91短视频’s MLK Day celebrations included service projects, lectures and workshops, a convocation, film showings and much more. Enjoy photos of highlighted events by Macson McGuigan, Kiana Childress and Jamie Reich.

A co-hosted by Northeast Neighborhood Association, 91短视频 and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church, brought state senator Jennifer McClellan, Harrisonburg mayor and 91短视频 trustee Deanna Reed, and other speakers to commemorate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Students and Black Student Alliance officers Maya Dula and Jakiran Richardson at the morning’s solidarity march.

Students from 91短视频’s main campus, including (from left) KC Argueta-Rivas, Morgan Bradley and Dulce Shenk Zeager, traveled to Washington D.C. to participate with the nonprofit Community of Hope in Anacostia’s MLK Day Peace Parade. The visit to DC was hosted by Kimberly Schmidt and Jamie Reich, of The Washington Community Scholars’ Center, and students in residence there for the semester. Residence director Scott Eyre and his son Nolan also made the trip from Harrisonburg.

91短视频 staff and students met neighbors along the route through the heart of D.C.’s historic Anacostia neighborhood and handed out stress balls, chapstick and pamphlets about Community of Hope’s services. “The parade is a big event with African American Civil War re-enactors on horseback, lots of clowns, marching bands from as far away as Tallahassee, and a number of local organizations, non-profits represented in the parade,” said Schmidt. Prior to the parade, the group visited the MLK Memorial for a ceremony and gospel music. On Sunday, students at WCSC also traveled to Anacostia to a special worship service at Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, the first of its kind built east of the Anacostia River and known as the “mother church” for African American Catholics.

Drummers on stage in Lehman Auditorium, including Jonas Masiya (shown here), Victor Parker and Rodrigue Makelele, began the convocation festivities.

Convocation speaker Dr. Jalane Schmidt, from the University of Virginia, shares about her involvement as an activist and organizer before, during and after the events surrounding the white supremacy rally in Charlottesville.

Members of 91短视频’s Gospel Choir, joined by community musicians, perform at convocation with drummer Terry Jones and pianist Earnest Kiah. From left: David Chun, Natalie Brown, Amanda Jasper, Kiara Kiah, Rebecca Yugga, Jami Miles, Ariel Barbosa, Patricia Dunn, Carolyn Jackson, Sonja Myers and Janelle Birkey.

Rap artist and 91短视频 alumnus Meechy Jay takes the stage.

Tyrone Sprague gives a haircut in the Royal Treatment student lounge, which opened last year in University Commons. A longtime contributor to 91短视频’s MLK Day celebrations, Sprague had hosted his annual barbershop talk in his business downtown until the new lounge space opened.

Professor Mark Sawin lectures on 鈥淩emembering the Confederacy: A Monumental Debate鈥� in Common Grounds.

Student Tone Parker (right) leads a community drumming circle, joined by (from left) Emerson Brubaker, Andy King, Ariel Barbosa, Avery Trinh and Zavion Taylor.

See photos of the grand opening for the new student lounge “The Royal Treatment,”聽 styled as a barbershop and salon.

The celebration theme was 鈥淎 Time to Break Silence,鈥� words from the title of an anti-Vietnam War and pro-social justice speech delivered by King April 4, 1967, at Riverside Church in New York City.

鈥淥ur lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,鈥� said Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, quoting King while welcoming the crowd to Lehman Auditorium. 鈥淗is words rang true back then and they ring truer today. Simply being silent is no longer an option, not today, especially in the climate we鈥檙e in. We must speak out.鈥�

Reed called 91短视频 鈥渙ur bridgebuilders, our moral compass, our peacebuilders of the Valley,鈥� and urged the campus community to uphold their continued commitment to those descriptors: 鈥淲hen you feel in your soul that something is not right, I give you the open invitation to stand up and say something.鈥�

The program also included reflections from President Susan Schultz Huxman, a scripture reading by Jakiran Richardson, co-president of Black Student Union, and Ariel Barbosa, co-president of Latino Student Alliance; spoken word by Ezrionna Prioleau; selections performed by a gospel choir of 91短视频 students and Northeast Neighborhood residents; and the introduction of the speaker by Brittany Caine-Conley.

Caine-Conley, a graduate of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, is a United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor and organizer of Congregate Charlottesville. In that capacity, in the days preceding the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, she invited to train and join with those confronting white supremacists.

The convocation address, titled 鈥溾�漈his Ain鈥檛 Your Daddy鈥檚 Civil Rights Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.,鈥� was brought by Sekou, an activist, theologian, author, documentary filmmaker and musician from St. Louis, Missouri.

Sekou joined with student and pianist Earnest Kiah to sing 鈥淏ury Me,鈥� by Rev. , a Charlottesville UCC minister and songwriter.

Here are excerpts from his address:

Another challenge that faces us, particularly those of us who are slightly older, is not to lie to you, but to tell the truth about the times that were before so that we might honestly engage the times to come. One of the lies that we tell you is that everybody over 50 marched with Martin Luther King, and this is not simply true. … Though he is loved, he was not loved when he was alive. In fact, he was hated.

There鈥檚 a certain kind of ubiquity of a Martin Luther King. We have a national monument. All over America today people shall gather in places 鈥� but it seems the case that liberals and conservatives alike tend to appropriate his legacy and language to adorn their own political wardrobes and buttress their ideological construction. Corporations such as Apple have used his words and images to sell their wares, and pundits of all persuasions have invoked his name to browbeat a younger generation of [activists] and their tactics. Such is the case for the Movement for Black Lives, commonly known as the Black Lives Matter movement.

Often denigrated in public discourse, Black Lives Matter is the largest movement for racial justice in the United States since the civil rights movement. 鈥� Martin Luther King and Black Lives Matter as a broader聽movement were both held in general disdain by the popular opinion. And that popular opinion renders to us something to us in a way in which we can come to understand not only the past but the present, because if we hold up the civil rights movement as a movement that had extreme popularity over and against how young people鈥檚 activism is viewed today, we create the possibility of them never achieving the kind of success that they believe is necessary, because we have lied to them….

I suspect the reason why Martin Luther King was so hated during his own life and why Black Lives Matter as a movement is so hated during its particular moment has more to do with their commonality than their difference. 鈥� We must come to understand the ways in which our country has always found itself in opposition to a level of progress that called into question what it meant to be American. …

Martin Luther King comes from a tradition of a mighty people, and that these mighty people had an understanding of the world that was theologically rich and dense, because they understood that … the beginning of black religion in the context of the American empire begins not with the lack of presuppositions about who God is and what the nature of the church is. It begins with one fundamental assumption that black people are human, and that is a revolutionary notion in America. It begins with the humanity of black people, and 鈥� begins with an understanding that black people look at the聽darkness and they tell the truth about the darkness but they never let the darkness have the last word.

And so they say interesting things, like 鈥淛esus is a bright and morning star.鈥� That鈥檚 theological sophistication because it looks at the darkness. You can鈥檛 see the morning star without the darkness. And they look at the darkness and they acknowledge it, and they say, 鈥淗e鈥檚 a bright and a morning star.鈥� They say, 鈥淗e鈥檚 the lily of the valley, water in dry places.鈥� These are theological richness that acknowledges the darkness. It acknowledges the pain and agony and despair, and never lets it have the last word. It comes from a semi-literate people who had dense theological understanding of the world, so they said things like 鈥淛esus is a doctor in a sick room, a lawyer in a courtroom. … He is a keeper and a friend to the friendless and a mother to the motherless.鈥� These were people who were stolen away from their mothers and their fathers and they understood that Jesus could be a comfort to them even in these contexts.

These are the people who produced Martin Luther King. Mighty people. …

We have a moral and ethical obligation to stand against all forms of racism, all forms of anti-Semitism, all forms of discrimination, and that we have the right and moral and ethical responsibility to say that the life of a baby in Ferguson is just as important as the life of a baby in Palestine, just as important as the life of a baby in Yemen, just as important as the life of a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender baby….

We are called seriously as Christians to take without question … that whenever people are catching hell, we are morally and ethically obligated to show up. And on the question of gay, lesbian and bisexual and transgender people, particularly for older Christians: You don鈥檛 have to get it, because comprehension is not the prerequisite for compassion.

Whenever people are catching hell, we see in [King鈥檚] life that we must show up, so whether that be in solidarity with Palestinians in 1967, whether it be with sanitation workers in 1968, whether it be with striking union workers in a pen factory in North Carolina, he showed up wherever people were catching hell.

Now let鈥檚 be clear, we do not want to romanticize him. He had contradictions. His sexism was evident. … He was human just like you. And so your contradictions do not disqualify you from struggle, and in fact they mandate that you struggle even harder. … We are all fallen. … Paul talks about the notion of those of us who are being saved, that salvation is not a destination, it鈥檚 something we鈥檙e on our way to. We are being saved. We are becoming. …

We all have contradictions and those contradictions do not invalidate our commitment to struggle.

Christopher Clymer Kurtz contributed to this article.

Soon, though, he鈥檒l perform his craft in a proper barber鈥檚 chair with a proper mirror in 91短视频鈥檚 newest student space. Modeled after a barbershop and salon and dubbed 鈥淭he Royal Treatment,鈥� the space will be managed by the Black Student Union (BSU).

鈥淭his is much more than a barbershop. This is a sanctuary,鈥� said senior Jourdyn Friend, BSU vice president, during a special evening preview of the room. 鈥淵our hairdresser is more like a counselor, there to talk about your problems, because you鈥檙e there so long you might as well. This space is progress towards recognizing not just the majority but also the minority. This is a symbol of our voice being heard.鈥�

The grand opening of 鈥淭he Royal Treatment鈥� 鈥� which includes two barber鈥檚 chairs, a hairwashing station, television and two comfortable couches, all enlivened by a bright wall mural celebrating African and African-American culture 鈥� was Monday, Jan. 21, at 11:45 a.m. during the university鈥檚 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was followed by a barbershop talk with local barber Tyrone Sprague. During past MLK Days, a visit to Sprague鈥檚 downtown barbershop for some history, legend and lore was a much-loved 91短视频 tradition.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so pleased that Mr. Tyrone Sprague will be coming to help us celebrate the opening of our very own barbershop and salon,鈥� Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural services and senior advisor to the president for diversity and inclusion, said prior to the event. 鈥淛ust like his barbershop has been for years, I know this place is going to be full of joking and laughter and wisdom, a place where people can literally and figuratively let their hair down, where they can come and have a good time and be relaxed and comfortable.鈥�

A major ‘milestone’

For the sneak preview hangout last week, though, it was Loving who did the barbering honors in front of a group of student-representatives from BSU and Latino Student Alliance invited by Thomas and lead residence director Scott Eyre. Both Thomas and Eyre sit on 91短视频鈥檚 Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CODI), a 17-strong group that advises, consults and educates the 91短视频 community.

BSU members called 鈥淭he Royal Treatment鈥� a major milestone in the university鈥檚 history. Senior Jessica Washington, the club鈥檚 secretary, said she never imagined 鈥渟omething like this鈥� when she arrived on campus four years ago. 鈥淭his is a real blessing.鈥�

BSU co-president Jakiran Richardson, a sophomore, views the new space as the university鈥檚 way of showing empathy and understanding for students of color who must adapt to a predominantly white campus culture. 鈥淲e understand what you鈥檙e going through,鈥� he translated. 鈥淗ere鈥檚 something to show our appreciation for you being here and that we are about who you are.鈥�

Erick Camodeca, associate cross country and track and field coach, took advantage of the preview to relax in the barber鈥檚 chair while getting a 鈥渢emp fade鈥� from Loving. 聽Also a member of CODI, Camodeca might be new to the campus 鈥� he arrived last summer 鈥� but his experience at four other universities has given him a critical eye.

The new space, he said, 鈥渟ends out a message that this university does care, that we are making a commitment to diversity and to our students.鈥�

The barbershop is 鈥渁ll about community, which is one of 91短视频鈥檚 core values,鈥� Camodeca added. 鈥淲hat a better place to have a barbershop where people can come in of all diversities and backgrounds and share an experience and learn something.鈥�

A measure of support for the room was the wild success of its crowdfunding campaign. More than $2,600 was raised by donors to purchase sinks, chairs and other amenities and decorations.

鈥楢 meeting place鈥�

Historically, the African American barbershop and salon was, and still is, a meeting place, 鈥渁 place where mothers take daughters, where fathers take sons, a family place, a place of confidentiality and gossip, with people coming in and out, selling this and that,鈥� Thomas said.

鈥淣ot to mention food,鈥� added Friend to general laughter. 鈥淵ou can get your dinner there.鈥�

The barbershop was also a place where 鈥減lanning happened through the Jim Crow era and the civil rights movement,鈥� Thomas said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 still definitely a place where dreams are fostered,鈥� said former BSU co-president DeVantae Dews. Dews found Sprague鈥檚 barbershop downtown when he first arrived from Lynchburg as a first-year student. Over the years, time spent with Sprague reflecting on the civil rights and Black Lives Matter movements, along with a host of other topics, were important to his own outlook and activism.

鈥淭hose conversations gave me hope and vision for what I believe the next movement is to come,鈥� Dews said, 鈥渁nd so I can only imagine how much wisdom will be poured down through our generations here in this place, and what this space can do 鈥� for reflecting on the growth that鈥檚 happened here at 91短视频 and the planning we can do to make more change to help make this campus a better place for everyone.鈥�

鈥楢ll hair types鈥� welcome

Eyre, the residence director, appreciates the new space as an opportunity to learn about and appreciate cultures different from one鈥檚 own. The barbershop and salon is rooted in his own learning experience, which began when female students using hair straighteners in the dorms repeatedly set off fire alarms.

鈥淭he reaction of some white and white Mennonite students who didn鈥檛 understand what was going on helped me admit that I didn鈥檛 know either,鈥� Eyre said. 鈥淲ith a lot of grace, Celeste answered questions and shared about African American hair and hairstyling and the processes involved, and I realized that 91短视频 could do better in providing and creating spaces in support of our students.鈥�

The barbershop and salon will be a familiar cultural space to many African American students, he said, but white students 鈥渨ill have to figure out how they fit in,鈥� a fair experience considering that African American and minority students make that effort constantly at 91短视频, he said.

The cozy room in University Commons is located in a former office donated by the Student Government Association. Students at the sneak preview event said they were confident the space would quickly become a campus hangout. 聽

The ambiance brought back memories for Ariel Barbosa, co-president of Latino Student Alliance, of going to the barbershop with her dad, who has both African and indigenous Brazilian heritage. That same feeling of 鈥渂eing at home there鈥� in the barbershop of her childhood is one she hopes will be shared here. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited that students are at the center of this project,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just envision this as a space that will be one of true diversity, where people of all hair types will find a place.鈥�

For Dews, who had worked on the initial plans for the space several years ago, sitting in the new lounge gives him 鈥済reat hope,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd if I am hopeful sitting here, think of how a freshman would feel 鈥� I believe this is the small fruit of the harvest of what God wants to do on this campus when looking at diversity, reconciling between racial and social economies and all the other social constructions that try and divide us. This is just the beginning of what can happen on this campus.鈥�

鈥淒o you know what an 91短视频 graduate should do and be when you are no longer on campus? Think of these things, of the people who invested in you because they believed in you. 鈥� Be a very good ambassador,鈥� he urged.

Though many of students present perhaps thought beyond impending finals to consider their future plans, the ceremony was the first time to put on their caps and gowns and the first inkling of the celebration to come. During the May 6 Commencement ceremony, each of the 33 will wear a special stole, some made of kente cloth but others of satin fabric symbolizing heritage, roots within one or various communities, or citizenship.

The formal presentation of these stoles was the reason for coming together with family, friends and 91短视频 community members Wednesday evening. The ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of graduating students of color as well as the history of black students’ and students of color achievements at the university, according to Multicultural Student Services Director Celeste Thomas, who started the first event three years ago.

See this event and more in 91短视频’s Centennial timeline chronicling diversity on campus.聽

鈥淲e gather here to honor these students, some of whom are the first of their family to graduate from college, and to wish them well on their way forward,鈥� she said in her welcome. 鈥淔or those of you who our graduates have selected to place the kente cloth over their shoulders, it is a great honor.鈥�

Micah Shristi, co-director of international student services and advisor to the International Student Organization, and M. Esther Showalter, advisor to the Latino Student Alliance, also co-hosted the event.

Read 2017 and 2016 coverage of the event.聽

Donning of the Kente participants

Eyman Alasbali is graduating with an MA in education. Her father Ghorm Alasbali and mother Abdiah Alshebri presented the stole. She plans to take additional classes for a second concentration and then return to help her community.

Genesis Arzu 聽is earning a degree in digital media and聽plans to work in a production studio as an audio engineer after graduation. Celeste Thomas presented her stole.

Natasha Bridge is earning a degree in kinesiology and exercise science. Carolyn Stauffer, professor of sociology, presented her with the stole. Natasha plans to move home and work and further her education within the next two years.

Jazmine Carter is earning a degree in business administration, and plans to attend graduate school in the spring. Andrew Miller, instructor of business, awarded her stole.

Kevin A. Clark is earning a degree in Spanish with a minor in digital communications. Ann Hershberger, professor of nursing, presented his stole.

Phoebe Coffie is earning a degree in biology. After graduation, she plans to take the MCAT and continue shadowing and volunteering, working towards medical school entrance. Micah Shristi presented her stole.

Kimberly Daley is graduating with a degree in nursing. Marcia Pusey, instructor of nursing, presented her stole. Her goal is to be debt-free within three years.

Drew Diaz is earning a degree in biology and hopes to go to medical school His mother Pam Diaz awarded the stole.

Fabiana Espinal has earned a degree in liberal arts with a concentration in psychology. Amanda Styer and Alex Bowdey presented the stole. She plans to continue to be involved in the community following an internship related to Title IX and restorative justice. She鈥檒l begin graduate school in fall 2019.

Denait Gebretsadik is graduating with a degree in history and a minor in Spanish. She was gifted her stole by Asmait Asgedom, and it was presented by Mark Sawin, professor of history.

Jerome Jones will graduate with a degree in psychology and plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in clinical psychology. Melody Pannell, professor of sociology, presented his stole.

Maleke Jones is graduating with a degree in psychology and a minor in pre-law. He will work for a local police department. Melody Pannell presented his stole.

Emmanuel Kampanga earned a degree in biology. He plans to take the MCAT and apply for medical schools in Europe. Micah Shristi presented his stole.

Keyri Lopez-Godoy is graduating with a degree in liberal arts and a PK-6 elementary education endorsement. She will teach in Harrisonburg City Schools. Mentor Louise Gallagher presented the stole.

Luisa Angel Mallard is earning a degree in communication. She hopes to eventually earn a master鈥檚 degree in restorative justice. Micah Shristi presented her stole.

Lania McKoy will graduate with a nursing degree and a psychology minor. Lamarr Wharwood presented her with the stole. She plans to celebrate this accomplishment, study for the nursing boards and then be the best nurse she can be.

Mandy Miller is earning a degree in social work. She wants to work for two years and then return for a master鈥檚 degree. Celeste Thomas awarded her stole.

Kennedy Okerere is earning a degree in business administration. He will return to his home state of Maryland to begin a new job.聽Celeste Thomas awarded his stole.

Louisa Quaynor will graduate with a degree in nursing. She plans to work in a Richmond area hospital after graduation. Marcia Pusey, instructor of nursing, awarded her stole.

Alejandra Tejada Rivera is earning a degree in nursing. She plans to work at Sentara RMH in the orthopedic unit. David Diaz presented her stole.

Da鈥橨ahnea Robinson is earning a degree in psychology. Charisse Robinson presented her with the stole. Da鈥橨ahnea will continue her studies in the MA in Counseling program at 91短视频.

Chang Tan will graduate with an MA in biomedicine. He will work as a research coordinator while preparing medical school applications. Fellow graduate student聽Thi Do Lovo presented his stole.

Delight Tigoe has earned a degree in accounting. Her stole was presented by Lana Miller, undergraduate campus pastor, and Andrew Miller, instructor of business.

Myneshia Walker is graduating with a degree in sociology and a minor in coaching. She plans to return to her hometown and begin working. Sandy Brownscombe, professor of physical education, presented her stole.

Adila Wahdat graduates with a degree in digital media. She will work in marketing for a jewelry company. Friend Asmait Asgedom gifted her stole and was also the presenter.

Aminata Wallet-Mohamed will graduate with a degree in sociology. Friend Asmait Asgedom gifted her stole and was also the presenter.

Alexa Weeks is earning a degree in liberal arts with licensure in elementary education. Lana Miller, undergraduate campus pastor, presented her stole. Alexa hopes to find a teaching job in the Harrisonburg area after graduation.

Brittany Williams is earning a degree in recreation, leadership and sport studies. She plans to stay in Harrisonburg and work. Celeste Thomas presented her stole.

Isaiah Harris-Winn is earning a degree in business administration. Carolyn Stauffer, professor of sociology, presented his stole. He hopes to continue his basketball career overseas.

Elizabeth Witmer is earning a degree in social work with minors in sociology and Spanish. Ann Hershberger, professor of nursing, presented her stole. She will complete her social work practicum this summer in Guatemala and then continue working as office coordinator in the Intensive English Program.

Ryan Yates is earning an MA in interdisciplinary studies and a graduate certificate in transformative leadership. He plans to move to Los Angeles, California, and 鈥渃reate opportunities that will live on well beyond my years.鈥� Deanna Durham, professor of social work, and Celeste Thomas presented him with his stole.

Brianna Zook is earning a degree in kinesiology and exercise science with minors in business and coaching. Kevin Griffin, head women鈥檚 basketball coach, presented her with the stole. She plans to attend graduate school.

]]> /now/news/2018/sharon-washington-risher-speak-part-emus-week-mlk-remembrance/ /now/news/2018/sharon-washington-risher-speak-part-emus-week-mlk-remembrance/#comments Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:50:15 +0000 /now/news/?p=36244 The Rev. Sharon Washington Risher knows hate: Among the nine black worshippers killed by a white supremacist at a prayer meeting at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 17, 2015, were her mother, two cousins and a childhood friend.

Risher will speak during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day chapel service as part of 91短视频鈥檚 鈥淢LK Week鈥� observance of the national holiday. The service is at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15 in Lehman Auditorium, and is free and open to the public.

A chaplain and trauma specialist at Parkland Hospital of Dallas, Texas, and former associate pastor, Risher has advocated with the anti-gun lobby Everytown for Gun Safety. She has been featured by , , and elsewhere. reported that Risher told the murderer before he received his death sentence, 鈥淚 still don鈥檛 want you to die. I want you to be able to sit in that cell. You have made [your victims] martyrs. You have made them the face of America. You have given me a voice and a platform I never would have had to crusade for them.鈥�

Hearing Risher鈥檚 story and 鈥渟eeing how she shows compassion even when it鈥檚 easier to hate鈥� is a perfect fit for honoring King, said Tae Dews, Black Student Union co-president and MLK Week committee member. 鈥淎 lot of hate was shown towards him, but he continuously showed compassion. That is just something that we can do as human beings, and as Christians it鈥檚 something that we can work on.鈥�

Risher will also speak in the Sunday morning service at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. on Jan. 14.

MLK Week spans Jan. 10-15 at 91短视频, with a variety of activities culminating with the national holiday and chapel observance on Monday. Scroll down for specific dates, times and locations of events, including a religious diversity workshop, mix-it-up lunch, film showing, chapel reading circles of MLK speeches and sermons, a service project, a barbershop talk and Harriet Tubman Museum visit, and more.

An appeal to engage: 鈥淚t still continues鈥�

The week鈥檚 events will appeal to people differently, said , faculty advisor to BSU and director of multicultural services. 鈥淪ome of us are sit-back-and-watchers, others of us dive in the deep end first, and others put a toe in and decide. I hope that people challenge themselves beyond whatever seat they sit in, and open their minds to ways of thinking that they have not before.鈥�

The week鈥檚 theme 鈥淛ust Stand鈥� is based on a quote from King鈥檚 1963 Strength to Love book of homilies: 鈥淭he ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big quote,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very fitting for where we are and what鈥檚 happening in the world today. We have to leave our comfort zones in order for things to change.鈥� The question, she said, is 鈥淗ow can people be present in the movement today? Because the work must continue, to ensure that all people feel safe in this country.鈥�

The week in brief

• Jan. 10: Religious diversity workshop, hosted by the Center for Interfaith Engagement,聽in the West Dining Hall, Northlawn (11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.);
• Jan. 11: 鈥淢ix It Up鈥� lunch in the 91短视频 cafeteria (11 a.m.-1 p.m.), designed to encourage students, faculty and staff to have lunch and conversation with persons they aren鈥檛 as familiar with to identify question and discuss social justice issues that affect us all. The goal is to hear from others with different views in an effort to bridge cultural boundaries to dialogue about social justice issues that affect everyone. Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, launched the Mix It Up program in 2002.
• Jan. 12: Chapel reading circle of King speeches and sermons in Lehman Auditorium (10-10:30 a.m.) and evening service project at , 184 Kelley St., in northeast Harrisonburg;
• Jan. 13: Visit to the Harriet Tubman Museum (10-11:00 a.m.) and a barbershop talk at Tyrone Sprague鈥檚 Barber Shop, 442 North Mason St. (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.);
• Jan. 14: Community church service featuring the Rev. Risher at , 184 Kelley St. (11 a.m.), tour of Dallard/Newman house 192 Kelley St. (12:30 p.m.), and community luncheon (for church attendees) at , 455 Sterling St. (1 p.m.);
• Jan. 15: Solidarity march from Thomas Plaza to Lehman Auditorium (10 a.m.), chapel service featuring Rev. Risher (10:15-11:15 a.m.), meet and greet reception in the Martin Greeting Hall, Campus Center (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) and showing and talkback in Campus Center room 104 (3:45 p.m.);

See for any changes/updates to the schedule as well as community programs in greater Harrisonburg.

鈥淲e wanted to hear from outside the community how this abuse is manifested and focus on how we can better support those who have experienced it,鈥� said senior Katrina Poplett, who led the program planning for the second year with senior Jonatan Moser.

In an opening event focused on intersectionality, representatives from five campus groups 鈥� , , the , and 鈥� were invited to share 鈥渟tories and statistics about how sexual assault affected that particular group,鈥� said Poplett. 鈥淚t was powerful and personal and we closed with a candlelight vigil as a witnessing.鈥�

Take Back the Night events are held around the United States and around the world. The first march was held in 1975, commemorating the death of a woman who was murdered while walking home alone at night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

91短视频 has a long tradition of hosting the annual program, according to Professor , faculty advisor to the planning committee.

TBTN hosted several events around campus, including a Wednesday chapel that involved the sharing of stories and poetry.

91短视频 20 participants in the men鈥檚 only discussion Wednesday evening 鈥渢ook the conversation to some really interesting and insightful places,鈥� said Ben Rush, who co-hosted 鈥淗ow Language Legitimizes: A Second Look At What We Don鈥檛 Think of Twice鈥� with Joseph Mumaw and Professor . 鈥淥ur goals were to take the conversation away from the overt, symptomatic examples of sexual violence and point it towards a conversation about the way subtle things embedded in language and societal assumptions contribute to the problem.鈥� [Read Ben’s blog post about leading this event.]

A Thursday coffee house offered space for expressive arts and sharing, followed by a session with the playback theater group. Sarah Regan and Ana Hunter-Nickels, representatives of the Social Work is People (SWIP) club, were the hosts.

Friday鈥檚 chapel, planned by the 91短视频 , featured Sabrina Dorman, executive director of the local anti-sex trafficking organization New Creation, Inc. This was followed by a walk-through reflective exhibit in the Campus Center.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary also hosted a Tuesday chapel service to engage with themes of #metoo and #Ibelieve you.

This year鈥檚 TBTN events were in the second year of a three-year thematic exploration of sexual violence at the micro-, meso- and macro levels, Poplett and Moser said.

鈥淟ast year was on a micro-level, focused on what was going on here on campus, opening a space for conversations we didn鈥檛 see happening,鈥� Poplett said. 鈥淭his year, we鈥檙e focusing on the meso-level, with organizations and community, and next year will be more of a macro level.鈥�

The leaders situated TBTN events within recent national events, including U.S. Department of Education decisions related to Title IX.

At all events, counseling center staff were present and other resources were available if students or community members were in need of support.

Many of the students involved in Take Back the Night come to their volunteer work by learning more about systemic issues in their coursework and through clubs such as SWIP or . Moser, a double major in and , says a combination of factors raised his awareness as a first-year student.

鈥淚 had just learned about sexual violence and sexism and how often it happened and I was really horrified by that,鈥� Moser said. 鈥淕etting involved in Take Back the Night has been a way to give back.鈥�

Poplett, a major who is also in the accelerated MA in restorative justice program, began attending TBTN events her first year on campus and became a leader as a sophomore.

鈥淚 think a lot of my passion lies in giving voice to people whose stories aren’t normally told,鈥� she said.

A crowd of about 200 enjoyed the game, cheering on both the Kingz and their opponents, a team made up of faculty, staff, alumni and students.

The event was billed as the 91短视频 Charity Classic by the (BSU), which hosted the game and an after-party later that night. More than 150 tickets were sold, with the funds going towards an alternative spring break trip planned jointly by BSU, the 91短视频 Gospel Choir, and .

鈥淚 really love how the game brought a lot of energy to 91短视频,鈥� said sophomore Anna Messer. 鈥淚t was a great time for students to get together with professors and with each other. It was a good community event for people to just let loose and have fun.鈥�

Crowd-pleasing hoops

The Streetball Kingz is a group managed by Dewey Jackson, based in Delaware. The team plays across the U.S. for community and nonprofit events. Their flashy style of play incorporates crowd-pleasing dunks, top-notch ball handling, and supreme shooting.

The fundraiser was quickly put together and gained momentum after the Streetball Kingz, just weeks before, contacted , director of , about coming to 91短视频 since they had already played at James Madison University and Bridgewater College. Lepley passed along the idea to BSU student advisor .

鈥淲e wanted to do something that would be fun and late night so that students would have an option of doing something that鈥檚 substance free,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淲e thought it would bring a lot of energy to the campus and it was something new. I think we did well taking a risk and trying something different.鈥�

鈥淚t always feels good to see hard work pay off,鈥� said BSU event coordinator Richard Robinson, 鈥渆specially for an event like this that has never happened on 91短视频鈥檚 campus.鈥�

The fundraiser will help defray costs of an alternative spring break civil rights experiential learning trip to Alabama and Georgia.

鈥淚nstead of going to the beach, we鈥檒l be going to Selma, Tuskegee and Atlanta doing a civil rights tour,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the 51st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, so we鈥檒l walk across the Pettus Bridge, stop by national civil rights museums along the way, and go to some of the churches that they marched from. We鈥檒l visit Martin Luther King Jr. father鈥檚 church, go to MLK鈥檚 church in Montgomery, and also where Rosa Parks got on the bus from her job and decided not to sit in the back of the bus.鈥�

Team brings families and communities together

Streetball Kingz player Randy Gill, aka White Chocolate, splashed three three-pointers within the first five minutes of the game and they did not stop coming. A crowd pleaser, Gill interacted with the fans the entire time.

Following a collegiate career at Bowie State University, Gill started playing streetball and minor league basketball. He was eventually asked to play overseas, and since his return, has been playing for the Streetball Kingz.

Gill explained that the mission of his team is to support youth, and to bring families and communities together.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if there are 20,000 people or even 100 people. We鈥檙e here to spread the love, bring the community together, and have a good time,鈥� he said. 鈥淲henever there鈥檚 a cause or a mission and we can help bring the people together that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about. We want young people to believe in themselves and let them know that they can do anything they want to if they practice their craft, whatever it may be. My mission is believe to achieve.鈥�

More BSU events

This month, BSU will be hosting a Nov. 18 chapel with the theme of #BlackLivesMatter. On Dec. 11, BSU will be joining the Campus Activities Council to host the .

鈥淲e鈥檙e expecting about 150 people for the ball,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淲e鈥檝e contacted a band called Ebony Blue, and that will be another large event before we leave for winter break. When we come back we鈥檒l have a week-long celebration for MLK in January, then in February we鈥檒l have Kwanzaa for Black History Month, and finally the trip will be in March. We鈥檙e trying to expose the campus to different things. 鈥�

A version of this article was first printed in Nov. 5, 2015, issue of The Weather Vane.

Check out our聽top 10 social media posts and shares of 2014!

1. Ice Bucket Challenge

91短视频 President Loren Swartzendruber participated in the #IceBucketChallenge. The challenge, which went viral around mid-year, involves dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. Since July 29, 2014 the has received more than $115 million in donations.

2. Erik Kratz in World Series

Erik Kratz, a 2002 alumnus and former Valley League player, becomes the first 91短视频 graduate and only the second former Old Dominion Athletic Conference baseball player to reach the World Series. He is a back-up catcher for the Kansas City Royals.

3. David Falk’s Dunk Makes ESPN Sportscenter’s Top-10

David Falk makes after a monstrous dunk during the 2013-14 season! This video was submitted to ESPN by 91短视频’s James De Boer, sports information director.

4. 91短视频 Musical!

Emily Shenk leads fellow students in a High School Musical tribute video prior to Homecoming and Family Weekend 2014.

5. Most. Diverse. Class. Ever!

91短视频 welcomed its most diverse class in the fall of 2014 and became one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in Virginia. At the same time 91短视频 launched three new graduate programs and continued to expand online offerings.

6. Oscars Selfie

91短视频 faculty and staff produced their own selfie in recognition of the 2014 selfie made famous at the Oscars.

7. The 91短视频 “emu” Returns from Cross-Cultural Travels Around the World

The 91短视频 “emu” returned to campus during Homecoming and Family Weekend after an extended absence during which聽he traveled around with several cross-cultural groups.

8. 91短视频 Black Student Union Members Organize a #DontShoot Photo

91短视频 Black Student Union members organize a #DontShoot photo in a show of support in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.聽President Swartzendruber and other administrators opened the academic year with an invitation to support and engage each other, citing the record diversity of the incoming class as a unique “enrichment聽of our shared life as a community of learning.”

9. Finals Week Calls For a Cup of Coffee

It was finals week during the fall semester and the staff at the student-run Common Grounds Coffeehouse did their best to motivate fellow聽students.

10. Students Kick Off New Year with Lawn Party

The student-led campus activities council hosted a lawn party to kick off the 2014-15 academic year. Lots of dancing, lots of fun!

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The black-man-killed headline (above) could appear in any newspaper, in any city in the United States, where 鈥渓and of the free鈥� appears to not extend to an African American male鈥檚 freedom to keep his life.

Motivated by this realization, 27 faculty, staff and students of 91短视频 gathered on the steps of Northlawn early in the fall semester to raise their hands in solidarity with , where 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer on Aug. 9, 2014.

鈥淲e were trying to demonstrate visually the continued need to be valued in society,鈥� said , vice president of enrollment.

[Editor: As 91短视频 prepared to post this story on 09/26/14, a of a white police officer shooting an unarmed black man聽鈥� this one captured on video in South Carolina on Sept. 4 鈥� swept around the world. The victim, 35-year-old Levar Jones, was approached by the police officer for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt in his vehicle. When, as requested, Jones moved to show the officer his driver’s license, he was shot at repeatedly and wounded in the hip.]

Black Student Union steps up

The gathering was Hartman鈥檚 idea, but junior Londen Wheeler (co-president of the Black Student Union) rallied students to show up. Hartman applauded bringing 鈥�91短视频’s exceptional group of new and returning students of color together in order to meet one another.鈥�

鈥淚 went to spread awareness about what happened,鈥� said freshman Bruce Cypress, one of the students in the 91短视频 #DontShoot photo. Cypress and sophomore Jay Bradley, also in the photo, said they didn鈥檛 understand the reason behind the shooting because police have other tools at their disposal that don鈥檛 result in civilian death.

A Google search of 鈥渦narmed black man shot by police鈥� yields over half a million hits. This shooting of Michael Brown, however, seemed to be a kind of breaking point that released pent-up anger, grief and frustration nationwide about what is happening to America鈥檚 young, black males.

鈥淚t seems as though there is a segment of white society that sees black bodies as something to be feared or dangerous, and as something to remove from society,鈥� said 91短视频 professor .

Whites’ fear leads to blacks’ death

Evans has two sons and worries about their safety in a white-dominated society. Will they be shot for wearing a hoodie around someone who finds their presence fear-inducing?

鈥淭o put it quite simply,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 want to make the statement that black lives matter, that we鈥檙e human beings, that we have emotions, that we have families, and we are not a threat simply because we exist.鈥�

For Evans, the #DontShoot movement has the simultaneous purpose of lowering anxiety while also speaking out against the use of African American people as targets.

Black and white Americans are not listening to one another鈥檚 narratives, he said. Without dialogue and recognition that each person has a story, a background, and is part of an enduring paradigm of racial tension, change will not be possible.

Fellowship, interaction needed

鈥淗atred thrives where there is contact without fellowship,鈥� Evans said, quoting theologian Howard Thurman. 鈥淚 think that is what we live in today. This is the state of our society. People of different racial and ethnic groups live in the same society, they work in the same buildings, they go to the same schools鈥ut they don鈥檛 know each other intimately.鈥�

For whites, 鈥淭he Talk,鈥� is usually about sex. But for at least some of those in the 91短视频 #DontShoot photo, 鈥淭he Talk鈥� refers to how black parents teach their children to carefully act when encountering a police officer. For a population that is witnessing repeated violence against their young people, this is potentially life-sustaining information.

With their #DontShoot photo 鈥� tweeted on Sept. 5 鈥� 91短视频鈥檚 black community members are joining others across the nation in protesting whites鈥� violence inflicted on African Americans, particularly males. These photos have now been shared extensively on social media sites and have garnered considerable traffic and discussion.

Activities opened Friday, Feb. 4, with a university chapel presentation by Mark Metzler Sawin, associate professor of history at 91短视频 and a former Fulbright scholar. Dr. Sawin shared powerful stories of local African-American groups and their faith, hope and struggles here the Valley of Virginia and at 91短视频.

Upcoming Black History Month events include:

• A historical presentation of the African American community in Harrisonburg led by Ruth Tolliver, followed by a tour to historical sites around the city, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Feb. 12, including a display in the Simms Building of African American inventions. Transportation and light snacks will be provided. Persons should meet in the University Commons rooms 211-212 before 10 a.m.
• Philadelphia pastor and 91短视频 alumnus Leonard Dow will speak on “what does it mean to be alive in your faith? How can you LIVE fully in Jesus?” at 8 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 17 in the Common Grounds Coffeehouse in the University Commons.聽 The 91短视频 Gospel Choir opens this event, and refreshments are free compliments of campus ministries. Dow is leading spring spiritual life week, Feb. 16-19, at 91短视频.
• Local musician Jessica Crawford and the 91短视频 Gospel Choir will be in concert 9 p.m. Fri., Feb. 18 in the Common Grounds Coffeehouse. Admission is free.
• A community worship service with the 91短视频 Gospel Choir will take place 2 p.m. Sun., Feb. 20, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building.聽 Join 91短视频 students and staff in a worshipful experience led by the Black Student Union.
• The annual Soul Food Caf茅 is back, 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27. Come and enjoy a traditional African American dish while listening (and participating) in a surprise program. This annual event will be held in the Black Box Theater of the University Commons. General admission is $10 and $5 for students.

“The Soul Food Caf茅 is a favorite, usually the last event in our month-long celebration,” said Marvin Lorenzana, director of multicultural services at 91短视频. “Come join us for any of these activities for worship, music, food and meaningful conversation.”

For more information, contact Lorenzana at 540-432-4458.