Beginning Jan. 17, MSU will host a series of events as part of the university’s 40th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration.
The greater Lansing community is invited to join MSU students, faculty and staff in activities and events in honor of MLK. Events will include concerts, conferences, service projects, film screenings of “On the Basis of Sex” and “Hidden Figures” and art exhibits, among many others.
The theme for the 2020 event is “Still I Rise,” named after the famous poem by Maya Angelou, highlighting spirit in the face of oppression: “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.”
In 1980, a graduate student at MSU founded the Committee Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or ccMLKJr, marking the first program to commemorate the civil rights leader at MSU. In honor of MLK, a tree was planted and dedicated near the Student Services Building and a bust mounted in the lobby of the Student Services Building was gifted by the Wonders Hall Black Caucus. The Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives began coordinating the MLK activities at MSU in 2000 and was successful in endowing a scholarship program in his name in 2003.
Additionally, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, providing women the right to vote, as well as the 150th anniversary of female students attending MSU. Both will be celebrated in the week of events, highlighting the accomplishments of women to civil rights and social equity throughout history.
The events include:
University Wide Diversity Research Showcase: Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the MSU Union MOSAIC: Multicultural Unity Center and Lake Huron Room. Event will include poster and oral presentations, followed by awards and reception.
MLK Commemorative Celebration Films: Jan. 18, 19 and 20, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Rooms 117 and 119 of Wells Hall. Shown at the Campus Center Cinema, across from the Wells Starbucks.
- “On the Basis of Sex” (2h)
- “Hidden Figures” (2h 7m)
Sponsored by RHA and WACSS. See events calendar for more details.
“Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest” concerts: Jan. 19, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the MSU Fairchild Theatre. The event is free, but tickets are required and can be obtained by phone at 517-353-5340 or in Music Building, Room 102. Sponsored by the College of Music and the Jazz Studies Program.
Exercise Your Rights and Vote!: Jan. 20, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the main lounge of the MSU Union. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gives women citizens the right to vote for the first time, a Voter Registration Drive and Resource Fair will be held.
Student Leadership Conference: Jan. 20, 9 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. in the Union Building. Registration required to attend luncheon program. Workshops, panel discussions, student speakers, entertainment, special recognition of phenomenal women students at MSU, prizes and giveaways are part of the event.
Health and Wellness Service Projects: Jan. 20, 21 and 22, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Room 113 of Linton Hall. Faculty, staff and postdocs are invited to volunteer together to write cards, decorate placemats, create a craft, provide inspirational quotes and donate in an effort to provide health and wellness packages for Haven House, Child and Family Charities, MSU Safe Place, MSU Center for Survivors and the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing. Many donation boxes can be found throughout campus to accept donations for several person items.
Social Justice Exhibit and Tour - “Finding Our Voice: Sister Survivors Speak:”
Visit the MSU Museum Exhibits:
· Finding Our Voice: Sister Survivors Speak, located in the main gallery from April 16, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
· Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II, located in the ground floor gallery from Jan. 15, 2020 to May 1, 2020.
Visiting the museum is free to the public, and donations are welcome.
Commemorative March for Social Justice: Jan. 20, 3 p.m. at the Union Building. March captains and members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will lead this march. All are welcome to meet in the main lounge in the first floor of the MSU Union Building. Join students, staff, faculty and community members in a symbolic march for social justice, equity, civil and human rights.
MLK Community Scholarship Dinner: Jan. 20, 5 p.m., doors open at 4:45 p.m., in the Hubbard Hall Dining Room. Reservations required. Hosted by Residence Education and Housing Services. This dinner was intended primarily for faculty and staff who work on MLK Day, and the community dinner is free and faculty, staff, students and off-campus communities are welcome to attend. A short program is planned with Brenda Nelson, culinary services manager, as the keynote speaker. Many others will be in attendance, including President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., Office of Inclusion Director Paulette Granberry Russell, vice presidents, deans, board members and more.
Sponsored by RHS, Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives and the CTU.
“Morning Coffee & Conversation”: Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Lake Huron Room of the MSU Union. Faculty and staff are invited to join us for coffee and conversation. The event will honor and acknowledge the contributions of historically underrepresented professionals at MSU. Invited guests will share their experiences and contributions at MSU. Hosted by the MSU IDEA Coordinators’ Committee and the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives – coffee, tea and a light breakfast provided. RSVP here.
Social Justice Art Festival: Jan. 24, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Second Floor of Snyder-Phillips Hall. The Social Justice Art Festival is a one-day festival that engages students, faculty, staff and the greater East Lansing community around social justice topics through artistic expression. Join the Facebook event here.
“Ring of Silence” Film Screening: Jan. 28. The Development and Alumni Relations Office at the College of Nursing will be hosting a film screening of “Ring of Silence" at the Kellogg Center Auditorium. This powerful film depicts the true story of human sex trafficking in modern-day society.
The film’s director and writer, Nicole Bowers-Wallace, will give an in-depth introduction to the film followed by Q & A session. A guided discussion will also take place that teaches clinical application of identifying victims. Register to attend here.
