Month of Action to Feature 'Walk on By' Week, Celebrating Tolerance, Compassion, Love

PLATTSBURGH, NY (02/27/2009)(readMedia)-- This year, SUNY Plattsburgh's Month of Action will take on a new twist as students, faculty, staff and community members unite to create "Walk on By" week.

"The week is a chance for people to come together and celebrate the values of tolerance, compassion and love in response to the hatred shown by those who are coming on campus to picket the theater department's production of 'The Laramie Project,'" said sophomore Nic Cappon, organizer of "Walk on By" week and a Student Association senator.

The Month of Action has become an annual event on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus. Every March for the past three years, student groups have united to raise awareness and to take action, donating time and energy to various causes.

"A general consensus is that people are tired of hearing others talking about the news and claiming that 'there is nothing I can do.' Now there is," said P.J. Miller, an audio and radio production major and the chair of the Month of Action Committee. "We are trying to fuel the passion of students around campus."

"Walk on By" week will kick off the month and will feature a variety of awareness activities, along with two big events: a unity rally on Friday and a march to City Hall on Saturday.

Held in Amitié Plaza in front of Angell College Center, the rally will provide individuals with a chance to come together and listen to speakers including Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, Town of Plattsburgh Supervisor Bernie Bassett, President of the Plattsburgh City Firefighter Department Edmund Sanderson and former Plattsburgh Mayor Dan Stewart. There will also be music and a color guard from American Legion Post 1619, West Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Members of SOUL are hoping to draw people from all walks of life to the march from Hawkins Hall to City Hall the following day.

"Our goal for the march is to have a reclaiming Plattsburgh event," said SOUL Male Co-chair Sean Watson, a French and English major with an anthropology minor. "Fred Phelps' church can come here and say what they want to say, but no matter what he does, we'll still have Plattsburgh, and this is our way of saying that."

For more information on "Walk on By" events call Cappon at 585-613-1995. For more information on the Month of Action call Miller at 518-657-9000.

'Walk on By' Week Events

Sunday, March 1

  • "The Times of Harvey Milk," a documentary, 1 p.m. Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center. Sponsored by SOUL.
  • "The Most Hated Family in America," a documentary, 9 p.m. Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center.

Monday, March 2

  • "Storm the Dorms," 6:15 p.m. The College Democrats and Progressives will work to gather donations and pledges in support of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
  • "Fall from Grace," a documentary, 7:30 p.m. Alumni Conference Room, Angell College Center.

Tuesday, March 3

  • "The Laramie Project" matinee for area high schools, 9:30 a.m. Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts Building.
  • "Religious Tolerance" forum featuring local clergy, 9 a.m. Alumni Conference Room, Angell College Center.

Wednesday, March 4

  • Greek Ally Project Event, noon. More details to come.
  • Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Pluralism Panel: "Inflammatory Rhetoric: Building an Ethical Community Response," 4-6 p.m. Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall.
  • Debate: Same Sex Marriage, 6:30 p.m. Amnesty Room, Angell College Center. Sponsored by the College Democrats and Progressives.
  • "The Laramie Project," 7:30 p.m. Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts Building.

Thursday, March 5

  • T-shirt Designs, noon-3:30 p.m., the Point (by Subway), Angell College Center. Sponsored by the Student Association.
  • "The Laramie Project," 7:30 p.m. Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts Building.

Friday, March 6

  • Campus/Community Unity Rally for Love and Hope, 6 p.m. Amitié Plaza. Sponsored by the Student Association.
  • Making a Unity Banner, 6 p.m., Amitié Plaza. Sponsored by the College Democrats and Progressives.
  • "The Laramie Project," 7:30 p.m. Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts Building. The cast will host a "Talk Back" session following the production.

Saturday, March 7

  • Reclaim the Streets: March to City Hall, 2 p.m. This march for love and peace will start at Hawkins Hall and wind through the city. Sponsored by SOUL.
  • "The Laramie Project," 7:30 p.m. Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts Building.

Sunday, March 8

  • "MILK," 8 p.m. Warren Ballrooms, Angell College Center. This award-winning film will be followed by a discussion with Dan Stewart, former Plattsburgh mayor.

Other Month of Action Events

Tuesday, March 3

  • Awareness Fair, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lobby, Angell College Center. Individuals will get a chance to find out about more service opportunities and pressing issues in the community.

Tuesday, March 4-6

  • Tabling for the Adirondack Humane Society, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Angell College Center.

Saturday, March 7

  • Literacy Challenge: Trivia Event, Champlain Centre Mall, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Students from SUNY Plattsburgh will help Literacy Volunteers with this annual fundraiser.

Monday, March 9

  • Learning Disability Panel, 7-9 p.m. Alumni Conference Room, Angell College Center. Educational session designed to break down social barriers for people with learning disabilities.

Tuesday, March 10

  • Blood Drive: Cardinal Lounge, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
  • "In Her Shoes," 7-9 p.m. Alumni Conference Room, Angell College Center. This is an interactive program exploring the lives of women who are leaving their abusers.

Wednesday, March 11

  • Coffeehouse, 9 p.m. The Point (by Subway), Angell College Center. Night of free entertainment and an opportunity to learn from the group ONE about Fair Trade coffee.

Thursday, March 12

  • Center for Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion Film: "Dirty Pretty Things," 7-9 p.m. Okwe, a kind-hearted Nigerian doctor, and Senay, a Turkish chambermaid, work at the same West London hotel. The hotel is run by Senor Sneaky and is the sort of place where dirty businesses like drug dealing and prostitution take place. However, when Okwe finds a human heart in one of the toilets, he uncovers something far more sinister than just a common crime.

Saturday, March 14 - Saturday, March 21

  • Alternative Spring Break. Seven groups of SUNY Plattsburgh students will travel across the United States in order to take part in service projects. Students will work with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the National Park Service, community outreach facilities, therapeutic riding associations, and the International Rescue Committee's refugee resettlement program.

Wednesday, March 25

  • Hunger Banquet, 7-9 p.m. Alumni Conference Room, Angell College Center. Participants will gain a better understanding of poverty as they experience a meal as global citizens with lower, middle or upper incomes.
  • Coffeehouse, 9 p.m. The Point (by Subway), Angell College Center. A night of free entertainment and an opportunity to learn from the group ONE about Fair Trade coffee.

Friday, March 27

  • SUNY Plattsburgh's 2009 Relay for Life, 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Field House. For information, visit the Web site www.relayforlife.org/sunyplattsburgh.

Tuesday, March 31

  • Campus Clean-up, noon, starting at the Project Help Office, Angell College Center. Individuals interested in volunteering for this day should notify Project HELP at 518-564-3648.