THE DAILY COUGAR
T H E
O F F I C I A L
S T U D E N T
Issue 62, Volume 79
N E W S PA P E R
O F
T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
O F
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
H O U S T O N
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
VOLUNTEERS
Opportunities arise for students to give back Cougars make time for service
Rebeca Trejo Staff writer
that UH students really care about the people around them.” That’s exactly what students did Monday during the first Martin Luther King Day of Service. The majority of students worked with Habitat for Humanity in neighborhoods while others spent the day with Vitae-Living, serving people with developmental disabilities. “It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and make a difference,” Schmidt said. Other service projects are available to students through the university’s Metropolitan Volunteer Program. It’s free to join and noncommittal, meaning students can attend as many or as little events they want. Samuel Marshall is an interpersonal communications student and Ongoing Service Events Chair for MVP. He leads events that occur monthly or semimonthly such as excursions to The Beacon homeless
College students often have to juggle a bombardment of class assignments, a part- or full-time job and responsibilities to their friends or families; volunteering might be the last thing on their mind. Despite this popular belief, there are plenty of students on campus who sacrifice their time to help people in Houston, and there are more opportunities to reach out through UH. “What we want students to do is find something they’re interested in and to care about it,” said Stephanie Schmidt, associate director of Leadership and Civic Engagement for the Center of Student Involvement. “Doing some landscaping, doing some building is a great way to show SERVICE continues on page 3
UH to visit food bank The Daily Cougar News Services The nation honored Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Monday, but UH will celebrate the civil rights leader’s life and actions through the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the New UC Theater. The Celebration, which also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, will feature speeches by President Renu Khator and former city attorney Gene Locke as well as performances by Stacy J and Unified Praise Dance team. A short, historical video about the equal rights legislation will be shown at the event, according to uh.edu. Students, faculty and staff can also give their time to the UH Day of Giving at the Houston Food Bank, held on Feb. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Houston Food Bank at 535 Portwall Street. The volunteer event furthers the UH MLK Celebration in the spirit of King’s community-focused message. Refreshments will be served at the Celebration Wednesday. Students can RSVP on Facebook. news@thedailycougar.com
STAFF EDITORIAL
50 years later, King’s dream lives on
“Life’s most persistant and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commmons
Almost half a century ago, the country trembled with the shouts of civil rights activists who fought for the right to realize their dream: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. America now stands in the symbolic shadow of an emphatic leader whose legacy lives on and was marked by this Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. His memory echoes in the collective consciousness of this nation and in the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
which now celebrates its 50th anniversary. King was one voice among many who paved the way for later generations. Their message resonated not only with the African-American community, but with all minorities whose rights were unconstitutionally stripped away. Because King and other civil rights activists marched on Washington, organized themselves and forced people to take a moral inventory of themselves, Americans have the privilege of touting exceptionalism. Though his vision can be seen here at the University in our diverse student population, a long and winding road is still ahead. Until people of all races, ethnicities, religions, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities can be seated at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood, commemorating this holiday will not live up to his legacy King’s speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial still rings true. “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.”