Justin Terry leads march for human rights events

Describe your role as chairperson of the BSU Martin Luther

King Jr. Committee.

It’s my job to bring all the subcommittees together. Right

now we have six or seven subcommittees working to make events

happen for human rights week. It’s my job to make sure they

keep in steady contact with each other. We just finished securing

some events last week, so we’re a little behind schedule, but

it’s going to happen. It’s my job to boost moral and

support for the celebration. It’s Boise State’s

signature human rights event, it’s huge, and it’s one

of the things that distinguishes BSU in the community.

What plans are in the works for the upcoming celebration in

January?

We have a keynote speaker coming, Naomi Tutu, the daughter of

Bishop Desmond Tutu, a world-renowned human-rights activist.

We’re also planning educational workshops; we have nearly a

dozen applications from groups such as the Idaho Peace Coalition to

individuals of the community wanting to lead workshops on campus.

With these events our goal is to breed diversity and acceptance on

campus and hopefully that will spread into the wider community. A

lot of movements start on college campuses, we’re trying to

lead that force for change.

What do you hope the MLK committee can accomplish with a

$1.50 student fee?

Right now, our budget is supposedly around $26,000, but our

actually budget is a lot less because we’re in the hole from

last year. Last year the committee spent around $25,000 to bring in

Danny Glover and Bill Fleisher, this year we’re only spending

$7,000 on our keynote speaker. If we had a separate fund, we could

more accurately prepare a budget and ensure a steady event year

after year.

What has your role been in the effort to gain a separate fund

for the committee?

My role has mainly been in gaining support for a student fee. I

drew up a petition, gathered signatures across campus, I went from

classroom to classroom, I emailed the petition to a bunch of

people. I went with several other MLK Committee members and

supporters to the fee increase hearing to testify. I really got

going on my speech, I really feel passionate about what we’re

trying to do.

When and how did you decide to become involved with the

Martin Luther King Jr. Committee?

I decided only a couple of months ago; I’ve been at BSU

since last semester. I have a job working as reporter for The

Statehouse News Bureau as a reporter, and when you’re

you’re reporting the news, you have another obligation to the

community – to do something, to be a voice for change. You

can’t just be satisfied with reporting. I’m so busy

with classes, my job, the honors college – but I feel like

school has provided me with so many opportunities, it’s my

time to give back.

Jessica Adams
Managing Editor

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