Inauguration To Highlight Martin Luther King Jr. Week

The inauguration of the first African-American president of the United States will highlight Alma College’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week Celebration Jan. 18 through 22.

Public viewing of the televised inauguration ceremony will occur on campus Jan. 20, followed by a panel discussion on this year’s theme, “Where Do We Go From Here?”

Other activities include the fourth annual MLK Poetry Slam, student reflections on the legacy of Dr. King, a campus blood drive, and community service opportunities.

“The inauguration of an African-American president was a dream of Martin Luther King Jr.,” says Jamie Smith, faculty coordinator of this year’s MLK observance at Alma. “When our original speaker, Spencer Overton, postponed his scheduled Jan. 19 campus appearance because of his appointment to the Obama Transition Team, we determined that an official observance of an historic American inauguration would be the most ideal way to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday.”

Overton’s keynote speech at Alma has been rescheduled for Feb. 2 in the Remick Heritage Center. A leading election law scholar and frequent media commentator, Overton is a law professor at the George Washington University Law School and the author of “Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression.”

A variety of MLK events are scheduled at Alma College. All are free and open to the public.

Jan. 18/Nick Piccolo, vice president for student life, speaks at the weekly Alma College Chapel service at 9 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Dunning Memorial Chapel.

Jan. 19/Alma College Service Learning classes sponsor a campus blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 in the Stone Recreation Center Multipurpose Room. Call (989) 463-7971 to register and volunteer.

Jan. 19/The fourth annual Alma College Martin Luther King Jr. Poetry Slam features an open microphone and audience participation by faculty and students reading original and published poetry at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 in the Tyler-VanDusen Rotunda.

Jan. 20/Alma College celebrates the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday, Jan. 20 with public television viewings at various campus sites. Following the inauguration, a panel discussion with faculty members and civil rights activists on “Where Do We Go From Here?” takes place at 4 p.m. in the Dow Science Center Room L-4. The discussion focuses on placing President Obama’s inauguration into an historic context.

Jan. 20/Students present their reflections on Dr. King and his legacy at Dreamfest ’09 (formerly known as the Reflections Contest) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Clack Theatre. Submissions, focused on this year’s theme, “Where Do We Go From Here?” will be judged, with cash prizes awarded to three presenters. Pizza is provided.

Jan. 20/Michigan Service Scholars (MSS) training takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Dow Science Complex Room L-2. MSS is an AmeriCorps program that encourages students to serve on their campuses and in their communities. Students who volunteer 300 hours of service are eligible to earn a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award. Contact Anne Ritz, ritz@alma.edu, Service Learning Office, for information.

Jan. 22/Students, faculty and staff are invited to join Alpha Phi Omega to serve the Community Cafe meal provided by Sodexho through meal/point donations from students, faculty and staff. The meal is served from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 at First Presbyterian Church in Alma.

Jan. 24/Alma College students volunteer with youth at Kids Night Out at Alma High School from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. Volunteers supervise games, movies and recreation.
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