1/16/97 Contacts: Terry Hogan, Center for Community Service, 614/593-4028
ATHENS, Ohio -- Three community service projects, a candlelight vigil and a speaker are scheduled as part of Ohio University's observance of Martin Luther King Day on Monday (Jan. 20). A campus debate about California's anti-affirmative action initiative will follow on Wednesday (Jan. 22).
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity's annual candlelight vigil, scheduled for noon Monday at the College Gate, will kick off events celebrating King's life.
Immediately following the vigil, a reception featuring songs by the Gospel Voices of Faith and an address by Andre Ward, president of Alpha Phi Alpha's alumni chapter in the Greater Cincinnati area and former president of the Black Male Coalition of Cincinnati, will be held at Galbreath Chapel until 1 p.m.
At least 50 volunteers are expected to work on three projects Monday: helping repaint and restore the Athens County Children Services family visitation room; renovating the Smith Blair house at Amesville's Foothills School of the Arts into a community center; or participating in the Student Coalition for Action and Literacy Education (SCALE) book drive to provide free books to local schools. The projects were created in response to needs identified by community organizations, according to Mike Hess, special events coordinator for Ohio University's Center for Community Service. Service volunteers will depart from Galbreath Chapel at 1:15 p.m. and return at 5 p.m. Those interested in volunteering for the service projects should call 593-4007.
The service activities are sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Ohio University Center for Community Service, the Office of Multicultural Programs and the Appalachian Access AmeriCorps Program.
Events will continue Wednesday (Jan. 22) with a debate sponsored by the Martin Luther King Planning Committee and the Ohio University Office of Institutional Equity. The debate, to be held at 7 p.m. in 194 Irvine Auditorium, will focus on issues surrounding Proposition 209, the California Civil Rights initiative to bar affirmative action programs. The proposition passed in November, but is under a judge's stay as a result of lawsuits challenging the initiative. Professor of Philosophy Albert Mosley will argue in favor of affirmative action programs. His opponent will be Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics. G. Christine Taylor, assistant vice president for administration, will moderate the debate.