time to make sure MLK Day is everyday.