Campus Shows Its Support for Diversity at MLK Parade

Ioana Patringenaru | January 22, 2008

“I say UC; you say?” “SD” “UCSD!”

“I say Martin Luther; you say?” “Kiiing!” “Martin Luther Kiiiing!”

Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and Assistant Vice Chancellor Mae Brown pose before the 28th annual MLK parade.

Click here to view a slideshow of the MLK parade.

UCSD students chanted as they made their way past the San Diego Convention Center and PETCO Park Saturday during San Diego’s 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. In all, more than 300 UCSD students, faculty, staff and top administrators, led by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, turned out for the event.

Many said they came because celebrating King’s legacy was important to them. They also said they were proud to help raise UCSD’s profile in the community.

“This is a true celebration of Dr. King’s legacy and a wonderful community-building opportunity,” Vice Chancellor Penny Rue said Saturday. “It really makes an impact on the community when they see UCSD marching down Main Street.”

A cloud of blue balloons bearing the message “UCSD Freedom Through Education” in gold letters reinforced the university’s presence during the parade. Students — and Chancellor Fox — handed the balloons to children who watched as marchers went by.

“I love looking back and seeing that sea of balloons,” said Edwina Welch, director of the UCSD Cross-Cultural Center, who has taken part in the parade for 11 years. “It goes on forever.”

Top administrators and student organizations marched side by side Saturday.

UCSD’s contingent did seem to stretch across several blocks at times. The campus’ marching band headed the group and played UCSD’s fight song, among other tunes. They earned high-fives from Fox after performing one of their songs while lying down on their back, their feet kicking the air. Fox followed the band, surrounded by students and top administrators, including Gary Matthews, the campus’ new vice chancellor for resource management and planning.

Representatives of the campus’ Black Student Union marched close by. About 30 of the organization’s 75 members turned out for the occasion. It was important for them to be here because King fought for their freedom, said Kendra McBean, the union’s chair and an urban studies and planning and political sciences major at Warren College. “It feels good to exercise the freedom that we have,” she added.

More than 300 students, faculty, staff and administrators turned out.

Each of the campus’ six colleges sent students. Rahul Sharma, a resident advisor at Eleanor Roosevelt College, said it was fun to get a chance to be in the city with students from all over campus.

“It’s a great opportunity for UCSD to show that we’re all about diversity,” he said.

Joining students were faculty and staff, some of whom marched with their spouses — and their pets. Catherine Talley, from UCSD Extension, brought her husband, Rick Ackermann, and their two retired greyhound racing dogs, Sophie and Jodie. Ackermann said he turned out to acknowledge King’s work. “I think Martin Luther King Day is an important day,” he said.

After what turned out to be a 45-minute brisk walk through San Diego’s East Village, many said they had enjoyed the event. “It was really good,” said McBean, the chair of the Black Student Union. “We received lots of support.”