Speaker no-show at MLK event

Although the keynote speaker of last night's Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Program spent the duration of the event in an airplane miles away from Philadelphia, about 150 Penn students and area residents still found good reason to convene in commemoration of the slain civil rights leader. The highly anticipated program, part of the two-week series of events devoted to honoring King's legacy, was supposed to feature William Gray, president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund. At the start of the evening, however, University Chaplain William Gipson stepped up to the microphone and announced that Gray was currently on a delayed plane coming from Washington, D.C. "As much as he wants to be with us this evening, that probably will not happen. However, there are lots of good reasons to bring him back," Gipson said to the audience in his welcome speech. Despite Gray's absence, the remainder of the program -- which included the presentation of awards to select Penn community members and West Philadelphia residents -- went on as scheduled. As part of the University's 2000 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration and Symposium on Social Change, the Annenberg Center's Harold Prince Theatre hosted a program entitled "The Importance of King's Philosophy and Action for the 21st Century." University President Judith Rodin spoke at the event, discussing the importance of Penn's involvement in serving the community, particularly as it relates to King's ideals. "It is not enough to expand the intellect of our students? if we fail to arouse service in their souls," Rodin said. She then asked the audience what Penn, as an urban university, could do to institute the idea of service in students. "For Penn," she continued, "society begins right here in West Philadelphia?. I believe that we can be the national model for building a beloved community." In addition, Penn Hillel Director Jeremy Brochin, who spoke after Gipson, discussed the theme of a universal religious servitude to God and to others. "Our service in the community is grounded in God, the creator of us all," Brochin said. Brochin's speech was followed by a performance by the Jewish a cappella group R'nanah, whose songs were all based on Biblical psalms. The 20-minute award presentation at the end of the evening honored five members of the community for their commitment to King's legacy through their community service. Included among the recipients were Penn Urban Studies Professor Ira Harkavy, College senior and former United Minorities Council Chairman Chaz Howard and Philadelphia Police Sgt. John Wylie. After a performance by the Penn gospel choir New Spirit of Penn, Jack Lewis, chairman of the Executive MLK Planning Committee, gave the evening's closing remarks. Though student attendance was low, one Penn student who did attend said she thought the event served an important purpose in honoring King. "It's good to have programs like these to commemorate the life of such a worthy man as Dr. King," College freshman Harnel Paraison said.

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