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Penn State MLK Commemoration says 'One Day Is Today'
12/18/2007 12:00 am
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Penn State MLK Commemoration says 'One Day Is Today'
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Greg Grieco
Heidi Yosinski displays her MLK Commemoration poster design. For an image of the poster, click on the photo above.
University Park, Pa. — Martin Luther King Jr. famously said in 1963 that he had a dream that one day people of all races could live in harmony and as equals. The 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at Penn State's University Park campus suggests "One Day Is Today."
That statement serves as the theme for the January celebration of King's life and ideals. Day of Service Evening Celebration keynote speaker Coach Ken Carter will highlight the celebration on Jan. 23.
Complementing the theme is this year's poster design, featuring a silhouette of King in front of a clear sunny sky. Storm clouds can be seen in King's image. Heidi Yosinski, a senior graphic design major who will graduate from Penn State this month, created the image.
"The storms shown in Dr. King represent the turmoil that we came from, while the sky represents a new day invoking global civil rights activism," Yosinski explained. "The sunburst conveys enlightenment and reflects an uplifting positive spirit. I hope my poster can draw attention to promote action and result in creating peace."
The Pittsburgh native said that having her design selected by the MLK Commemoration Committee is a privilege and an important educational experience.
"It was an honor to have my design selected by the committee to represent the 2008 MLK celebration," she said. "It means a great deal to me to have my poster seen by the student body, faculty and the State College community. Through background research for my concept, I become much more knowledgeable about Martin Luther King and the ideas that he stood for. One huge reward to designing this poster is all the awareness that comes with it."
The MLK Day of Service committee, led by student co-directors Megan Delany and Chris Lucas, and the campus/community planning committee led by Marcus Whitehurst, assistant vice provost for Educational Equity, selected the theme.
Ken Carter will deliver the keynote speech at the Day of Service Evening Celebration, which begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Eisenhower Auditorium. Carter will speak on the topic of "Average Is Just Not Good Enough. Period!" He is an education activist and former high school basketball coach who gained notoriety in 1999 when he canceled his Richmond (Calif.) High School basketball team's games and practices for several weeks due to poor academic performance by a number of players.
Though initially criticized, Carter was later praised for his stance that players must take their academic performance seriously. In 2005, the major motion picture "Coach Carter," starring Samuel L. Jackson in the title role, recounted the story of the 1999 season.
The event is free but tickets are required. Details for ticket availability will be announced at a later date.
The commemoration will include a day of service to encourage people to volunteer with local nonprofit agencies on Monday, Jan. 21. For more details on the Day of Service, contact Delany at med250@psu.edu or Lucas at cml5002@psu.edu.
The federally observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 21, and no classes will be held at Penn State on that day. In addition to the Day of Service, other events on Martin Luther King Jr. Day include a blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Alumni Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center, and the Social Justice Dinner at 5:30 p.m. in Heritage Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center. For details, consult the full schedule of commemoration events below.
For more information, visit http://www.mlk.psu.edu.
Jan. 15
11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Center for Student Engagement Involvement Fair. Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.
6:30 p.m.: Forum on Black Affairs Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet. The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Tickets required.
Contact: Beverly Wilson, bgw4@psu.edu
Jan. 21
9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Penn State's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Sponsored by the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee and the Center for Student Engagement.
Contact: Megan Delany, med250@psu.edu; Chris Lucas, cml5002@psu.edu
10 a.m.-4p.m.: Penn State Martin Luther King, Jr. Blood Drive. Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Schedule to donate at www.psuredcross.org. Sponsored by the Penn State American Red Cross.
5:30 p.m.: Social Justice Dinner. Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Sponsored by the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee, The Center for Student Engagement and The Paul Robeson Cultural Center.
Contact: Megan Delany, med250@psu.edu; Chris Lucas, cml5002@psu.edu
Jan. 21-25
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: The Human Race Machine. Galbraith Lounge, HUB-Robeson Center. Sponsored by the Eberly College of Science and the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity.
Jan. 22
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Penn State Forum. Guest Speaker: Zane Gates, internal medicine physician. Topic: "The Vicious Circle of Poverty." The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Tickets may be purchased at the Faculty Staff Club Office (The ID+ Office) 103 HUB-Robeson Center, (814) 865-7590.
5 p.m.: March and Peace Service. March begins at the Allen Street Gates and concludes at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. Sponsored by the MLK, Jr. Celebration Committee, the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs and the Center for Student Engagement.
Jan. 23
6 p.m.: Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening Celebration. Eisenhower Auditorium. Keynote Speaker: Coach Ken Carter. Topic: "Average Is Just Not Good Enough. Period!" Tickets required.
Jan. 28-Feb. 1
10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Breaking Bread Gender and Ethnicity Series. Setting the Table: Recipes for Resistance exhibit. Paul Robeson Cultural Center Library. Exhibit opening reception Jan. 28. Exhibition Jan. 28-Feb. 1.
Contact: Crystal Endsley, cle160@psu.edu
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