Civil Rights remembered: Campus celebrates life os MLK with speaker, events
    As students enjoyed the last day off before the Spring semester, the Office of Multicultural Affairs began the week celebrating the national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee, in conjunction with OMA, will honor King’s life and legacy through Feb. 2, hosting various activities in accordance with this year’s theme “The Man … The Movement … The Message: A Call to Action.”
“[This time] is so important because we are commemorating the life and legacy and work of Dr. King,” said Katrice Albert, assistant director of OMA. “We are showing our commitment to continuing what he began. We have been called to act, and we are taking decisive action to make sure his legacy is remembered and his work is continued.”
Tia Gipson, MLK Jr. Commemorative Committee overall chairperson, said it is important to remember the celebration is not just honoring King.
“We are celebrating a movement in history and a change in a mentality that was begun by him but goes much further than him,” she said. “Even today we are working toward things he started.”
Gipson said King worked to increase awareness about issues such as diversity, community and nonviolence.
The week started with a Monday night Candlelight Vigil. The vigil began with the lighting of candles and proceeded with a march around campus.
“[A candlelight vigil] is solemn, respectful and reflective,” Gipson said. “We wanted that to be the primary purpose of the vigil — to reflect on what the day means. It’s a time to pay respect, honor and tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.”
The OMA will host a commemorative program Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the LSU Union Theater with guest speaker Kweisi Mfume, president and CEO of the NAACP.
“The program is the LSU campuswide effort to honor King’s life and work,” Gipson said. “It’s the official program for the campus.”
Albert said Mfume’s keynote address will complement this year’s theme.
“Mfume strives to continue King’s legacy,” she said. “He is a catalyst for social change. He constantly deals with sensitive issues surrounding race and equality.”
Winners in the poetry, poster and essay contests also will be announced at the program. The contests encourage area students to express how King’s dream personified “The Man … The Movement … The Message: A Call to Action.”
A Unity Breakfast will take place Thursday at 8 a.m. Chancellors Mark Emmert, Edward Jackson and Leana Revell, representing LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College, respectively, will be present to sign a resolution substantiating the MLK committee’s efforts.
“[The Unity Breakfast] is an effort to unite the three universities in Baton Rouge and the community as a whole,” Gipson said. “It’s an effort to positively impact the community because regardless of [our school affiliation], we are working to serve the same people,” Gipson said.
The Unity Breakfast is closed to the public.
The Poetry Night, competitive and “open mic” performances celebrating the life, works or legacy of King, will be Friday at 7 p.m.
“LSU students can participate in the actual competition about something positive like community or unity,” said Gipson.
The committee will host the MLK Celebration Gospel Concert Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Union Cotillion Ballroom.
The LSU Martin Luther King Jr. Dancers, local church and school choirs, soloists and puppeteers will be present to honor King’s legacy.
Any full-time LSU student can compete in the second annual Oratorical Contest on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Union Colonnade.
The speeches will relate to the MLK Celebration’s theme.
A forum led by six community leaders will discuss King’s dream and how they are implementing it in various sectors of the community Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Union Cotillion Ballroom.
Finally, the Day of Service will begin Feb. 2 at 8 a.m. Aaron Bastian, Day of Service co-chair, said student volunteers will go to six schools from the south Baton Rouge area to improve the schools.
“Every year, the Day of Service is the culminating event of the celebration,” Bastian said. “It is in keeping with what [King] taught about helping others and nonviolence.”
In past years, Gipson said LSU invited school groups to campus to educate them on topics such as diversity and breaking down stereotypes in place of going into the community.
“One of the major things King advocated was service,” she said. “He was always working with and for other people. We’ve asked these schools what they need for us to do for them.”
Diette Courrege