January 11, 2002

Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.

KU officials to participate in events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

LAWRENCE -- Two University of Kansas officials will participate in Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations.

In Topeka, a march will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18. Beginning at the Kansas Judicial Center, the march will end at the Capitol rotunda, where a presentation will feature Janet Murguia, executive vice chancellor for university relations at KU, as the keynote speaker. The Kansas Judicial Center is located at 301 W. 10th St. in Topeka.

In Lawrence, Chancellor Robert Hemenway will speak at the Lied Center at a commemorative service at 11:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21. Call the Lied Center at (785) 864-4060 for more information.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated officially on Jan. 21 this year. All university offices will be closed and there will be no classes.

Other area celebrations include:

 • "Equality: If Not Now, When?" an educational program hosted by Leo Barbee Jr. of Lawrence. The program will feature artwork from Lawrence public school students. The program takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at Stidham Student Union at Haskell Indian Nations University.

 • A banquet will include a program with Richard Littlebear of Dull Knife Memorial College, Lame Deer, Mont. Ecumenical Fellowship Inc. sponsors the event, which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19 in the Kansas Union Ballroom.

 • A gospel musical featuring Jackilyn McGovney of Plattsburg, Mo., local youth and adult choirs and director Anthony Jones of Topeka will take place at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at the Free Methodist Church of Lawrence. The church is located at 3001 Lawrence Ave.

 • Ecumenical Christian Ministries will present "Eyes on the Prize," a video documentary on Martin Luther King Jr., at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.

 • Recently appointed U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson, a KU law graduate, will discuss public and civil rights at noon Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Building, 1204 Oread Ave.

 • A procession for solidarity and remembrance will move from Wescoe Beach to the Kansas Union starting at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25. A discussion with Robert Page, multicultural affairs, follows at 5 p.m.

 • Omofolabo Ajayi-Soyinka, theatre and film, will present her one-woman theatre performance, "Phyllis Wheatley, Freedoms Poet, 1754-1785," at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at the ECM Center, 1204 Oread Ave. Martin Luther King Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1929. King was a minister and civil rights leader best known for his speeches, including the famous "I Have a Dream." In 1964, King became the youngest man, second American and third black man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

King was shot and killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, by James Earl Ray.

The official holiday, which takes place on the third Monday of January, began in 1986. It was the first holiday created since 1948, when Memorial Day was established.

King is the only American besides George Washington to have a national holiday designated for his birthday.