In old clothes and tennis shoes, Britani Fields and two of her friends painted chipped benches Monday behind an elementary school in Old South Baton Rouge. Fields, business junior, was one of 115 University students who volunteered for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of service to clean up the neighboring community.”I’d rather be doing this than be at home watching television,” Fields said. Students worked at Buchanan and Polk Elementary and the Battered Women’s Shelter to clean gyms, paint benches and sidewalks, pressure wash and plant trees as part of the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs’ program. Baxter Sanders, Office of Multicultural Affairs graduate assistant, said the event was moved to the holiday because King focused his life on serving others.The day of service is the first event in the MLK Commemorative Celebration, a slew of events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs honoring King’s legacy during the next two weeks. Sanders said most people don’t want to do anything on a holiday, and it shows effort for students to get up early on their day off.”[Martin Luther King Jr.] is the reason why I’m at LSU,” said Xaviera Leon, sociology junior, explaining that King’s life helped change segregation at the University.  Leon said students should take a day to reflect on King’s life, and the day of service was a perfect opportunity for students to come together.The Office of Multicultural Affairs partnered with other organizations, including the Community University Partnership and LSU Dining, who provided box lunches for the volunteers.”[Community University Partnership] worked with LSU dining to secure dining for lunch,” said Brandon Smith, Community Affairs liaison. “It’s a huge cost providing food for about 150 people.” The day of service began at 8 a.m. with registration and continued during the day with community projects. Jonathan Pugh, music sophomore and team leader for Buchanan Elementary, said this year’s turnout was consistent with past years. “It’s always a pleasure when you see people want to help,” Pugh said. Pugh said students at Buchanan Elementary would focus on beautifying and cleaning the school, and students at Polk Elementary would be planting trees in the area. “We have amazing students at LSU who take pride in helping the community become a better place,” Cerise Edmonds, Office of Multicultural Affairs coordinator, said in an e-mail. Jacqua Jackson, business junior, said he has participated in the day of service since he was a freshman. “A lot of students are reaching out.” Jackson said. “[Today] is about giving back to the community.”—-Contact Joy Lukachick at [email protected]