“Conflict and Communities: The Struggle for Racial Justice,” the University’s celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 16, will feature panel discussions on educational desegregation, environmental justice and student activism on campus.
Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic and Multicultural Affairs and coordinated by the MLK Day Symposium Planning Committee, the campuswide panels are among some 60 campus events scheduled throughout January to honor King.
“Each of the panel topics are current and relevant to this year’s theme,” says Lester P. Monts, vice provost for academic and multicultural affairs. “The panels are designed to allow dialogue between guest speakers and the audience. It is within these more intimate settings that learning can occur, information can be gathered, and individuals can express their opinions on the topic being discussed.”
All three panels, free and open to the public, will include participants from both inside and outside the University, and will be held at the following times and locations:
— “Brown vs. Board of Education: The Historical, Legal and Social Effects of 40 Years of Desegregation,” 1:30–3:30 p.m., Modern Languages Building, Auditorium 3. Panelists include: Cheryl Brown Henderson and Linda Brown Thompson, daughters of the late Oliver Brown, whose landmark case brought an end to the “separate but equal” doctrine; Richard H. Pildes, professor of law; Teshome G. Wagaw, professor of education and of Afroamerican and African studies; and moderator Harold Ford Jr., Black Law Students Association;
— “The Struggle for Environmental Justice,” 1:30–3:30 p.m., Modern Languages Building, Lecture Room 1. Panelists include: Bruce Chin, associate professor of environmental and industrial health; Kathy Milberg, director, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project; Running-Grass, executive director, Three Circles Center in Sausalito, Calif.; Baldemar Velazquez, director, Farm Labor Organizing Committee in Toledo, Ohio; and moderator Bunyan I. Bryant, associate professor of natural resources;
— “The Legacy of Student Activism at the University of Michigan,” 3–5 p.m., Modern Languages Building, Auditorium 4. Panelists include: Henry Davis, associate professor of history at Western Michigan University and participant in the 1970 Black Action Movement; Daniel A. Holliman, graduate student in Afroamerican and African studies and former member of the United Coalition Against Racism; Roderick Linzie, assistant professor of sociology at Georgia State University and participant in the 1987 Black Action Movement; Roger Short, auditor general for the city of Detroit and participant in the 1970 Black Action Movement; and moderator Nina Smith, Black Student Union.
In addition to the panel discussions, the MLK Day Symposium will include “Acting on the Dream,” an afternoon (1:30–6 p.m. Jan. 16) of community service learning for students, faculty and staff at various community-based agencies in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Participants must register by Dec. 21 by using the registration form contained in this issue of The University Record or by calling Jeff Howard, 763-3548.
As previously announced, the MLK Day Symposium also will feature Benjamin L. Hooks, former executive director of the NAACP, who will deliver the MLK Memorial Lecture at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 16 at Hill Auditorium.
The Harlem Spiritual Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Hill Auditorium and the Grammy-winning Sounds of Blackness will present a multi-media tribute to King at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Power Center for the Performing Arts.
Admission is free to the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble concert, but tickets are required and may be obtained at the University Musical Society box office. Discounted tickets for the Sounds of Blackness are available to U-M students and to groups of 15 or more at the Michigan Union ticket office. Tickets also are available at other TicketMaster outlets.
Other MLK Day Symposium highlights include the Black Student Union’s annual Unity March at noon Jan. 16 on South University between Forest and Washtenaw, and a host of events sponsored by campus units and organizations.
For more information, call Michael Jones-Coleman, 936-1055.
MLK Day Symposium Day Planning Committee
Members of the 1995 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Symposium Planning Committee include: Stacey Anderson, Black Greek Association; Esther Armstead, School of Nursing; Alvin Bowles, Black Business Students Association; Eddie Boyd, College of Pharmacy; Susan Eklund, Law School; Linda Gillum, Medical School;
Hank Heitowit, Center for Political Studies, Institute for Social Research; J. Wayne Jones, College of Engineering; Michael Jones-Coleman, Office of the Vice Provost for Academic and Multicultural Affairs; Ryan LaLonde, Native American Student Association;
Janet Lawrence, School of Education and Center for Research on Learning and Teaching; John Matlock, Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives; Alfredo Montalvo, School of Art; Ellen Plummer, Museum of Art; Lisa Quiroga, Alianza; Beth Reed, School of Social Work;
David Schoem, LS&A; Susan Sherry, Office of the Associate Vice President for Finance; Nina Smith, Black Student Union; Deborah Solowczuk, School of Natural Resources and Environment; Reno Ursal, United Asian American Organizations;
Maurice Wheeler, University Library; Joe Willis, Office of the Dean of Students; Evans Young, Center for Afroamerican and African Studies; and Lester P. Monts, Vice Provost for Academic and Multicultural Affairs (ex officio).
