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Seton Hall Celebrates Life of Nelson Mandela

A candlelight vigil was held Tuesday on the University green to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Nelson Mandela.

Members of the Seton Hall University community, including students, faculty and staff, held a ceremony and brief candlelight vigil, Tuesday, to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Nelson Mandela.

Attendees paused to honor the legacy of the global hero. Following the commemoration, hundreds of students, faculty and staff will gathered around the University Green for a short candle-light vigil.

Rev. Dr. Forrest M. Pritchett, faculty mentor and director of Seton Hall’s Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Program shared a few words with the community:

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“When you think even about the American experience it falls to each generation to make the dream of freedom real. As we look at great people like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mother Teresa - people who walk to the tune of a different drummer – they make civilization better, not just life in their own countries. For example in his book, Long Walk To Freedom, Nelson Mandela said  Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

I often wonder what life would be like if each and every one of us were allowed to let our goodness light the way. Because we walk in the shadows of these great people, these are the people who the content of their character is quantifiable by their achievements.

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Nelson Mandela is a role model. He was an inspiration. He was motivational.  Colonialism left an indelible scar on the modern face of civilization.  But the work of a handful of people removed that scar. Now we all are called upon to heal the wound. Here at Seton Hall, we hope to not only commemorate his passing but hope to motivate the next generation. I’ll look to the future.  I believe that the energy, the genius and the determination of people like Nelson Mandela, well we need to institutionalize their paradigm for the next generation.”


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