U. celebrates King's life with day of events

This month's Martin Luther King Jr. symposium, which includes more than 40 events planned in honor of King's birthday, extends beyond the one official holiday -- the University is sponsoring a two-and-a-half-week long commemorative symposium on social change entitled "Penn's Commitment to the Legacy: Justice, Peace and Service." For the third year, today is to be observed as an official University holiday. Machamma Quinichett, the chair of the symposium's Executive Planning Committee, hopes students will recognize the importance of the day and make it a "day on, not a day off." Quinichett, the associate director of the African American Resource Center, expects an attendance of 500 to 600 people for the holiday's events, which include a mentoring program for Upward Bound students and a food distribution route through North Philadelphia. Involvement options range from all-day commitments to short projects and events on and off campus. The program is aided by a $5,000 federal grant. About 200 Penn students are expected to board buses bound for either Wilson Middle School or Sayer Elementary School to paint, clean and generally spruce up the schools. Others will stay on campus supervising and reading to children who will be decorating commemorative banners, to be hung later over Locust Walk. Isabel Mapp, the co-chairwoman for all of the "Day of Service" events, noted that children were coming to Penn from not only nearby West Philadelphia neighborhoods but also surrounding suburbs to participate in the events. "We have a history now, so people are calling," Mapp, the associate director of Staff, Faculty and Alumni Volunteer Services, explained of the high volume community interest. Furthermore, according to Quinichett, Penn's celebration for King is now being looked upon as a model for other universities. This year's executive planning committee received the Models of Excellence award from University President Judith Rodin's office as a tribute to its production of the symposium. The award "speaks to the sacrifice and the commitment to the honor of Dr. King," Quinichett explained. Quinichett began work on "bits and pieces of the symposium" back in June, and all 24 members of the planning committee began meeting regularly at the beginning of the fall semester. The symposium was also organized by several other committees, including the Day of Service Committee and the Programs Committee, which are comprised of student as well as staff participants. College sophomore Julija Zubac was selected by staff and faculty participants to serve on the Programs Committee. "Every individual [on the committee] takes on different events," explained Zubac, who helped organize the Reality Tour of Northern Philadelphia. "The meaning behind this month is overlooked sometimes.... It's become mainstream," Zubac lamented. She therefore became involved "to be part of the dialogue" and to encourage campus participation. To reach its goal of widespread student participation, a main concern of the planning committee was advertising. "No one should be able to say they didn't know about it," Quinichett said. In an official statement, Rodin also encouraged student involvement in the symposium. "We face perilous times, but if we get right with the spirit of Dr. King's legacy, we will bring his vision of a 'beloved community' closer to reality and the world closer to peace," she said in the statement.

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