Hundreds of students turned away during annual MLK service day

Despite the frigid cold temperatures outside, an estimated 1,200 OSU students circled inside the Ohio Union Monday Jan. 20th to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by devoting their day off to a day of community service. However, with only 800 spots available, a fourth of those waiting in line to register to volunteer were turned away.

When we spoke to Annalisa Perez, this year’s MLK service day coordinator, she stated that over the years there are usually around 700-900 students to come out; unfortunately, this year’s budget was not able to accommodate so many students, especially with bussing.  

The annual community service day comes from the collaboration of OSU’s Pay It Forward organization and The Frank W. Hale, Jr. Black Cultural Center as a way for students to be able to serve and give back to the Columbus community while embracing the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“… He who is greatest among you shall be a servant. That’s the new definition of greatness … Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (From the sermon “The Drum Major Instinct,” delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church February 4, 1968)

With an increase in off-campus service sites from the previous year, students were able to engage more with the community. With only one group staying on campus, the rest were transported to their designated sites. Some of the sites included “clean-up, working with youth, literacy education, serving meals, office work, and a variety of other worthwhile projects,” as stated on the event page on the Ohio Union website.

Graduating senior, Christian Bonner, who arrived at the Ohio Union 15 minutes prior to registration opening, was just one of the approximate 400 people who were unable to participate. Her Campus OSU was able to talk to him: “I was pretty disappointed; I had woken up readily wanting to giving back in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., especially since I got to do it last year,” said Bonner.

Photo source: http://www.ohiounionphotos.org/Community-Service

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