Rev. Jesse Jackson to provide keynote address on Jan. 18
University Park, Pa. -- Recalling the words of Martin Luther King Jr.'s final sermon, as well as his historic speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, "Wake Up! Realize the Dream" will serve as the theme for Penn State's 2006 Martin Luther King commemoration at University Park.
The Jan. 12-20 events of celebration and remembrance commemorating King's memory will feature the Rev. Jesse Jackson as keynote speaker for the Undergraduate Student Government Day of Service celebration. Jackson will speak at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at Eisenhower Auditorium.
The commemoration's theme is represented in a design by graphic arts major Katie Causer, a senior from Frederick, Md. Her design -- a partially open door offering a small glimpse into a bright and colorful expanse -- captures the idea that there is a bright future waiting if society can make King's dreams a reality.
"I interpreted the theme to mean the work isn't done yet," Causer said. "As a society we have become complacent and we need to realize there is still progress to be made. I was trying to represent the idea that Dr. King has opened the door to the dream but it is up to us to walk through it."
Thomas Poole, associate vice provost for Educational Equity, said the theme, suggested by USG Day of Service student co-directors Theodore "T.J." Jackson and Denise Ziobro and chosen by the campus/community MLK Jr. commemoration planning committee, incorporates ideas from King's last sermon, "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution," which was inspired by the Washington Irving story "Rip Van Winkle," and King's most famous speech, "I Have a Dream."
"The theme encourages us to shake our apathy and stay alert for opportunities to make Dr. King's dream a reality," Poole said.
Causer said she wanted her design to work in tandem with the commemoration's theme to encourage members of the Penn State community to act in King's legacy.
"I have always admired Martin Luther King's work," she said. "During my research for the poster, I was reading a lot of Dr. King's speeches and written works. He encouraged his followers to act as model citizens without worrying about revenge. Dr. King wanted us to get past the wrongs in the past and focus on living right in the future. I wanted to use this concept in my design because the MLK committee had stressed the importance for students to get out and act on Martin Luther King Jr. Day."
The weeklong commemoration will include a day of service coordinated by a special committee of the Undergraduate Student Government that will encourage people to volunteer with local nonprofit agencies on Jan. 16, the federally observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The day also will include NAACP Vice Chair Roslyn Brock at the Penn State Forum, a blood drive in the HUB-Robeson Center and a peace service and march. On Jan. 18, the Day of Service celebration will be highlighted by Jackson's appearance. (See the full schedule of events below for time, location and contact information.)
Tickets for Jackson's appearance are free and will be available for Penn State students (with Penn State ID) beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Eisenhower Auditorium box office; from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the HUB-Robeson Center Information Desk; and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center. Any remaining tickets will be available to Penn State faculty, staff and students (with Penn State ID) beginning Thursday, Jan. 12, and to the general public on Friday, Jan. 13, at the same locations. Two free tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
For the first time, the University will mark Martin Luther King Day by canceling classes on Jan. 16. Poole said this will give students the opportunity to commemorate King's legacy through action.
"It is our hope that students will take advantage of this opportunity to engage in the many community service projects that USG has organized and participate in educational programs designed to broaden our awareness of Dr. King and the injustices that still exist in our society today," Poole said.
Proposed designs for the commemoration came from students taking Art 470: Time and Sequence with Lanny Sommese, professor of art. All of the proposed designs will be on display in Pattee Library during the week of commemoration.
"The students enrolled in Professor Sommese's course submitted a number of worthy designs," Poole said. "In the end, Katie's was chosen for her depiction of a door opening to face the challenges and opportunities of a new day."
Visit the 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration Web site at http://www.mlk.psu.edu
2006 Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration at University Park
Jan. 12-13 and 17-20
-- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Film Series: "Eyes on the Prize" HUB-Robeson Center, main video screen
Jan. 14 and 17-20
-- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: "The Human Race Machine," including a continuous showing of "Motherland: A Genetic Journey," and the opportunity for skin-color assessment and computer-generated morphing of a photograph of the participant's facial features at Galbraith Lounge in the HUB-Robeson Center. Sponsored by the Eberly College of Science, the College of the Liberal Arts, the Office of Educational Equity, the Africana Research Center, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, the Race Relations Project and Student Affairs.
Contact: Mark Shriver, (814) 863-1078, or Naomi Altman, (814) 865-3791.
Jan. 14
-- 10 p.m.: Blues with Tom Poole on WPSU-FM, 91.5
Jan. 15
-- 6 p.m.: Forum on Black Affairs M.L.K. Jr. banquet at Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel.
Contact: Denise Hinds-Zaami, (814) 865-5321, dxh45@psu.edu, or Beverly Wilson, (814) 865-0461, bgw4@psu.edu
Jan. 16
-- All Day: Penn State's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Contact: USG Day of Service co-directors Theodore "TJ" Jackson, trj121@psu.edu, and Denise Ziobro, dmz140@psu.edu
-- 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: American Red Cross Blood Drive at Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.
-- 11:30 a.m.: Penn State Forum with guest speaker Roslyn Brock, vice chair of the NAACP, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Tickets required.
Contact: Tineke Cunning, (814) 863-8199
-- 4 p.m.: Peace service and march beginning at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center and ending at HUB-Robeson Center.
Contact: USG Day of Service co-directors Theodore "TJ" Jackson, trj121@psu.edu, and Denise Ziobro, dmz140@psu.edu
-- 5:30 p.m.: MLK Social Justice Dinner (MLK Day of Service Closing/ Tunnel of Oppression Opening). Program begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m., in Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Co-sponsored by the USG Day of Service Committee and the Paul Robeson Cultural Center.
Contact: Toby Jenkins, tsj3@sa.psu.edu, (814) 865-1779
Jan. 16, 5 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 17-19, noon to 4 p.m.
-- Tunnel of Oppression in Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Coordinated by the Paul Robeson Cultural Center
Contact: Toby Jenkins, tsj3@sa.psu.edu, (814) 865-1779
Jan. 17
-- 7 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Speech Contest at HUB-Robeson Center Auditorium. Co-sponsored by the USG Day of Service Committee and the Penn State National Pan-Hellenic Council
Contact: Alex Thomas, NPHC AVP, aot104@psu.edu
Jan. 18
-- 5 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Marker reception at the Hintz Family Alumni Center.
Contact: Paul Jovanis, CORED Chair, (814) 865-9431
-- 7 p.m.: MLK Day of Service Celebration. Keynote speaker the Rev. Jesse Jackson, at Eisenhower Auditorium.
Jan. 19
12:10 p.m.: Bach's Lunch Concert. African-American Choral Music with Essence of Joy and Essence 2 at Pasquerilla Spiritual Center.