Michigan Tech scheduled a series of events the week of Jan. 21-26, in recognition of Martin Luther King's birthday, observed Monday, Jan. 21. The MLK events are sponsored by the Black Student Association and Educational Opportunity.

MLK Week observances were capped by the Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. State Representative George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit) was the keynote speaker; he was introduced by State Rep. Mike Lahti (D-Hancock).

In addition to serving in the State House of Representatives from 1974 to 1982, Cushingberry chairs the House Appropriations Committee. He also served on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for 16 years, practices law, and is an assistant pastor of New Starlight Baptist Church.

The MLK Gospel Choir gave a performance dedicated to Inetta Harris, who died Jan. 14. Harris, a former faculty member in the fine arts department, directed the University's Echoes from Heaven Gospel Choir from 1994 to 2003. Dinner was provided by the Michigan Tech Memorial Union staff

On Monday in recognition of Martin Luther King Day. At noon, senior Vincent Iduma delivered King's "I Have a Dream" speech outside the Memorial Union. A candle-lighting ceremony was held, followed by a walk to the Rozsa Center. In the Horner Lobby, two undergraduates discussed their personal experiences at Michigan Tech and their hopes for the future. Lisa Grayson presented "Past to Present," and Tendi Hungwe gave the talk "Present to Future."

Assistant Professor Matthew Seigel (Humanities) gave a talk, "Mixing Blood: On a Diverse Lit, Obiter Dicta," Latin for "things which are said in passing." He also discussed the landscape of American literature post-King and the relationship between the civil rights movements of the 1950s, '60s and '70s and American literature.

On Wednesday Keweenaw Pride hosted "Eye of the Storm," based on the “Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes” exercise devised for a third-grade, all-white class in response to King's assassination in 1968. The exercise labels its participants as inferior or superior based on eye color, exposing them to the experiences of being a minority.

The BSA hosted a free movie, "Do the Right Thing," and discussion on Thursday.

For more information, call Educational Opportunity at 487-2920

News Story: "Unity, progress called for at MLK dinner" by Dan Schneider/Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton ( PDF)