By Sara Gomez, April 21, 2026
March 25 students and staff honored the renewal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial plaque on campus. Located right outside the Career Center surrounded by new flowers and restored new benches.
The plaque, once covered in vines, was restored to honor a legacy. “The inspiration to hold this event was to rededicate the MLK plaque, which had once been covered with vines and forgotten,” Jordan said.
Students, faculty, staff and alumni met in front of the University Quad to enjoy live music and speeches from Black student leaders and faculty members at CPP.
Director of Black Justice and Healing Dana Henry likes the community these events foster.
The event gave Black students and faculty the chance to advocate and speak on heavy issues going on in the community on campus, according to Henry.
“Events like this help folks feel a sense of belonging and closeness,” Henry said. “Coming together across generations today not only lets us reflect on the past but also think forward about what we need and where we need to go.”
Shortly after everyone checked in and picked up a sheet with lyrics of a chant, they could sing along during the program. The crowd got bigger; the chant was a call and response, so guests and speakers could connect during the walk to the Student Center.
“Where does peace start?” Devonia Jordan asked the audience they’d reply, “Peace starts with me?” It was a way for the community to practice peaceful affirmations through the school’s campus alongside their friends and colleagues.
Lead career coach in the College of Science Devonia Jordan led guests as they chanted peace affirmations and surrounded the new and repolished memorial plaque.
“Bringing it back was a hopeful step creating space, peace and rejuvenation instead of remaining divided,” Jordan said.
As guests continued walking and chanting throughout campus, Jordan stopped in front of signs posted around campus to read out loud inspiring quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and led guests to the top floor of the Bronco Student Center.
After guests filled their plates with food and sat down, students had the opportunity to speak on stage.
While the event honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elom Attipoe, community empowerment ambassador and civil engineering student, challenged the university and addressed ongoing issues on campus.
Attipoe addressed the consequences and issues students are facing from lack of underfunded programs and staffing shortages. Foundation
“Without proper support, students are statistically more likely to take longer to graduate or drop out entirely,” Attipoe said. “Recently, we saw the removal of the Black Resource Center coordinator Derek Prince, who provided structural support, advocacy and access. When leadership shifts that responsibility to students, engagement and success drop.”
Programs like Black Achievement, Success and Engagement in Sciences have been around for five years to support first-year Black freshmen cuts due to underfunded programs, according to Attipoe.
This will cause a decline in student engagement and participation in campus programs for first year black students who relied on BASES for support. According to Attipoe, without BASES student life would be very different, especially for first year students they’d struggle academically and socially.
According to Attipoe, this is the kind of support that helps students stay on track without disengaging or how Attipoe mentioned they would even drop out.
“The gaps we see today are not accidental,” Attipoe said. “They are the results of decisions about hiring funding and prioritization. Because they were created by decisions, they can be undone by different decisions.”
This was more than a celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. it brought the campus community together to promote unity and bring awareness to serious issues affecting the community that have been overlooked.
“I think the opportunity for us to come together and galvanize together really counteracts the feeling of isolation and being alone,” Henry said.
Henry says events like the plaque renewal bring students and faculty together and create a shared space bringing in a sese of community. Rather than individual recognition, this was a way for people to engage and reflect on the new renewal and speak out about issues on campus.
This event went beyond a symbolic celebration and emphasized the connection between action and celebration. This event left students and faculty thinking deeper about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy can continue to influence meaningful changes on campus.
“Dr. King didn’t just talk about the change he called for action,” Attipoe said. “Celebration without commitment is performance, and diversity without power is decoration.”
Feature image courtesy of Sara Gomez
