Staff Writer
Kevin Fuller

This year, St. John Fisher College did not celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day off but with a day on.

Cleary Family Auditorium was the site of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration Monday, Jan. 15. This year's theme was "Keep the Dream: Building Greatness Through Service." Service was Dr. King's conviction.

"We wanted to make sure we were addressing the living dream," Director of Ceremonies Dr. Arlette Miller-Smith said.

"Part of the living dream is service in our community."

The event this year included presentations, several choir selections, and interpretive dancers. Smith started by instructing the Fisher Community Gospel Choir and the Baber African-Methodist Episcopal Mass Choir to "Rise up and walk!"

"In typical African-American custom, a celebration of a person or an act combines prayer, music and the dance, light-hearted fun and inspirational and thought-provoking messages. I enjoyed it all," keynote speaker Dr. Emeterio Otero said after the event.

Otero is the executive dean at the Damon City Campus of Monroe Community College and a 1976 Fisher graduate.

Growing up during the civil rights era, Otero witnessed first-hand King's struggle. "What I saw was passion, courage and intensity," Otero said referring to Dr. King. "I saw a man who experienced pain and anguish."

Otero wasn't there to harp about the past but to help students connect Dr. King's message with society today.

"In essence, Dr. King's message is a call to all communities to exercise the privilege of democracy in a humanistic, inclusive manner," Otero said after his speech. "Democracy in our country is a work in progress and we have the ability and responsibility to move that ideal; and that is what makes America a great nation."

Otero also took time to express his discontent with the war in Iraq.

"Maybe my heart is heavy because I am mad at myself for being so gullible," Otero said after questioning the recent announcement by President Bush to increase troop levels.

His anger with the war soon turned to praise for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

"I have hope," Otero said referring to the African-American senator from Illinois who has recently announced he will form a presidential exploratory committee to research a run at the White House in 2008.

Otero discussed how his family has had a profound impact on him. His son, Christopher Otero-Piersante, introduced him.  Growing up, Otero witnessed his parents' devotion to service helping other Puerto Rican immigrants find work.

Though service was this year's main theme, the event had two other themes according to Smith. The first theme is raising funds for a national memorial.

On Sept. 28, 1996, the U.S. House of Representatives authorized the establishment of a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor King. The estimated cost: $100 million.

Fisher's MLK celebration had two tables at the entrance of Cleary Family Auditorium collecting donations to "help build the dream."

In addition, 20 percent of the proceeds from all purchases from the college bookstore kiosk at the event will be donated to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Fund.

Organizers were also handing out postage-paid envelopes available for check or credit card donations.

The second theme was remembering and honoring Coretta Scott King who died almost one year ago. "Hate is too great a burden to bear," Mrs. King once said. Her words reflect her husband's movement and message.

Service is a large part of the Fisher community. A group based around service, Students With a Vision (SWAV), had a table at the event handing out T-shirts and informing students about SWAV and what they can do to get involved.

Students can continue King's message through service.

"If you want to be important-wonderful. If you want to be recognized-wonderful. If you want to be great-wonderful. But

recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness," King once said.

Like the Baber AME Mass Choir so aptly sings, "We lift our voices to say thank you."