"I would like to mark this day as a starting point,” she said. Rousseau had the distinct honor of introducing Davis, but, before doing so, she recognized the importance of the day and expressed her desire for the event to stimulate the exchange of ideas. He noted the University’s commitment to fostering a “welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant community,” a dedication articulated in UNE’s new strategic plan, and he recounted several relatively recent efforts made by UNE in support of diversity, such as the establishment of the annual Scholars of Color Welcome Breakfast, the launch of a Muslim Student Association, the addition of dining hall menu options that are sensitive to religious dietary restrictions, and the creation of new meeting spaces on both campuses for underrepresented students. But our devotion to inclusion and creating a future of diversity and fairness has not wavered,” Herbert said. “Our campus has changed quite a bit since Dr. In his opening remarks, President James Herbert welcomed the packed audience, expressing his deep honor in hosting Davis, whom he described as a “pivotal figure in the history of American activism.” He reflected on the day, nearly 55 years ago, when King made his historic visit to the campus, then part of UNE’s precursor institution St.
It was a very powerful event,” Rousseau shares. “There were people there who have been in the civil rights struggle since their youth, and I think that the students needed to see that. People journeyed from far and wide to attend the event some even traveled from Canada. Bring any chair you can find!” she says with a chuckle. “During set up, some people were asking, ‘Do you think we’ll need more chairs?’ And I said, “Yes! Bring all the chairs. Having fielded hundreds of emails and phone calls in the months leading up the event, she knew to expect a crowd. While the high turnout was shocking to some, the event’s coordinator, Erica Rousseau, M.A., UNE’s director of Intercultural Student Engagement, was not surprised.
Hundreds more attended a scheduled livestreaming of the lecture on the Portland Campus. The event space quickly filled to capacity, spurring the impromptu setup of an additional room for livestreaming. The most well-attended event in UNE’s history took place on January 23 in the Harold Alfond Sports Forum, where more than 1,500 students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered to watch legendary political activist Angela Davis deliver the keynote address at the University’s 32nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. “Bring More Chairs!” Angela Davis Addresses Record Crowd as Keynote Speaker for UNE’s 32nd MLK Celebration BY JENNIE ARANOVITCH On January 23, the University of New England hosted a lecture from world-renowned political activist, academic, and author Angela Davis as part of its annual Martin Luther King Jr.
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