REMEMBER — CELEBRATE — ACT
A DAY ON — NOT A DAY OFF

The University of South Carolina will commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a number of planned events beginning Thursday, Jan. 12.

This will mark the 23rd consecutive year that the university has held a formal program to pay tribute to the late civil rights leader.

King Day activities will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, when the USC Black Law Students Association sponsors a symposium at the law school auditorium.

Guest speaker will be Jesse Washington, Jr., commissioner of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. As commissioner, Washington serves as the state’s chief law enforcement officer with respect to issues of equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, fair housing and community relations.

The Law School program is open to the public at no cost and will be followed by a reception.

MLK events continue with a commemorative breakfast Friday, Jan. 13, at 7:30 a.m. in the Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium. Featured speaker will be the Rev. Charles B. Jackson Jr., pastor of New Laurel Street Baptist Church.

This event is open to all faculty, staff and students, as well as to the public. Cost of the breakfast is $8 per person and $5 for students. Tickets for the breakfast are on sale at the Carolina Coliseum Box Office. Shuttle service to Williams-Brice will be provided for University employees from Russell House University Union and 743 Greene Street, leaving at 6:45 a.m. and returning to those locations after the event concludes.

The university will continue its celebration Monday, Jan. 16, with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event that is sponsored by USC's Office of Community Services and the USC Department of Student Life. Service Day activities will take place from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Students will gather at 8:30 a.m. in the Russell House Ballroom for their assisgnments.

This will be USC's Ninth Annual Day of Service. Last year more than 550 students, staff, and faculty participated in the Day of Service. Students provided cleaning and gardening services for the elderly, hosted a carnival for 1,000 children, planted two gardens in memory of Dr. King, raised funding for the Modjeska Simpkins’ Home, and cleaned the Midlands wetlands. Through the years, this project has provided students the opportunity to create a tangible expression of their concerns for the community. To read about what will be happening this year, link to the Carolina Today feature, "Carolina prepares for MLK Day of Service."

On Monday, Jan. 16, at 6:30 p.m., the Koger Center will come alive with the sound of gospel music as the annual MLK Gospel Unity Fest honors King's life and legacy. The renowned Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's are this year's featured group. Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's have performed for more than three decades a gospel messsage filled with memorable melodies, sweet harmony and a beat that keeps your toes tapping. In 2004, the group won five Stellar Awards for their traditional gospel sound. They have again been nominated as Quartet of the Year, results of which will be announced at the 21st annual Stellar Awards on Jan. 21, 2006, in Nashville, TN.

Also performing will be the C. B. Jackson Singers of Brookland Baptist Church and The Gospel Redeemers, a Columbia quartet. The Rev. Ed McDowell of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church in Columbia will speak.

All seats are reserved, and tickets are on sale at the Carolina Coliseum Box Office for $10. Net proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the I. DeQuincy Newman Institute for Peace and Social Change.

Thursday, January 12, 2006
Black Law School Students Association Symposium—6 p.m., Law School Auditorium. Speaker: Jesse Washington, Jr., commissioner of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. Open to the public at no cost and will be followed by a reception.

Friday, January 13, 2006
Commemorative Breakfast—7:30 a.m., The Zone, Williams-Brice Stadium. Tickets: $8, available now at the Carolina Coliseum Box Office. Featured Speaker: Rev. Charles B. Jackson Jr., pastor of New Laurel Street Baptist Church. Sponsored by the University of South Carolina in cooperation with the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, the USC Athletics Department and the USC Student Government Association

Monday, January 16, 2006
Service Day Events

• 8:30 - 8:45 a.m.—Project assignments, Russell House Second Floor Lobby.

• 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.—Service Projects (Greater Columbia Community). Sponsored by USC's Office of Community Services and the USC Department of Student Life. To read about what will be happening this year, link to the Carolina Today feature, "Carolina prepares for MLK Day of Service."

MLK Gospel Unity Fest—An Evening to Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—6:30 p.m., Koger Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: $10, available now at the Carolina Coliseum Box Office. Featuring Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC's, The Gospel Redeemers and the C. B. Jackson Singers. Sponsored by the University of South Carolina in cooperation with the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee, the USC Athletics Department, the USC Student Government Association, and the Black Faculty and Staff Association. For more information, contact the USC Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at 803-777-3854.

Related Links

King Celebration 2006
Sponsored by The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, Inc., this site includes a listing of local, national and international events that are planned for the 2004 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

The King Center
Official website for The King Center, established in 1968 in Atlanta by Coretta Scott King as a memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Directory
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University have compiled primary and secondary documents covering the life and career of the civil rights leader. The site contains a biography, a chronology of King's life, articles, and a searchable bibliography of reference sources. The site also includes access to letters, speeches, and commentary written by King. A simple, free registration form is required to access the primary documents.