MLK’s legacy inspires students to share their dreams

By Ryan Chodora

Students are penning their dreams on NIU’s commemorative MLK Dream Wall for Martin Luther King Jr. service week.

The Dream Wall was organized by the Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning and was divided into six panels and delivered to the residence halls.

On Monday, the panels were put back together in the Glass Gallery Lounge in the Holmes Student Center for display throughout the rest of the week.

“It’s pretty much a wall where they are able to write down their dreams for justice, equality and peace,” said AmeriCorps VISTA employee Lucero Martinez. “To give the students an opportunity to voice their opinion.”

AmeriCorps VISTA is an organization designed to fight poverty; it helps those in poor circumstances turn their dreams into reality.

The wall is inscribed with dreams ranging in topic from accumulating wealth to legalizing marriage for gay couples.

“I think that [students] are really appreciative of being able to have their work out there and be on display for the rest of the campus,” said Shana Ware, coordinator for Victim Advocacy Services.

Students and staff still have the opportunity to sign the wall.

“It’s for people to stop the exploitation of society and follow what they believe in,” said Robert Orzoff, senior computer science major.

Orzoff was one of the people who wrote their dreams on the wall for passersby to see.

Student Involvement and Leadership Development is putting on events that honor and reflect on King’s legacy throughout the week.