Eastern Michigan University is closed for MLK on Monday, but that does not mean there is nothing to do around campus.
Monday will start with a free MLK breakfast at the Student Center, room 300, at 8:00 a.m. This will last untill 9:30 a.m. The first "block" of Courageous Conversations will start at 9:00 a.m. and end around 9:50 a.m. There will be a second block from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m.
A list of topics and room numbers can be found online at emich.edu/mlk/monday.
Barbra Arwine will be the keynote speaker at the President's MLK Luncheon, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Arwine is the president of the Transformative Rights Coalition. According to their website, they exist for, “systematic change that achieves racial justice, gender, economic and social justice and human rights through public education and engagement initiatives....” This will be in the Student Center auditorium from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The MLK keynote speaker, Barbra Arnwine, will begin her speech at 1:30 p.m. and it is expected to last until 3:00 p.m.
At the President's Luncheon, a Humanitarian Award & Evans Strand Scholarship will be awarded. According to the awards page, the Humanitarian Award is for members of the EMU community that exemplify Martin Luther King’s values and has made a contribution to the community. The $1,000 Evans Strand Scholarship takes its inspiration after the Nobel Peace Prize. Applicants are required to submit a 5-page essay. Information is available at emich.edu/mlk/scholarship.
Starting at 4:00 p.m., the Close Up Theatre Troupe will, “examine the injustices in our society as individuals,” in the Student Center Auditorium. According to the schedule, they will be talking about injustices and create, “a space for audience members to think, feel, question and hopefully act.”
MLK Day will wrap up with an Afterglow Celebration. This will be a party at the Student Center's Room 300. It will go from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
“A Life Well Lived” will be an open discussion regarding race at EMU, Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7:00 p.m. This will be in the library's auditorium, hosted by Dr. Doris Fields. This is free and LBC approved.
At the same time, there will be a panel discussion called “Meet the Movement” at the Student Center's room 310B. The EMU calendar says this will be about what is being done state wide, "to prevent and end human trafficking." It will include state legislators, non-profits, and police officers. This is free and LBC approved.
Students studying environmental science and society will be able to take advantage of an internship session at 219 Pray-Harrold, Wednesday, at 5:00 p.m. This event is free.
The English Department will be having a “Bath House Reading,” Wednesday Jan. 20 and Thursday Jan. 21. Wayne Koestenbaum and Kevin Killan will be reading their own works. According to emuenglish.org, they will be talking about their works in, “altered space of consciousness, a descent into the id or the body or an ascend into a higher realm of the occult or supernatural.” The Wednesday reading will be from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The Thursday reading will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. They are asking attendees to wear pink. This will be free and LBC approved.
