[262]MTSU HONORS MLK WITH WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING SERVICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 15, 2008EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU HONORS MLK WITH WEEK OF EVENTS CELEBRATING SERVICE
Activities Focus on Issues, Voter Registration, AIDS Awareness, Inauguration, Faith

(MURFREESBORO) – Numerous events of education and inspiration are slated to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on his official federal holiday, Monday, Jan. 19, and extending through Sunday, January 25. Although MTSU will be closed on Jan. 19 in observance of the federal holiday, a community service event involving several student organizations is slated for that date from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Discovery Center, 502 S.E. Broad Street in Murfreesboro. The goal is to communicate King’s purpose to local youth. A candlelight vigil is slated for that evening at 5 p.m. at the Keathley University Center (KUC) Theatre on the MTSU campus. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, a reception celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in MTSU’s Tom Jackson Building. “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People,” a voter registration and information drive, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, on the second floor of the KUC. A display about King’s life will be on display on the second floor at that time. At 7 p.m. that evening, faculty, students and guests are invited to participate in an “Achieving the Dream” forum about the issues pertaining to American progress in civil rights in the State Farm Lecture Hall of MTSU’s Business and Aerospace Building.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, fraternity members will conduct a community service program, providing individualized mentoring, an extracurricular activity and a meal to a selected group of at-risk students at Bradley Academy in Murfreesboro. “You Shall Live: Everybody Has a Status; Know Yours,” a play about HIV/AIDS in the African-American community, will be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, in Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building on the MTSU campus. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased either at the door or by contacting Valerie Avent at 615-898-5812.
To conclude the week’s events, Pastor Darrell Hughes of Upon This Rock Church will deliver an uplifting message directly related to the struggles of college students during College Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the church, 4750 John Bragg Hwy. in Murfreesboro. MLK Celebration Week events are coordinated by the MTSU Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs (IDA) and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The MTSU chapter of the NAACP is collaborating on “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” and “Achieving the Dream.” All events are open to the public, and all are free except for “You Shall Live.” For more information, contact the IDA office at 615-898-5812.

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