Ohio State Honors Legacy of Martin Luther King

1-11-99
OHIO STATE OFFERS TRIBUTE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University will celebrate the 
life and times of Martin Luther King Jr. with a campus 
recognition program, a luncheon and community service projects 
designed to honor King’s legacy of leadership and service.
The Rev. Calvin Butts III, pastor of Harlem’s Abyssinian 
Baptist Church in New York City and a civil rights activist, will 
address the Office of Minority Affairs’ 27th annual tribute to 
King Wednesday (1/13) at 7 p.m. in the Ohio Union Conference 
Theater, 1739 N. High St.  The event is free and open to the 
public, and will feature a dance performance by community member 
Kelly Howard and music from choirs New Dimensions and African 
American Voices. 
“When we think of the ‘greats’ in our history, there is no 
doubt that the name Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has its eminent 
place.  His life and all that it embodied -- with so much passion 
to make things right for the underserved of our nation -- must 
never be diminished,” said Barbara Rich, interim vice provost for 
minority affairs.  “When we look at our present student body and 
remember that most were not even born when Dr. King was alive, it 
becomes a necessary and sustained function to call attention to 
and celebrate the significant contributions of this great scholar 
and civil rights leader.”
Also on Wednesday, several Ohio State students will spend 
two hours at Project Open Hand at the Summit United Methodist 
Church, 82 E. 16th Ave., serving coffee and desserts while 
presenting readings in relation to King’s life.  The volunteers 
are part of a group of some 150 Ohio State students participating 
with the offices of Ethnic Student Services, Gender and Sexuality 
Services and Student Activities in “Serving the Legacy,” a 
community service project designed to celebrate the work and 
ideals of King.  The students will also volunteer at seven other 
community service organizations throughout Columbus Friday (1/15) 
and Monday (1/18).   
“Dr. King is one of the most prolific Black leaders of our 
times, and we wanted to celebrate his life and contributions by 
fulfilling his legacy of service,” said Janice Hoffman, director 
of Ethnic Student Services.  “We wanted diverse activities that 
would offer students the opportunity to perform service in and 
around the campus community to get to know others in the 
community in small, interpersonal groups.”
In addition, participants in the new Minority Service 
Leaders Program will hold a luncheon Monday (1/18) from 12:30 to 
2:30 p.m. in the Ohio Union Stecker Lounge.  Paula Inniss, 
president of Full Court Press, will speak during the luncheon, 
which will kick off the program.
The leadership program is part of a new Leadership Institute 
that offers service-learning, speakers, workshops and programming 
to give students experience with community service.
“The Minority Service Leaders Program addresses leadership 
in the context of the ethnic minority experience,” said Becky 
Parker, director of the Ohio Unions and chair of the program.  As 
such, she said she chose to launch the minority service program 
on the King holiday in honor of the ideals of leadership and 
community service that King embodied.
The service leaders program will include 24 Ohio State 
students who will spend the next several months attending 
leadership seminars and volunteering weekly through the Weinland 
Park Community Collaborative.  The students will be introduced at 
the luncheon.
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Contact:  Barbara Rich, interim vice provost for minority 
  affairs, (614) 292-4355; 
  Janice Hoffman, director of Ethnic Student Services, 
  (614) 688-4981; and 
  Becky Parker, director of the Ohio Unions, 
  (614) 292-7924.
Written by Tracy Turner, University Communications, 
(614) 688-3682.