Farmingdale State College is kicking off its inaugural Day of Service on April 20 in a big way, by wrapping up a school-wide donation drive and with a keynote by science fiction icon, human rights activist, and social media star George Takei, who will discuss his family’s time in internment camps for Japanese-Americans during World War II. 

The College is launching a campus-wide community service project beginning April 3 and ending April 20, as part of a celebration of National Volunteer Month, and encouraging all members of the community, including alumni, to participate by collecting toiletries to be distributed to five local organizations:  ECLI-VIBES, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, The Veterans Project at Long Island Cares, Bethany House, Island Harvest, as well as the FSC Food Pantry.

Boxes for donations have been distributed to each of the College’s four schools, as well as one for functional areas and one for alumni, as part of an informal competition to see which location collects the most items by April 19. Plans call for announcing the winner on April 20. Plus, the first 200 people who bring a toiletry item to Takei’s presentation will receive a copy of his graphic novel, “They Called Us Enemy.”  Following Takei’s talk, 250 students will be invited to don Day of Service t-shirts and assemble on the College grounds for a photo to commemorate the first year of the event.

“At Farmingdale State College, we strongly believe that service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges gaps, creates solutions, and moves us closer to a shared world that we can all be proud of,” said Dr. Yetunde A. Odugbesan-Omede, Acting Director of the Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE).

Students who volunteer to provide organizational assistance to the OCCE and the Nexus Center on the day of the event are eligible for applied learning credit for community service to count towards their graduation requirements. Among the tasks: Helping to sort donations, assisting in organizing the group photo, passing out promotional materials, and moving and organizing food pantry items.

FSC received a Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2020, which recognizes an institution’s dedication to community service. The College is committed to institutionalizing public service to make it a hallmark of an FSC education as well as maintaining the Carnegie Classification.

Takei fits the day's theme because he is a fierce advocate for social justice; he and his family were forced out of their home and confined to internment camps for Japanese-Americans during World War II. His life events are unique and still relevant, said Joseph Moresky, Senior Staff Assistant for the Dean of Students Office. “(Hearing) this experience is so important,” Moresky said, especially when it is told by someone who lived it. “This really didn’t happen that long ago. I hope students walk away with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to civic engagement. I think it will be remarkably powerful for attendees.”

Although Takei’s acting career has spanned five decades, for years he was best known as Chief Helmsman Hikaru Kato Sulu in the original “Star Trek” TV series as well as for reprising the role in five Star Trek movies. A California native, Takei has recently become more recognized for educating people about the internment of Japanese-Americans, advocating for LGBQT+ rights, and his involvement with Japanese-American groups. 

Wanting to preserve and share the experience, in 2008 Takei began working with writers on an original musical “Allegiance” about a family’s experience during the internment and the repercussions years afterward. He also appears in the play, which currently is wrapping up a run in London.

Through his social media presence and in person, Takei also advocates for gay rights and social justice, with statements often punctuated with his catch phrase “Oh, Myyyyyyy!”  In 2008, he married his husband, the former Brad Altman, becoming engaged immediately after California legalized same sex marriage. 

Takei’s commitment to social justice shows the importance of using a platform to amplify less-recognized issues, said Odugbesan-Omede. “He serves as a reminder to continue to right what is wrong and remember the impact it had,” she said. “I think the idea of civic engagement is to be active so these things don’t happen. He is a good reminder to use one’s platform for social justice.”

Instilling in students the drive to be community leaders and the realization that giving back is just as important as their careers are among Odugbesan-Omede’s goals. “They should consider what is in the best interests of others,” she said. “They go from student leaders to public servants. They have to be people who go beyond; we want to help them realize they have a larger place in the context of the world.”

Collection bins will be available from April 3-19. Each location is for a specific group, as noted below: 

  • The School of Engineering Technology - Lupton Lobby
  • The School of Business - School of Business Lobby
  • The School of Health Sciences - Gleeson Lobby
  • The School of Arts & Sciences - Hale Lobby
  • Alumni Association - Ward Hall
  • Staff in the functional areas (non-academic departments) - Greenley Lobby and Horton Lobby

On April 20 donations can be dropped off in the Campus Center Lobby, with Takei scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom. His appearance is sponsored by the Dean of Students Office.