Photo credit: Hood College
BY TAYLOR ANDERSON // Hood College is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights
Act with a series of movies, lectures, music and other events.
On the new civil rights page, on Hood’s website, Provost Kate Conway-Turner states: “Hood College will devote the year 2014 to openly reflecting upon the past, considering the present, and encouraging our community to seek a future where all citizens are afforded complete and unequivocal civil rights.”
Events have been set up to allow students to participate in this message. Some upcoming events are, an afternoon with Natasha Trethewey a United States poet, on March, 2, Wil Haygood, author of the Butler on
March, 19, and documentary screening of The Loving Story on March, 20.
David Guwani said, “I think that these events are a great opportunity. I have enjoyed the evens I have been to so far.”
Professor Liz Atwood stated that The March on Frederick event, “might be one of the most exciting.”
While walking around Frederick students, staff and the community will be able to commemorate the anniversary, by learning about and seeing important local civil right landmarks.
A Civil Rights essay contest will be held as well. Hood College undergraduate and graduate students are invited to write a 1,000 to
5,000-word essay reflecting on the status of the civil rights today and what challenges remain to fulfilling the aspirations of the civil rights movement. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. For undergraduate students first place will receive $500, second place will receive $250 and third place will receive $100. For graduate students, there is only one prize of $500. Submissions are
due by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
Along with these events and essay contest, the civil rights page states that, “Hood College will enhance our service commitment by giving back at least 15,000 hours to our communities.” As of right now, Hood has a long way to go; only 491 hours of community service have been logged as of now.