WMU to commemorate King birthday Jan. 15-19
Jan. 4, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- A number of free public events and activities,
including a presentation by rap artist Chuck D, have been scheduled
at Western Michigan University the week of Jan.15-19 to celebrate
the birthday Monday, Jan. 15, of the late Martin Luther King
Jr.
Scroll down for a list of major events planned for the WMU
observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
For the second year, Jan. 15 will be an official University
holiday. In earlier years, classes were canceled for the observance
but the University remained open. This is the 11th year that
WMU officially has recognized the birthday of the slain civil
rights leader.
With the theme "Living the MLK Legacy in the New Millennium,"
this year's weeklong observance features several major events,
including:
MLK Discovery Day, a free fair for children in kindergarten
through eighth grade, from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, on the
tennis courts in the Student Recreation Center. Children wishing
to participate must have permission slips signed by a parent
or guardian.
The MLK Convocation, featuring keynote speaker Chuck
D, cofounder of the rap group Public Enemy and an outspoken commentator
on such issues as race, inequality and rage, at 8 p.m. Tuesday,
Jan. 16, in University Arena. Other convocation speakers will
include WMU President Dr. Elson S. Floyd and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton.
In addition, there will be a performance by the WMU Voices choir
of an excerpt from "Rosa Parks," an upcoming University
Theatre musical drama directed by Dr. Von Washington, WMU professor
of theatre.
A candlelight vigil featuring guest speaker Rep. Kwame
Kilpatrick at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, in Room 204 of the Bernhard
Center. Sponsored by the WMU student chapter of the NAACP, the
ceremony will honor and reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.'s life,
while stressing the importance of continuing King's mission into
the 21st century.
Many other events are also scheduled, including activities
in the campus residence halls. A complete list of events and
activities is being distributed to the University community and
is available on the World Wide Web at <www.wmich.edu/mlkday>.
Other campus events honoring Dr. King include:
A commemorative march at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, from the
Bernhard Center to MLK Memorial Park on North Rose Street, sponsored
by the WMU student chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.
The annual "I Have a Dream" Speech Competition at
7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, in Room 210 of the Bernhard Center.
Sponsored by the WMU Residence Hall Association, students will
compete with oral presentations on the theme "Living the
MLK Legacy in the New Millennium."
Also on Wednesday, Jan. 17, several guest speakers will address
issues of race and inequality. They include:
Dr. Beverly Vandiver, assistant professor of counseling psychology
at Penn State University, who will make address the question
of "Why Did the Bullet Come?" at 5 p.m. in Room 212
of the Bernhard Center. Sponsored by the WMU Department of Counselor
Education and Counseling Psychology, Vandiver's presentation
will explore the struggles of Dr. King and his allies as they
confronted power, privilege and oppression in America and the
roles that individuals can play in helping create a more inclusive
environment in today's society.
Jim Keady and Leslie Kretzu of the Olympic Living Wage Project
will discuss their experiences in Indonesia trying to live on
the wage of a Nike factory worker. Their presentation, at 6 p.m.
in Room 1104 of Rood Hall, is sponsored by the United Students
Against Sweatshops.
The University's observance of King's birthday is being coordinated
by the MLK Committee of the Faculty Senate through the Lewis
Walker Institute for Race and Ethnic Relations. The committee
is chaired by Stevan J. Veldkamp, assistant director of student
life, and includes students and faculty and staff members.
Media contact: Marie Lee, 616 387-8400, marie.lee@wmich.edu
Living the MLK Legacy in the New Millennium
2001 Observance of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.
www.wmich.edu/mlkday
Monday, Jan. 15
MLK March, 10 a.m., Bernhard Center -- A commemorative march
from the Bernhard Center to MLK Memorial Park on North Rose Street
sponsored by the WMU student chapter of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People.
MLK Discovery Day, 1-4 p.m., WMU Student Recreation Center
Tennis Courts -- A free fair for children, kindergarten through
8th grade, featuring diversity activities, arts, crafts and games.
Permission slips signed by a parent or guardian are required
for children to participate and are available the day of the
event or from WMU Student Volunteer Services at (616) 387-3230.
Sponsored by the WMU MLK Committee and University Recreation
Programs and Facilities.
Tuesday, Jan. 16
The Dream's Spiritual Integrity, noon-1 p.m., Kiva Room, Faunce
Student Services Building -- A workshop on how contemplation,
prayer and mediation can help manifest MLK's dream in the world
by helping individuals find inner peace and compassion. Sponsored
by the WMU University Counseling and Testing Center.
Teaching MLK in the K-12 Classroom, 4-5:30 p.m., 2452 Knauss
Hall -- A workshop for aspiring teachers that examines the MLK
legacy and role of education in the civil rights movement, the
relevance of children's and adolescent literature with civil
rights themes, and ways to develop social justice curriculum
and teaching. Sponsored by WMU Department of English and the
College of Education.
Healing Racism Mini-Workshop, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 2304 Sangren
Hall -- A workshop featuring exercises that explore the history
of racism and its effects on current race relations. Sponsored
by the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership.
MLK Convocation, 8 p.m., University Arena -- Keynote speaker
is Chuck D, co-founder of the rap group Public Enemy and outspoken
commentator on issues including race, inequality and rage. Other
speakers include WMU President Elson S. Floyd and Rep. Fred Upton,
with a performance by the WMU Voices Choir. Admission is free.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
Why Are All the Black Students Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?:
Profiling on College Campuses, 10-11:30 a.m., B-106 Conference
Room, Faunce Student Services Building -- A roundtable dialogue
to promote awareness of profiling at WMU and other higher education
institutions. Sponsored by Career and Student Employment Services.
Evaluating Programs from a Multicultural Perspective, 10-11
a.m., 3210 Sangren Hall -- Dr. Beverly Vandiver, Penn State University,
will present a one-hour program for faculty that explores a theoretical
model to assess training programs' effectiveness in preparing
students to live in a global society. Sponsored by the Department
of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology.
Student Preparation for Living in a Racially Diverse Society,
2-3 p.m., 2301 Sangren Hall -- A presentation for graduate students
by Dr. Beverly Vandiver, Penn State University, on preparing
students to live in a racially diverse society. Sponsored by
the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology.
Why Did the Bullet Come?, 5-6:30 p.m., 212 Bernhard Center
-- Dr. Beverly Vandiver, Penn State University, will explore
the struggles of Dr. King and his allies as they confronted power,
privilege and oppression in America. She will discuss roles that
individuals can play in helping create a more inclusive environment
in today's society. Sponsored by the Department of Counselor
Education and Counseling Psychology.
Olympic Living Wage Project, 6-8 p.m., 1104 Rood Hall-- Speakers
Jim Keady and Leslie Kretzu discuss their experiences in Indonesia
trying to live on the wage of a Nike factory worker. Sponsored
by the United Students Against Sweatshops.
"I Have a Dream" Speech Contest, 7 p.m., 210 Bernhard
Center -- Students compete with oral presentations on the theme
"Living the MLK Legacy in the New Millennium. Sponsored
by the WMU Residence Hall Association.
Candlelight Vigil and MLK Reflections, 8 p.m., 204 Bernhard
Center -- Michigan Rep. Kwame Kilpatrick will be the speaker
for a vigil that will honor and reflect upon Martin Luther King
Jr.'s life while stressing the importance of continuing King's
mission into the 21st century. Sponsored by the WMU student chapter
of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Thursday, Jan. 18
Color Shine or Color Blind?, 10:30 a.m.-noon, 204 Bernhard
Center -- Admissions experts from WMU and other institutions
of higher education offer a roundtable discussion on diversity
issues in university admissions standards. Sponsored by Career
and Student Employment Services.
Hair Stress and Self-Esteem: Psychological Implications of
the Idealized Standard of Beauty, 1-3 p.m., Division of Multicultural
Affairs, 2nd Floor of Ellsworth Hall -- A lecture and video presentation
that explores the ties between self-esteem and an idealized standard
of beauty regarding hair styles, with an emphasis on how to break
the negative cycle of hair stress and self-esteem. Sponsored
by University Counseling and Testing Center.
Friday, Jan. 19
Dr. King's Legacy and the Empowerment of Underrepresented
Persons in the Natural Sciences -- A day-long series of activities
featuring Dr. Isiah Warner, Boyd Professor of Chemistry at Louisiana
State University, that will focus on increasing the participation
of underrepresented minorities in scientific education and careers.
For more information, contact Dr. Gyula Ficsor, professor of
biological sciences, at (616) 387-5633. Sponsored by Departments
of Biological Sciences and Chemistry.
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