С����Ƶ

In recognition of Black History Month, several С����Ƶ organizations will present a series of events on the Lawrenceville campus to celebrate the African-American heritage and history in the United States, including a keynote address by state Assemblyman Bakari T. Sellers of South Carolina. The month’s events will also raise awareness of the crisis in Haiti.

To kick off the month, Sellers will present the keynote address on Monday, February 1, at 7 p.m., in the BLC Theater. The youngest African-American lawmaker in the United States, Sellers was just 22 when he was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 2006.

“Some Black Student Union students attended a leadership conference where he was the keynote speaker. They were so moved by his story that they decided to invite him to campus,” explained Uchenna Duru, adviser to Rider's Black Student Union. “He’s so young, yet he’s achieved so much.”

On Thursday, February 11, the Black Student Union and Rider’s Organization for Caribbean Affiliated Students will hold a dance competition fundraiser for earthquake relief in Haiti. The fundraiser will begin at 9 p.m. in Daly Board Room. In addition, collection tables will be set up at each event to raise money for earthquake recovery efforts.

“We do have a diverse student population, and some members of these student organizations are from Haiti,” Duru said. “Even if you’re not impacted directly, you most likely know somebody who is affected.”

Don’t miss the rest of this year’s Black History Month events:

Fetch Clay, Make Man
Sunday, February 7, 2 p.m., McCarter Theater Center
Come see the theater production by Will Power. There is limited seating. Please sign up at the ticket booth in the SRC.

Black History Month Service
Monday, February 8, 5 p.m., Gill Chapel
Rev. Charles Atkins Jr. with the N.J. D.O.C. stationed at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility will preside over the service.

Gospel Fest
Saturday, February 13, 5 p.m., BLC Theater
Lean about the importance of Gospel’s effect on African-American culture. The Soul Food Dinner will follow in the BLC Cavalla Room.

Midnight RUN
Wednesday, February 17, 5 to 7 p.m., Meet in the Gill Chapel
Prepare sandwiches at Gill Chapel. Then head to New York City to help the homeless.

Color of Music
Wednesday, February 17, 8 p.m., BLC Theater
Explore the different genres of music and African-American influence on music during a variety show of acts performed by students.

African American Museum, Philadelphia, Pa.
Saturday, February 20, 8:30 a.m., Meet in front of BLC
There is limited seating. Please sign up at the ticket booth in the SRC.

MLK Day of Service
Friday, February 19, Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., Science Hall 102
Honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by serving local non-profit agencies. For more information, please contact Jackie Wonsey, coordinator of Community Service, at jwonsey@rider.edu.

Glory
Wednesday, February 24, 6 p.m., BLC Theater
Rider University Veterans Association and the Leadership Development Program will show the Civil War film about 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was made up of African-American men. The organizations will also be accepting donation to support a military unit stationed in Shindad, Afghanistan.

Bronc Buffet
Friday, February 26, 10 p.m., Daly Board Room
Students are invited to the buffet is sponsored by the Rider Chapter of Hillel, Rider Serves and the Black Student Union. Please bring your student ID.

For more information about Black History Month Events at Rider, please call the Center for Multicultural Affairs at 609-895-5781.