For the first time in its history, Mars Hill University will cancel classes on Monday, January 19, 2015 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Led by the MHU Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, the university has developed a day-long series of programs and activities including a prayer breakfast; a community engagement project; a unity march; lectures, museum tours, food and music, and a documentary feature film about King’s life and work.
According to Tom Destino, chair of the university’s Intercultural Committee, the day’s activities speak directly to several core values of the MHU strategic plan, namely, respect for diversity, ethical citizenship, a culture of service, and free and open intellectual inquiry. These values, he said, will be exemplified throughout the activities across campus on January 19.
“We honor Dr. King because of the timeless values he taught us through his example – values like courage, truth, justice, compassion, humility, dignity, and service. In this day of celebration at MHU, we will commemorate Dr. King by creating an atmosphere of vibrant sister and brotherhood on campus, and embrace the unity of all peoples in love and truth,” Destino said.
A full schedule for the day is listed below:
- Breakfast discussion for faculty and staff: “Creating Dr. King’s Beloved Community at Mars Hill University.” 8:30 am, Redway Dining Room
- Unity March, 10 am, beginning at Broyhill Chapel
- Drop-off for children ages 3-10 for supervised activities, 10:15 am, Nash Hall lobby
- Plenary session: “Ethics and Dr. Martin Luther King,” Dr. John Wells, Executive VP; guests: Urban Arts Institute HighSteppers. 10:30am, Moore Auditorium
- Documentary: “At the River I Stand: King’s Final Days,” followed by a discussion with Dr. Brett Johnson, assistant professor of sociology, two showings, at 12 noon and 3:30 pm, Belk Auditorium
- Guided tours of the exhibition “Our Story/This Place: African American Education in Madison County,” three tours, at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 4 pm, at the Rural Heritage Museum
- Bailey Mountain hike, with recitation of Dr. King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” by Ryan Bell, Instructor of General Studies, 1 pm, meet at Broyhill Chapel
- “Beyond ‘I Have a Dream, ‘” a discussion with Dr. Heather Hawn, assistant professor of political science about King’s opposition to the Vietnam War, 2 pm, Belk Auditorium
- Community engagement project: packing food for Madison County families, 3 pm and 4 pm, Mars Hill Baptist Church
- Dinner: “Soul-FULL-Jazz” – Soul food and soulful jazz in the cafeteria, 5 pm, Pittman Dining Hall (dinner prices apply)
- Candlelight vigil and civil rights freedom songs, 6:30 pm, Ellen Amphitheatre (in front of Pittman Dining Hall)
