January 12, 2016  

Purdue events planned to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Several activities at Purdue University this month will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Among the highlights of the 2016 celebration, "The Fierce Urgency of Now," will be the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address by Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse.

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 will be preceded by a 6 p.m. 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 will be presented on Jan. 19. 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:

* Jan. 18. MLK Day of Service, coordinated by Civic Engagement & Leadership Development. Open to Purdue students, faculty, staff members and retirees. Volunteers will spend time with community service agencies in Tippecanoe County, including those that work with animals, children, seniors, health care and the homeless. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at the France Córdova Recreational Sports Center. Registration is available at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-day-of-service-2016-tickets-19150340183.

* Jan. 13 through Feb. 1. "Civil Rights Leaders Display," created by Becky Hunt. M.G. Mellon Library of Chemistry, Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry.

* Jan. 13 through Feb. 1. "Civil Rights Display," created by Becky Hunt. Physics Library, Physics Building.

* Jan. 13-20. Purdue Libraries faculty and staff will create and mount displays on a variety of topics related to King's legacy in libraries across campus.

* Jan. 15-30. 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. 15. Purdue Dining & Catering will distribute free slices of MLK birthday cake in the Purdue Memorial Union and Purdue residence halls dining courts. 

* Jan. 17. 4 p.m. Whole Truth Church, 901 S. 19th St., Lafayette. "MLK Choral Salute," sponsored by the Lafayette Pastors Alliance. Free and open to the public.

* Jan. 19. 12-1:30 p.m. Pfendler Hall, Room 241. Film Clips and Dialogue, brown bag lunch. "King: The Man. How His Past Affects Our Future." Casarae Gibson, assistant professor of African American Studies at Syracuse University and a Purdue alumna, will discuss Martin Luther King Jr. Using video clips and other material, Gibson will address questions, myths and the relevance of King's message today while performing a comparative analysis with current social and political events. 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. 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.

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu

Source: Renee Thomas, Purdue Black Cultural Center director, 765-494-3091, rathomas@purdue.edu

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