Melody Gordon-Healy, a former textile arts professor at Loyola and a member of the Loyola community for 30 years, was eager to hear “what her take on the Washington incident on Friday was,” referencing the alleged harassment of a Native American man by students from Covington Catholic High School on Jan. In addition to her gained credibility through notable work like “Bad Feminist,” many rely on Gay and her prolific opinions on American current events. Both of them have read ‘Bad Feminist,’ and I think I’m going to get her other book today,” he said. “Roxane Gay is a hero to my daughters, and I wanted to find out more about why. Terrence Cavanagh, the executive director of the SEIU Maryland/DC state council and a member of the Saint Ignatius Justice and Peace Committee said, “It has always been a great event, and I’ve learned something each year.” As a committee member, Cavanagh has attended the MLK Convocation for the past five years. Many of Gay’s supporters cite their appreciation for her writing in its ability to connect with the reader both professionally and personally. It’s talking about body positivity, it’s talking about being who you are, and I just really jived with it, and I appreciated her words and her bravery to speak them.” “I love that it’s not just talking about feminism. “It was this weird book called ‘Bad Feminist,’” said Anderson, laughing as she recounted her first encounter with Gay’s work. “Bad Feminist,” Gay’s account of juggling feminism with interests and ideas that seem to juxtapose the values of being one, deeply resonated with many of her fans, including Marie Anderson ‘11, assistant director for Loyola’s York Road Initiative. Regardless of the tie they had to Gay and her work, a majority of the room expressed their support in very similar ways. The Loyola community, in addition to the Jesuit and Baltimore communities at large, was brought together at a reception prior to the convocation. Gay, a New York Times best-selling author of works including “Bad Feminist,” “Hunger,” and “Difficult Women,” took the stage at Reitz Arena to not only analyze the current state of America but also to answer the questions of students, faculty, and fans alike. Convocation with the welcoming of writer, editor, professor, and public speaker Roxane Gay to campus on Tuesday, Jan. Loyola celebrated its 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr.