University students, student organizations and staff members met in the Union Saturday morning to devote a day of service to South Baton Rouge.
Maurice Gipson, Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative committee chairperson, said MLK Day of Service marks the ending of this year’s MLK events.
“A vital cornerstone in Dr. King’s mission to promote social advancement and tolerance for all people was to increase community involvement and improvement,” he said. “We are all a part of the same community; improving them helps us to improve ourselves.”
Gipson said 11 houses were painted at this year’s project.
Assistant to the Chancellor Renee Myer said the Community University Partnership, also known as LSU CUP, is part of an initiative to promote bridging the gap between LSU and the surrounding community, and the group co-sponsored the event.
“Today’s service project was a step in the right direction and a true collaborative effort between LSU and the community,” she said. “LSU students, high school students, and community members, who may have otherwise never met, had the opportunity to work side by side for a worthwhile cause.”
Myer said the event was a tribute to the legacy of Dr. King.
After receiving breakfast and MLK Day of Service T-Shirts, participants loaded three buses and departed to Tennessee Street.
Tanessa Turner, a political science junior, said volunteering for the day of service was rewarding and a way to strive toward bettering the community on and off campus.
Freshman Executive Committee Assistant Coordinator Matt Rion said he and the rest of FEC enjoyed the community service experience.
“Some of the FEC members kicked off the day with a paint fight,” he said. “After that, they decided it was probably better if they actually painted the house instead of each other.”
Troy Chapman, marketing and finance sophomore, said the event has unlimited benefits for the community and the volunteers.
“It’s time that some things change in our community, and the people of our community need to step up and instigate those changes,” he said. “I’m here today because I feel like I can be one of those people.”