Welcome to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration 2009!
This 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration marks the 15th anniversary of this observation on Indiana University's Bloomington (IUB) campus. This year, the infectious positive spirit of countless individual acts of community service is acknowledged by our theme, "The Power of One: Taking Action in a Time of Challenge and Controversy."
One person who could be said to exemplify the power of one on the IUB campus is Ryan Vertner. On December 10, 1996, Mr. Vertner, an African American Wells Scholar and member of the "Student Coalition", led a non-violent campus protest of 500 students from various organizations, including Black Student Union, IU Student Association, American Indian Association, Latinos Unidos, Asian American Association and the Indian Student Association. Representing less than 1 percent of the student population, this protest nevertheless culminated in Mr. Vertner's presentation of a list of demands to the former IU Vice President and Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth R. R. Gros Louis.
The next day, the Bloomington Herald-Times brought more attention to the issue by publishing the article, "IU Groups Want King Day Classes Cancelled." That article was followed, on January 24, 1997, by a declaration by the Indiana University Board of Trustees that, henceforth, on the third Monday of every January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day would be observed on the IUB campus with the cancellation of all classes on that day. Mr. Vertner, who would later that year be named a Truman Scholar, replied when he heard the news, "I am really happy to see that they [the IU Board of Trustees] got on board...I think they will be surprised to see the extend to which students will be willing to engage in meaningful educational activities with that day."
As in the past years, the myriad educational activities and individual acts of community service currently being planned by IUB students to observe this 15th MLK Day Celebration prove just how right Mr. Vertner was.
On behalf of the 2009 IUB Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Committee we would like to extend you the invitation to be a part of this commemoration. You will find a full schedule of events and contact information on our calendar icon. Help make this Dr. King Day 2009 a celebration to remember!
Sincerely,
Kathy Smith and Martin McCrory
Indiana University Bloomington Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Co-chairs
