Motivational speech kicks off Martin Luther King week

Students “have a moral obligation to be intelligent,” motivational speaker Calvin Mackie said Sunday night, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. Nearly 70 students, faculty and community members made their way through the cold to the Whittenberger Auditorium to hear Mackie kick off this week’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. \nMackie, a New Orleans native who holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, spoke to the small crowd about a variety of topics, including politics, history and education. He stressed the importance of leadership, especially in college students. \n“We need leadership,” Mackie said. “We need young people to stand up and tell the truth.” \nAfter his lecture, Mackie opened the floor for a question-and-answer session with the audience. Most questions were about education, although a few stood out. When asked about popular culture’s effect on diversity, he expressed dissatisfaction with the current atmosphere of materialism, selfishness and objectification. \n“I know the Ku Klux Klan gets up every day and looks at BET (Black Entertainment Television) and says, ‘Damn. That’s all we had to do?’” Mackie said. \nMackie stressed the importance of providing opportunities for the youth of the country, including those that come from disadvantaged backgrounds. He spoke about his own college experience, sharing the fact that he was placed in remedial reading classes as a result of receiving an 840 on the SAT. \n“(College) isn’t about how you come in; it’s about how you leave,” he said. \nMackie addressed students specifically, calling on them to reach out to the local community. He suggested mentoring and tutoring high school students so they can expand their opportunities and make their way toward a more promising future. \n“Your education must take you around the world,” he said. \nMackie’s point of view seemed to be heavily influenced by his experiences with Hurricane Katrina. He expressed dissatisfaction with the way the disaster was handled. \n“The government isn’t going to save you,” he said. “The government ain’t coming.” \nMackie warned that a culture that overlooks its own people and refuses to sacrifice on their behalf is headed in the wrong direction.\n“Your Katrina is coming, too,” he said. “I don’t see anyone willing to sacrifice anymore.”\nFreshman Jacquelyn Segars expressed satisfaction with the lecture. \n“I thought it was very, very inspirational,” she said. “He spoke about a future that I am going to be a part of.” \nAlthough, she added, “I wish more people were here.”