Commemorative address celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address on Tuesday (Jan. 19) in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse as part of Purdue's 2016 MLK celebration, "The Fierce Urgency of Now." (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) Download Photo

Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address on Tuesday (Jan. 19) in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse as part of Purdue's 2016 MLK celebration, "The Fierce Urgency of Now."

President of UMBC since 1992, Hrabowksi also is a consultant on science and math education to national agencies, universities and school systems. He was named by President Obama to chair the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. He also chaired the National Academies' committee that in 2011 produced the report "Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads."

Hrabowski's talk was preceded by a candlelight vigil and march from Purdue's Black Cultural Center to Loeb Playhouse, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

In addition to Hrabowski's commemorative talk, the Purdue Dreamer Award was presented to Johnny Brown, professor of mathematics, and Jerry Holt, associate professor of English and chair of the English and Modern Language Department at Purdue North Central. The award is presented annually to an individual or organization in the Purdue community whose contributions embody King's vision of service to others and furthers the university's commitment to diversity and inclusion. More information on the award can be found here.

Other celebration highlights include:

* Through Feb. 1. "Civil Rights Leaders Display," created by Becky Hunt. M.G. Mellon Library of Chemistry, Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry.

* Through Feb. 1. "Civil Rights Display," created by Becky Hunt. Physics Library, Physics Building.

* Through Jan. 20. Purdue Libraries faculty and staff will create and mount displays on a variety of topics related to King's legacy in libraries across campus.

* Through Jan. 30. The Minority Technology Association Purdue Polytechnic student organization will invite students, faculty and staff to post their dreams under a banner display in Knoy Hall of Technology.

* Jan. 20. 12-1:30 p.m. Pfendler Hall, Room 241. "Blue Streets: A History of American Homelossness," featuring guest speaker David Sawyer. Sawyer is a lecturer, writer and performing artist. He will talk about the path to civil rights and will include Martin King's legacy, particularly the Poor People's Campaign and Resurrection City. This is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Awareness Week, sponsored by the colleges of Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences, and Science.

* Jan. 21. 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon in Discovery Learning Center, Room 131. 1:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. in Pfendler Hall, Room 241. INCOGNITO workshops, with Michael Fosberg. Interactive sessions encourage participants to find a way to end misperceptions that can occur from making quick judgments, opinions and character assessments. This is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Awareness Week, sponsored by the colleges of Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences, and Science.

* Jan. 22. 12-1 p.m. Pfendler Hall, Room 241. Special interaction with the Voices of Deliverance Choir of Butler University. The interdenominational gospel choir that represents various ethnicities will talk briefly about how they formed, their audiences and how they select songs. The choir also will perform ballads. Light snacks will be provided. This is part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Awareness Week, sponsored by the colleges of Agriculture, Health and Human Sciences, and Science.

* Through Feb. 29. "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Honoring the Past with David Crosthwait Display," created by Sandy Galloway. Siegesmund Engineering Library, Room 160 of A.A. Potter Engineering Center.