Source: Myra Gordon, 785-532-6276, mygordon@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.k-state.edu/ddcd/2011mlkweekposter.pdf
News release prepared by: Emily Vietti, 785-532-2535, evietti@k-state.edu

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011

'THE DREAMER SPEAKS AGAIN' DURING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. OBSERVANCE EVENTS

MANHATTAN -- For the first time in more than 40 years the voice of Martin Luther King Jr. will reverberate through the halls of Kansas State University.

The theme of this year's celebration, "The Dreamer Speaks Again," refers to the recent discovery of an audio recording of the convocation speech King gave at K-State Jan. 19, 1968. The tape will be played at the Thursday, Jan. 27, Martin Luther King Fellowship Luncheon. The tape's debut will be followed by the reactions and recollections of three men who shared the K-State platform with King in 1968: William Boyer, George Haley and Homer Floyd.

"For years, I've been saying that it's mindboggling that there wasn't a recording of the event," said Myra Gordon, K-State associate provost for diversity and dual career development. "Even though the convocation was in the '60s it was incomprehensible to me that it wouldn't have been recorded in some way. Then just as we tried to bring more sophistication and more weight to our celebrations here, we've now been blessed by the revelations of more information and more artifacts that help tell the whole story of Dr. King's historic visit to K-State, including this tape."

But the luncheon isn't the only event during K-State's Martin Luther King celebration and observance. Other events, all open to the public unless otherwise noted, include:

* Monday, Jan. 17, HandsOn Kansas State's Day of Service will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested in volunteering should meet at the Manhattan Town Center Mall at 9:30 a.m., and will have the opportunity to sign up for different shifts. Hundreds of K-State students, faculty, staff and community members volunteer at community sites across the greater Manhattan area as a way to honor King's commitment to service and social justice. For additional information, contact HandsOn Kansas State at userve@k-state.edu or call 785-532-3670.

* Thursday, Jan. 20, the College of Architecture, Planning and Design's third annual diversity lecture will be at 4 p.m. in the K-State Student Union Little Theater. The speaker will be Curtis Moody, president and CEO of Moody/Noland Inc., a noted design firm with locations throughout the United States. Moody will discuss "The Challenges of an Architectural Firm."

* Tuesday, Jan. 25, the College of Agriculture's seventh annual Diversity Student Leaders Luncheon will feature Rodney D. Somerville, executive immunology specialist with Centocor Ortho Biotech. His address will be "A Crossroad at Midnight." The luncheon starts at 12:30 p.m. in the Union's Flinthills Room; contact Zelia Wiley, assistant dean for diversity in the College of Agriculture, at zwiley@k-state.edu, for reservations. A reception honoring a K-State faculty member and student for their efforts in enhancing diversity will be at 3:30 p.m. at the K-State Alumni Center. This year's awardees are Samuel Brinton, senior in mechanical engineering-nuclear engineering option and vocal performance, Manhattan, who is receiving the Commerce Bank Presidential Student Award for Distinguished Services in Enhancing Multiculturalism; and Wiley, who is receiving the Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students.

* Wednesday, Jan. 26, the College of Business Administration's 12th annual diversity lecture is at 10:30 a.m. in the Union's Forum Hall. Tunde Odunayo, CEO of Honeywell Flour Mills in Nigeria, will talk about his experience building a world-class company in the Nigerian private sector. Also Jan. 26, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity's annual candlelight vigil will start at 7 p.m. in Forum Hall, and be followed by a hot chocolate social, sponsored by the K-State School of Leadership Studies, in the hall's foyer.

* Thursday, Jan. 27, will feature the MLK Fellowship Luncheon and "The Dreamer Speaks Again" from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alumni Center Ballroom. This historic event is free and open to the public. Lunch is $12 and attendees are encouraged to make their reservations early. The reservation form is available online at http://www.k-state.edu/ddcd/MLKLunchReservationForm.htm.

* Friday, Jan. 28, Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week wraps up with some special events. The first is the third annual Brown Bag Luncheon for Diverse Faculty and Staff at noon in the Union's Sunflower Room. The week concludes with the annual laying of the wreaths at the K-State's King commemorative bust. Those who wish to join the processional are requested to report to the Multicultural Student Organization office on the first floor of the Union at 1:45 p.m.

More details are available at http://www.k-state.edu/ddcd/2011mlkweekposter.pdf.