Berklee College of Music students used their own words and music to bring a very personal perspective to a recent United Nations Day Ceremony at the Massachusetts State House. Two Berklee students and one alumnus spoke about human rights travails in their home countries, and a student group performed for the gathering of international officials and educators.

	President Lee Eliot Berk speaks during the U.N. ceremony.
	Photo by Liz Linder

President Berk referenced the meaning of the term "human rights" by quoting from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan: "Human rights are what make us human. . .it is the universality of human rights that gives them their strength. It endows them with power to cross any border, climb any wall, defy any force."

Adeniyi Adelekan, a Contemporary Writing and Production major from Nigeria, spoke about the imprisonment of human rights activists during the previous leadership in his country. He alluded to reports from people that he knew and from Nigerian news media. Adelekan acknowledged improvements under the current Nigerian leadership and concluded by suggesting a solution to human rights abuses based on the Bible: "Just as Jesus taught, we should always love thy neighbor as thyself," he said.

At Berklee student group performs at the Massachusetts State House
Photo by Liz Linder

"I have had a long journey and many adventures," began Damien Draghici, a performance major who had fled from his native Romania in 1988. He brought home the experience of growing up under the rule of a dictator who cut off heat, water, television and radio broadcasts, and computer access, leaving Draghici and many others with painful childhood memories that are hard to erase.

Draghici expressed his happiness at being able to live in "a free world where dreams can be realized." He touched an emotional chord, expressing his gratitude for his current situation and good fortune at being able to study at Berklee.

Keynote speaker Arnold Hiatt, chairman of the Stride Rite Corporation, seemed to speak for the whole audience in thanking the students for reminding us that "the power of the human spirit is greater than the power of a dictator."

At the close of the ceremony, the Berklee Jazz-Rock Ensemble accompanied Berklee student vocalist Eric Wainaina from Nairobi, Kenya, in a powerful rendition of "Circle of Life," a song from The Lion King. Berklee Associate Professor of Ensemble Ken Zambello led the group, with Milan Milanovic of Yugoslavia on keyboards, Janek Gwizdala of England on bass, and Joe DeRose of the United States on drums.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Consulates of Greece, Japan, Romania, Hungary, and Nepal, who also served as members of the 1998 United Nations Day Honorary Committee.

On December 10, 1998, the music industry commemorated the golden anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights with a day-long telecast featuring musicians performing for human rights worldwide. The event, "Declare Your Rights," was the work of the Human Rights Action Center and urged viewers to lobby their governments to print the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their own country's passport.

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