Diverse Dining

More than 300 members of the Marshall community came together to celebrate their differences Friday.

Many departments on campus presented the 2012 Annual Diversity Breakfast in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center.

"I believe we need to reflect on the global diversity that is all around us, here in Huntington, and at Marshall University," said Stephen J. Kopp, Marshall's president. Director of the Center for African-American Students, and chair of the planning committee for the breakfast, Maurice Cooley, gave the opening remarks.

"Our primary mission at Marshall is to prepare our students to be knowledgeable, well-rounded adults," Cooley said. "Adults well rounded enough to perform in a diverse, ever-changing society."

Three students began the meal by presiding over an Islamic, a Jewish and a Christian  prayer. Marshall's Jazz Combo II provided music for the event.

Tim Tooten Sr., the senior education reporter at WBAL-TV Baltimore, gave the keynote address.  Tooten's message dealt with the importance of giving and receiving love to and from one's community.

"I know we all want to be serious, we all want to be hard, we all want to make sure that we're not too kind. But when someone comes to you and shows you love, you can't help but respond." said Tooten

To end that program, graduate student Alicia Torres recited some original poetry, and engineering student Charles Meyers gave the closing remarks of the breakfast. He spoke of the importance of working together as a diverse community to improve society.

"One thing we must realize, is that when we come together, the impact that has is special, we must not focus as much on what we can do individually, but focus on how to succeed by working together," Myers said

Tooten graduated from Florida State University, but he claims to be a Marshall graduate at heart. He began his career in journalism at WSAZ-TV in Huntington. He has spent the last 27 years working for WBAL-TV Baltimore. On top of his work with the station, he is an affiliate professor of journalism at Loyola Loyola University of Maryland, and the pastor and founder of Harvest Christian Ministries in Baltimore County Maryland.

For his work in journalism, Tooten has received many awards, including an Emmy, the Edward R. Murrow National Award and has twice received the National Headliner Award.

Travis Easter can be reached at easter14@marshall.edu.