Inauguration To Highlight Martin Luther King Jr. Week
The inauguration of the first African-American president of the
United States will highlight Alma College’s annual Martin Luther King
Jr. Week Celebration Jan. 18 through 22.
Public viewing of the televised inauguration ceremony will occur on
campus Jan. 20, followed by a panel discussion on this year’s theme,
“Where Do We Go From Here?”
Other activities include the fourth annual MLK Poetry Slam, student
reflections on the legacy of Dr. King, a campus blood drive, and
community service opportunities.
Landing | Dreamfest '09 Contest | Schedule of Events | 2008 Event Podcasts
“The
inauguration of an African-American president was a dream of Martin
Luther King Jr.,” says Jamie Smith, faculty coordinator of this year’s
MLK observance at Alma. “When our original speaker, Spencer Overton,
postponed his scheduled Jan. 19 campus appearance because of his
appointment to the Obama Transition Team, we determined that an
official observance of an historic American inauguration would be the
most ideal way to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday.”
Overton’s keynote speech at Alma has been rescheduled for Feb. 2 in the
Remick Heritage Center. A leading election law scholar and frequent
media commentator, Overton is a law professor at the George Washington
University Law School and the author of “Stealing Democracy: The New
Politics of Voter Suppression.”
A variety of MLK events are scheduled at Alma College. All are free and open to the public.
Jan. 18/Nick Piccolo, vice president for student life, speaks at
the weekly Alma College Chapel service at 9 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Dunning
Memorial Chapel.
Jan. 19/Alma College Service Learning classes sponsor a campus
blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 in the Stone
Recreation Center Multipurpose Room. Call (989) 463-7971 to register
and volunteer.
Jan. 19/The fourth annual Alma College Martin Luther King Jr.
Poetry Slam features an open microphone and audience participation by
faculty and students reading original and published poetry at 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 19 in the Tyler-VanDusen Rotunda.
Jan. 20/Alma College celebrates the presidential inauguration of
Barack Obama on Tuesday, Jan. 20 with public television viewings at
various campus sites. Following the inauguration, a panel discussion
with faculty members and civil rights activists on “Where Do We Go From
Here?” takes place at 4 p.m. in the Dow Science Center Room L-4. The
discussion focuses on placing President Obama’s inauguration into an
historic context.
Jan. 20/Students present their reflections on Dr. King and his
legacy at Dreamfest ’09 (formerly known as the Reflections Contest) at
7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Clack Theatre. Submissions, focused on
this year’s theme, “Where Do We Go From Here?” will be judged, with
cash prizes awarded to three presenters. Pizza is provided.
Jan. 20/Michigan Service Scholars (MSS) training takes place
from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Dow Science Complex Room L-2.
MSS is an AmeriCorps program that encourages students to serve on their
campuses and in their communities. Students who volunteer 300 hours of
service are eligible to earn a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award.
Contact Anne Ritz, ritz@alma.edu, Service Learning Office, for
information.
Jan. 22/Students, faculty and staff are invited to join Alpha
Phi Omega to serve the Community Cafe meal provided by Sodexho through
meal/point donations from students, faculty and staff. The meal is
served from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 at First Presbyterian Church
in Alma.
Jan. 24/Alma College students volunteer with youth at Kids Night
Out at Alma High School from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24.
Volunteers supervise games, movies and recreation. Contact Susan Smoker
at ssmoker@almaschools.net
Posted: Sun, January 4th, 2009 at 12:52PM
