Will feature essay winners, movies, speeches

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr., Ohio University Southern and its Council on Diversity and Inclusion will be having several events to celebrate his legacy.

There will be a showing of a movie, two of his speeches, the naming of the winners of the annual MLK essay contest and a drive to collect school supplies for area students.

“The events honor Dr. King’s legacy and are part of our commitment to diversity as a core  institutional value at Ohio University Southern,” said Robert Pleasant, associate director of Student Resource Commons. “By focusing on upholding his ideals for inclusion, we are working to ensure an environment that values all people.”

Nicole Pennington, Dean of Ohio Southern, said commemorating Dr. King upholds the purpose of the Southern’s Council on Diversity and Inclusion.

“We want each student, faculty and staff member to achieve their fullest potential in a campus climate that respects and values everyone,” she said.

On Jan. 17, OUS will have its annual MLK celebration, starting at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s theme is “King’s Vision: Humanity Tied to a Single Garment of Destiny.”

The event will include special musical performances, presentations by community members and the participants and winners of the annual MLK essay contest will be announced.

Refreshments will be served immediately after the program.

The event will be held in the Bowman Auditorium.

And on Jan. 22, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., there will be a showing of the movie “Selma,” which is about the famous Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. The movie will be shown in the Student Resources Commons Success Center in the Collins Center.

Dr. Deborah Marinski will host the movie and she will lead a discussion afterward. There will also be light refreshments served.

There will be two events that include a video series and discussion called “MLK Speaks.”
On Jan. 23, it will focus on King’s speech, “What is Your Life’s Blueprint?” and on Jan. 24 it will feature King’s most famous speech “I Have A Dream.” Both “MLK Speaks” events will be held from 2-3 p.m. in the Student Resource Commons Success Center on the second floor of the Collins Center.

The Council on Diversity and Inclusion is also spearheading an MLK School Supply Drive through February to collect school supplies for area children to help them get through the end of the school year. Donated items will be collected at the commemorative events throughout the month or may be dropped off at Ohio University Southern, 1804 Liberty Avenue in Ironton.

For more information, please contact Pleasant at 740-533-4608 or follow the events on the Ohio University Southern Facebook page. Additional details about the MLK events can be found online at www.ohio.edu/southern/events/diversity-events.cfm