Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Penn State Intercom......December 7, 2000

Student's poster gives strong visual
representation to powerful message

Li Lam's earliest recollection of a budding artistic talent involved splashing a paintbrush across a blank page, creating images limited only by the imagination of a grammar school dreamer.

It was a love she carried with her throughout her childhood near Biloxi, Miss., honed during her teen-age years and adapted as she entered college.

"I used to paint quite a bit," said Lam, now a senior in the graphic design program and far removed from her primitive childhood easel. "Painting is more intuition. Graphic art is more rationale and reason. It's a problem-solving process."

When the University's Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration committee again called upon Lanny Sommese's graphic design class to come up with posters to portray the theme of next January's program, Lam saw an opportunity to combine her passion of the past with her skills of the present.

The result was the overwhelming choice by the committee to provide the image that will be attached to the upcoming commemoration through numerous posters, fliers and buttons that will be appearing across campus in the coming weeks.

The design features a black and white silhouette of marchers depicted in the familiar civil rights-era photograph by James Karales. Above the stark image is a vibrant watercolor rainbow set against a purple-gray sky and descending into an American flag carried by one of the marchers in the photo image.

"The rainbow was in my head from the very beginning," said Lam. "The theme 'Overcoming the Barriers, Fulfilling the Promise' just made me instantly think of a rainbow -- particularly the last word, promise."

The creation of this work involved photocopying Karales' photograph five times to darkly contrast the marchers from the background. The image was then scanned into a computer, where it was touched up and combined with the painted sky and arching colors.

Particularly challenging for Lam and other students in the class was creating an image that not only gives a face to the theme but is both eye-catching and can be printed in several sizes.

The array of skill used in the production of this photo should serve Lam well as she prepares to pursue a professional career in the arts. Ideally, she would like to explore all aspects of the art profession through a job with a full-working design firm, creating posters, brochures, compact disc covers and a variety of other visual products.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration at University Park will be held Jan. 12-21. The program will be highlighted by a student-sponsored day of service and community bell-ringing ceremony on Monday, Jan. 15. Other Penn State campuses also have planned commemorations (see schedule on page 5). For more information, check the Web at http://www.equity.psu.edu/mlk/.

University Park observance
to have different focus

By Tysen Kendig
Public Information

It's been more than three decades since Martin Luther King Jr. first cast the bright rays of civility and hope upon a nation shrouded by the darkness of racism and hate.

Penn State will again harness the light wrought by King's dreams of civil harmony and try to make it a year-round model for living and interacting with others through its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration in January.

The University Park observance will have a different focus than in previous years. Organizers have chosen to use more resources to support activities and programs from participating student and administrative units on campus rather than centering the program around a keynote speaker.

The result at this stage of preparation is a full week of celebrations, artistic productions, and volunteer activities for faculty, staff and students. The slate of events is united under the common theme "Overcoming the Barriers, Fulfilling the Promise."

"This year we found ourselves in the rare situation of having Dr. King's birthday fall on the national holiday," said Thomas G. Poole, associate vice provost for educational equity and chair of the planning committee. "That means that Monday, Jan. 15, is going to be a day full of remembrances. We decided that we would help to coordinate and publicize events rather than compete with the other celebrations.

"It's our hope that we'll have an outstanding array of events and programs that celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and offer outlets for the community to contribute to making his dreams and ideals of civility and equality a reality -- without concentrating solely on one day," he added. "Ideally, we hope the commemoration demonstrates the way people can and should live and work together -- both as college students and as members of a civilized society."

Student groups have answered this call, contributing to a diverse schedule of events highlighted by the annual Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 15. The Day of Service, which has been deemed a "day on, not a day off," provides volunteer opportunities for students around scheduled classes. Service project categories include multiculturalism, elderly, children and youth, health, homeless and poor, environmentalism, literacy and disability.

The day will culminate in an evening celebration for student volunteers in Rec Hall at 6:30 p.m.

"We want people to become aware of the values of the day -- the ethics that motivated Dr. King and serve as an inspiration to us today," said Tony Huang, director of the Undergraduate Student Government's 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Day initiative.

Bookending the weeklong celebration will be a theatrical production of "The Meeting," which details a fictitious meeting between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X at the Victoria Hotel in New York the night before Malcolm's assassination. Directed by Charles Dumas, associate professor of theatre arts, and featuring theatre graduate students Herb Newsome and Jarvis George, the thought-provoking play portrays the adversarial discussion of ideas between King and Malcolm, resulting in a newfound respect between the two men.

In addition, another project by Dumas will premiere in conjunction with the King celebration. Approximately 100 students and professional actors collaborated on "Surfacing," a film production that conveys the atmosphere of student activism in the 1970s at a fictitious Pennsylvania State College. The film flashes forward 20 years, where those students reflect on activism and try to communicate its importance with today's comparatively apathetic students.

The planning committee has selected a logo that ties in the theme of the commemoration. Designed by visual art student Li Lam, the image will appear on posters, fliers and buttons that will be distributed across campus.

For more information on the
Martin Luther King Jr. commem-
oration, check the Web at http://www.equity.psu.edu/mlk.

Variety of events are planned
across the University

The following University locations have planned activities to celebrate and commemorate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.:

Altoona

* Jan. 14, 4 p.m.: Community Unity Vigil, Eve Chapel.

* Jan. 14, 8 p.m.: "Martin's Story," Slep Student Center.

* Jan. 15, noon: Faculty/staff in-service, "Civility in an Uncivil World: Social Justice in Everyday Life," Slep Student Center.

* Jan. 17, noon: Lunch discussion, "Forgive Me Martin, I'm Swingin', Not Singin'," Slep Student Center.

* Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m.: "King's Dream," Community Arts Center Theatre, sponsored by the Office of Student Life.

* Jan. 19 6 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Tournament, Adler Gym.

* Jan. 20, 8 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Banquet, Slep Student Center.

Beaver

* Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m.: "King's Dream," a live performance multimedia presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement, Auditorium of the Study Learning Center. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance. The program is free to all campus and community members.

Berks

* Jan. 15, 1 p.m.: Bryan Barrows on "Who Was Martin Luther King?" Barrows tells the story of the evolution of the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.'s place in it.

* Jan. 22, 1 p.m.: "King's Dream," a live performance multimedia presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance.

Delaware County

* Jan. 15, 12:30 p.m.: "Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream in the 21st Century," by Joseph Selden, director of multicultural programs in the College of Communications at University Park. Location to be announced. This event kicks off a monthlong series of activities in honor of King to be held at the campus. Other events include the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, during which faculty, staff and students will be involved in volunteer service projects to mentor children making arts and crafts for a nursing home; a food and clothing drive to provide donations to homeless shelters and Welfare to Work Program; a group discussion "Open Expression" on diversity issues; poetry readings and personal reflections on King; faculty reviews of the speeches of Martin Luther King; and a musical presentation by the Penn State Gospel Ensemble.

DuBois

* Jan. 17, 7 p.m.: "King's Dream," Hiller Building Auditorium. "King's Dream" is a live-performance, multi-media presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance. The event is free to the public.

Hazleton

* Jan. 11-18: Exhibition of winning entries and all other submissions to the third annual Martin Luther King "Sharing the Dream" competition, Laurel Mall. The theme for the competition is "Living the Dream Today, Why is the Dream Still Important."

* Jan. 15, 7 p.m.: An evening of inspiration and celebration of the works of Martin Luther King Jr. The program will feature readings and performances, as well as an "open podium" for readings from the audience.

Lehigh Valley

* Jan. 24, 1 p.m.: "King's Dream," a live performance multimedia presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance.

McKeesport

* Jan. 16, 4-6 p.m.: "I had a dream: A conversation with a friend," Buck Union Building stage area. This one-man performance by Gregory Kinney weaves a dreamed meeting between the performer and Martin Luther King Jr.

* Jan. 17, noon to 1:30 p.m.: "King's Dream," a live performance multimedia presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement, in the Buck Union Building stage area. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance.

Mont Alto

* Jan. 15, 7:30 p.m.: MLK Jr. Candlelight Ceremony, in front of Wiestling Hall. This event will include student and staff speakers, music and a candlelighting ceremony.

* Jan. 15, all day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

* Feb. 8, 8 p.m.: Vocal Theatre Show, "King's Dream," General Studies Auditorium. "King's Dream" is a live performance multimedia presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement, in the Buck Union Building stage area. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance.

New Kensington

* Jan. 15, noon: Free "birthday cake" and punch for students, faculty and staff; distribution of MLK buttons and audio recordings of famous speeches by King will be played, PSNK Theatre Lobby

* Jan. 16, 2-3 p.m.: Martin Luther King Jr. Service Volunteer Day, Big Brothers/Big Sisters "C.O.U.L. Kids Club."

* Jan. 18, noon: Martin Luther King Jr. Service Volunteer Day, People's Library

* Jan. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.: Martin Luther King Luncheon, open to the public, PSNK Art Gallery. Price: $6 per person.

* Jan. 19, 12:30 p.m.: "King's Dream," a live performance multimedia presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. This celebration of diversity, tolerance and nonviolence transports viewers back in time to relive America's turbulent '60s through narrative, archival film footage and live musical performances of songs that tell the story of pain and perseverance. PSNK Forum Theatre, free to the public.

University Park

* Jan. 12-13, 7 p.m.: Play -- "The Meeting," Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.

* Jan. 14, 7 p.m.: Film World Premiere -- "Surfacing," HUB-Robeson Center (specific location to be determined).

* Jan. 15, all day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; Contact Tony Huang, USG Day of Service director, (814) 235-2819.

* Jan. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Continuous showings of the following films in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Room 19, HUB-Robeson Center: "In Remembrance of Martin," "The Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr." and "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- A Historical Perspective."

* Jan. 15, 11:30 a.m.: Community Commemorative Bell Ringing Ceremony, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Contact: Lydia Abdullah, (814) 865-7641.

* Jan. 15, 6:30-10 p.m.: MLK Day of Service Celebration, Rec Hall.

* Jan. 15, 6 p.m.: Forum on Black Affairs MLK Jr. Banquet, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. For tickets e-mail Samuel Williams at svw6@psu.edu.

* Jan. 16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Continuous showings of the following films in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Room 19, HUB-Robeson Center: "In Remembrance of Martin," "The Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr." and "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- A Historical Perspective."

* Jan. 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Volunteer Fair, Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Contact: Sara Olson, (814) 863-4624.

* Jan. 17: Civil Rights Commemorative March, sponsored by Undergraduate Education. 11:30 a.m., Opening Ceremony, Old Main steps; 12:45 p.m., Closing Ceremony, Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Contact: Rick Coons at rrc3@psu.edu.

* Jan. 19-20, 7 p.m.: Play -- "The Meeting," Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.

* Jan. 21, 2 p.m.: Play -- "The Meeting," Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.

For more information on University Park events, check the Web at http://www.equity.psu.edu/mlk or http://www.clubs.psu.edu/usg/mlk

Worthington Scranton

* Jan. 15, noon: Ewabo, a steel orchestra, Study Learning Center. With an emphasis on the steeldrum, better known as "pan" to the people of its native land (Trinidad and Tobago), Ewabo musicians use their experiences and backgrounds to entertain and educate audiences on the potpourri of Caribbean culture.

* Jan. 19, noon: storyteller and poet Shindana Cooper, Study Learning Center. Cooper will guide her audience from a small African village, through the Middle Passage, from life on the plantation, to a safe house on the Underground Railroad. Her characterizations include Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod and Harriet Tubman.

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