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ASU to celebrate MLK with weeklong events


December 29, 2011

In what could be considered a premonition, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared that if physical death is the price he must pay for the freedom of his brothers and sisters, it is one he would gladly accept.

To pay tribute to this devotion to equality and justice, Arizona State University will hold a series of special events in January at all four campuses. The weeklong events mark the 27th year that the university has participated in the celebration of King.

“Celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has always been important to ASU,” said Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, MLK committee chair. “While the ASU MLK committee does a series of activities in January to honor Dr. King, we as a university honor his legacy all year round with our commitment to creating community, sustainability and technologies to make the world a better place.”

The MLK Day of Service to honor King’s legacy will take place on Jan. 16 on all campuses. This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, visit http://volunteer.asu.edu.


On Jan. 18, the annual March on West will take place at the Paley Gates at ASU’s West campus beginning at 11 a.m. In keeping with tradition, local middle school students will visit the campus for the traditional “I Have a Dream” speech and historical March on Washington reenactment. This event is free and open to the public.

The student rally will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 19, on Hayden Lawn, at ASU’s Tempe campus. MLK Student-Servant Leadership Award winner Timothy Huffman will present on his inspiring work with homeless youth in the community. The rally will also feature presentations and cultural performances from other ASU students. This event is free and open to the public.

The MLK Breakfast Celebration, from 7 to 9 a.m., Jan. 23, in La Sala Ballroom, at the West campus, will honor MLK Servant-Leadership Award winners Bob Ramsey and Jenny Norton of the Ramsey Justice Foundation and student award winner Timothy Huffman. Invitation only.

For more information, please visit http://asu.edu/mlk/.