Rogers State University students are planning a week’s worth of campus and community events that will celebrate the legacy of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Designated as the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Action 2005,” the students will participate in campus and community activities that will emphasize community service, action and peace.
The week of activities will kick off of Monday, Jan. 17, the official national holiday, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with an opening ceremony that will feature personal expressions of King’s message and vision through creative, musical and visual arts. Campus and community leaders are also expected to participate and speak to students during the event.
On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the RSU Chapter of the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive in the Student Union from 9 a.m to 2 p.m.
Also that day, teams of RSU students will visit the RSU Child Development Center and local pre-schools to read to children to promote early literacy and awareness of King’s life.
On Wednesday, Jan. 19, students will perform “Random Acts of Kindness” around campus and the community throughout the day. Planned efforts include doing clean-up projects, assisting citizens with tasks, and other projects. On campus, a “Cookie Patrol” will deliver special tokens of appreciation to campus support staff areas.
On Thursday, Jan. 20, a discussion group will be held from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Stratton Taylor Library. Dr. Guido Arze of the School of Liberal Arts will facilitate a group discussion on Dr. King’s writings. Copies of the readings will be available in the Student Affairs office, the reference desk of the Stratton Taylor Library and Baird Hall, Room 209.
Also that day, a team of students will visit the Claremore Veteran’s Center to volunteer and participate in activities there.
The week’s events will culminate on Friday, Jan. 21, with the “Living The Dream Live Benefit Concert,” starting at 7 p.m. at the Will Rogers Auditorium. Local musicians will perform during this event, which will benefit The Manger program of Claremore, which provides emergency assistance for families with infants and children five years old and under. Admission will be a monetary donation or a donation of non-perishable items, such as baby food, formula, diapers, etc.
Also during the week, faculty in various academic departments will incorporate service-learning components into their curriculums to coincide with the service focus of the Week of Action at RSU. These initiatives might include literacy, civic engagement, social justice, advocacy, volunteerism, civil disobedience, aging, moral cognition and ethics.
For more information on any of the Week of Action events, please contact the RSU Office of Student Affairs at (918) 343-7579. Details on the week’s events also will be broadcast on RSU Radio, 91.3 FM.