MLK day observed late for students' benefit

The dream will rise again with this year's Martin Luther King Commemoration.

This Saturday's Martin Luther King Commemoration will feature keynote speaker Dr. Vincent Harding. Harding, currently a professor of Religion and Social Transformation at The Iliff School of Theology at Denver, has also been the senior advisor of the well known PBS television series, Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, chairperson of the nationally televised Black Heritage series and author of the publication Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero (1996).

"[We chose Harding to speak because of] his investment in the rich history of the Civil Rights Movement. He was also a close friend of Martin Luther King," said Bill Stackman, associate dean of students. Stackman is currently chairperson of the Martin Luther King Commemoration Committee. "This program has been in existence since 1986. I am excited about this year's program," he said.

Harding will also host a closer discussion with students this Saturday morning in the Fowler Room of Carnegie. "We thought it would be good if he talked with students," said Stackman.

First-year Rosa Hyde was optimistic about the upcoming program. "It was nice to help out and show I cared about what was going on. I think the program should turn out pretty well, " she said.

Stackman was also optimistic about the potential increase in student attendance. "Historically, we've done it in January closer to [Martin Luther King Day], but many students were not here. This is the first time in history we have had it during spring semester," he said. This year the committee decided to move the commemoration immediately after Winter Term in order to provide all students the opportunity to attend. "This program is excellent for bring town and campus together. We want to continue this. Some students said they would like to attend and we would hope student participation would be larger," he said.

Sophomore Alyson Cambridge will give the welcoming address. "She is a member of Abusua, but we also looked for someone who was active in the community," said Stackman. Cambridge recently designed the Oberlin High School College Guidance Workshop Program in order to provide college information for Oberlin high school seniors. Cambridge was unavailable for comment.

Along with the important message of Martin Luther King's contribution to African-American history, various forms of entertainment, performance and singing will be provided. Among a list of selections, Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, sometimes referred to as the African-American National Anthem, will be sung by the Oberlin College Choir and directed by Hugh Ferguson Floyd.

In previous years, members of the audience were encouraged to stand at their seats and sing with the choir. "Messengers of God," a troupe of children and adults from ages 8 to 18, will also provide entertainment. "They will act out different expressions using imagery and entertainment," said Hyde. The group is from Elyria and will be directed by Mazzie Garret.

The commemoration will end with a reception. "People are welcome to the reception in the hallway of Warner. It is open to everyone," said Stackman.