CLARION UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Inter-Office Correspondence

Date:
To:

From:

Re:

CC:

June 21, 1999
Dr. Diane L. Reinhard, President
Dr. Jocelind Gant, Assistant to the President for Social Equity
Rogers J. Laugand III, Chair
Martin Luther King Jr. Committee
1998-99 Martin Luther King Jr. Program Report

Dr. John Kuhn, Provost
Dr. George Curtis, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Marilynn Mikolusky, Dean of Student Life Services
Dr. Joseph Grunenwald, Dean, College of Business Administration
Dr. Stanton Green, Dean, College of Arts & Science

PROJECT TITLE
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee
THE DREAM: Thirty Years Later
Special Events 1998-1999
Committee Members:

Ex-officio Member

Mr. Rogers J. Laugand III, Chair
Ms. Diana Anderson
Mr. Ralph Critten
Dr. Robert Girvan
Mr. Patrick Hicks
Mr. Scott Horch
Dr. George LaRue
Ms. Portia Diaz-Martin
Dr. William Stine

Dr. Jocelind Gant

1999-2000 Theme: Moving Into the New Millennium
MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING: President’s Office
Other financial contributors: College of Arts & Science, College of Business Administration,
College of Education & Human Services, Friends of Clarion University Libraries, Minority
Student Services, Provost Office, Residence Life, and Student Life Services.
ABSTRACT:
The Martin Luther King Jr. Committee coordinated sponsored and co-sponsored university-wide
and community programs that were meant to nurture Clarion’s social diversity
campus/community climate. The project was designed to enhance awareness of Dr. King's
beliefs and actions as inspiration for our efforts in fostering a just, multicultural and
understanding community. The commemorative endeavors took place from September to
February.
GOAL STATEMENT:
The Martin Luther King Jr. Committee maintains that the breadth of Dr. King's heritage as a
national and international leader is a largely untapped resource. Consequently, we provided a
series of programs that focused on Dr. King 's dream of achieving a truly inclusive human
community. Some interests of Dr. King that celebrate the enriching potential of social diversity
include fair educational opportunities, ending human violence, moderating intolerance,
expanding good work opportunities for all citizens, and the moral/ethical foundations of human
behavior. Programs developed in these domains in cooperation with various academic and
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student affairs
departments seemed appropriate for the committee to cooperatively sponsor.
OBJECTIVE:
To enhance the positive effects of a just, multicultural and understanding environment in the
spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the committee intended to:
(a)

Identify scholars, activist and performers whose work, in our opinion,
contributed to the celebration of human diversity. As appropriate, some of
these persons were invited to Clarion University to share their
experiences with the campus community through various
modes.

(b)

Ensure that these guests were exposed to as many students, faculty, staff
and community members as possible to encourage "conversations of
respect" (Hill, 1991) and build bridges toward human harmony. These
discourses focused on the concept of social equity as represented in Dr.
King's thoughts and by his participation in social change organizations.

(c)

Support responsible social activism to enhance social justice that Dr.
example represented. The range of possible involvement was
demonstrated by the variety of guests supported by the committee.

ideas and
educational

King's

TARGET GROUP:
The target groups were those individuals who were misinformed about those who were different
from them and lacked the understanding and appreciation of a diverse community. The
committee sponsored programs that served the purpose of breaking down stereotypical images
about "others" among the administrative, student, faculty, staff and community bodies. In the
final analysis, the campus and community population was targeted.
THE PROBLEM:
The Clarion campus community has worked with varying degrees of success to create a
curriculum and complimentary program that serves to "educate the total student regardless of
race" (Taylor, 1986). This statement illustrates, however, that minority status has been often
conceived as residing in only one marginalized social category like race or gender. Dr. King's
concern with the content of one's character and the nature of power in society transcends a focus
on narrow bases of inequality; his vision constructed a broader and more complex conception of
social equity. The Martin Luther King series is meant to further educate the campus and the
community about the concerns for uniqueness, empowerment, commonality, and
interdependence that Dr. King recognized as crucial in order to fully celebrate the diversity of
human experience in a pluralistic democracy. One of our main concerns is the need for us to
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unify as a total community.

METHODOLOGY:
The committee met the objective (a) in the following manner: During the spring semester, we
worked with various departments and organizations to suggest, coordinate initiatives, and help
sponsor appropriate programs. Each scholar, activist, or performance addressed a theme found in
Dr. King's teachings. The following criteria was utilized in the selection process:
(1)

addition,
invited to share
(2)
to Dr.
science.

Preference was accorded to resource persons of a particular minority
status, or to the interaction of more that one marginalized category.
However, all persons who clearly demonstrated Dr. King's wide interest in
social equity were utilized as a resource to the committee. In
those studying various topics that spoke to civil rights were
their knowledge.
Overall, the resource persons included both sexes. Additionally, they were
representative of disciplines and pursuits that provided substance
King's thinking e.g., history, economics, inter-faith and political

For each visit, contracts were negotiated via the candidate’s agent or through personal contacts in
order to get the most favorable terms for Clarion University.
Our approach to objective (b) was as follows: The manner of exposure and interaction varied
depending upon the type of presentation and arrangements made by the primary sponsor. We
encouraged the resource persons to be invited to attend classes in their respective fields and
interact informally with students, administrators, faculty, and staff. The Martin Luther King Jr.
Committee functioned as follows:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
of
(5)

Identified and assisted other groups in finding respective scholars and
performers
Developed program activities and assisted others when possible
Provided follow-up actions to related programs
Assessed the effectiveness of sponsored programs conveying each theme
Dr. King
Promoted the participation of the campus and community members. The
committee ensured that all parts of the series were broadly advertised
through newspapers, radio stations, posters, faculty, and a comprehensive
brochure.

Objective (c) was met by making available information about participation in organizations and
activities that related to the relevant theme (s). We asked each guest or group to suggest
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appropriate solutions to problems of social inequality as a crucial part of every presentation.

FEASIBILITY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS:
The prospects of keeping this undertaking successful are good especially with respect to the
presence of qualified personnel at Clarion to assist in implementing each year's version of the
project. The major constraint for the proposed King Committee program during a particular year
is fiscal. It can be quite difficult to secure reasonably priced programs, high quality guests
interacting at appropriate times with significant numbers of the campus community. Extensive
negotiating and organization on our part coupled with contributions from other campus
departments and the good will on the part of the presenters or agents played a critical role in
providing effective commemorative activities. The schedule of events included the following:
September 29, 1998, Hart Chapel
Juan Williams
Journalist
Topic: “Eyes on the Prize: An Historical Overview of the Civil Rights Movement”
Attendance: 174
October 12, 1998, Hart Chapel
Carl Upchurch
Activist
Topic: “Affirmative Inaction”
Attendance: 109
November 12, 1998, Hart Chapel
Jesse Nighthawk
Program developer, Musician
Topic: “Justice and Tolerance”
Attendance: 115
November 16, 1998, Hart Chapel
Sonia Sanchez
Poet, Mother, Activist, Professor
Topic: “In Pursuit of Community”
Attendance: 150
November 17, 1998, Peirce Auditorium
Gigi Kaeser
Author, Photographer
Topic: “Of Many Colors: Portraits of Multiracial Families”
Attendance: 60 (2 Class Sessions)
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January 26, 1999, Hart Chapel
James H. Chapmny
Actor
Topic: “One Race, One People, One Peace”
Attendance: 115
February 11, 1999, Gemmell Multi-Purpose Room
Harlem Gospel Choir
Attendance: 320
April 21, 1999, Hart Chapel
Nell Painter
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the committee was successful in providing programs that were educational in
nature and consistently coincided with our series theme. Because the committee wanted to
attract a diverse population, members sought to provide a multiplicity of events (i.e. poetry,
lectures, class visits, plays, etc.). As a result, the programs were well attended reaching out to
diverse audiences across the campus and community. The events were rated very high and many
individuals indicated an interest in having similar programs in the future. Our overall evaluation
return rate has increased as a result of the drawing contest at the conclusion of each program. The
winner would earn an invitation to have dinner with the next speaker.
Based on the feedback from the evaluations as well as the verbal feedback, the committee feels
that the Martin Luther King Jr. Series was a great success. More specifically, we believe we
accomplished the following:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)
(g)

Increased the scope of understanding from a humanistic perspective
Raised the multicultural awareness and appreciation for the richness of
difference among all individuals
Combated the stereotypes that individuals may have about a particular
group
Created ongoing dialogue on the issues of racial understanding, gender
equality, and economic empowerment
Developed a program that the entire community has come to appreciate,
and one that community members are eager to support in some form or
fashion
Contributed to the infusion of knowledge and heightened awareness of
commonalties among differences
Provided a catalyst for the examination of new knowledge about American
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history

The following departments, organizations and businesses have contributed to the overall success
of the MLK Series: President's Office, Social Equity Office, Student Life Services, College of
Arts & Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Education & Human Services,
Residence Life, Minority Student Services, Publication Office, Public Relations Office,
Duplication Office, University Bookstore, Venango campus, Student Activities, Facilities
Support Services, Faculty/Students, Purchasing Dept., Radio stations (WWCH) & (C93), and
also numerous local businesses. Once again, it was the commitment of many people working
together as a team that made it possible for the university to provide educational programs that
enriched the social environment in which we live.

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BUDGET
1998-99

Program

Honorarium Air

Car

Hotel

Food

TOTAL

Juan Williams

$4950
including air

$42.50

$49.15

$125.56

$5167.21

Carl Upchurch

$3050
including air

$89.98

$44

$67.55

$3251.53

Jesse
Nighthawk

$1500

$143
mileage

$44

Sonia Sanchez

$500

Gigi Kaeser

$600

Community
Celebration

$100

One Race, One
Peace, One
People

$4100
including
travel & food

$46.64

$10.52
Water

$4157.16

Harlem Gospel
Choir

$3500
including
travel

$544

$319.58

$4363.58

Nell Painters

$500
$272

$500

Video
Encyclopedia

$200

$200

TOTAL

$19,272

G. Davis

$1687
$500

$209

$44

$853
$100

$272

$209

$275.48

$771.79

$523.21

$21,051.48

Printing

$97.44

Supplies

$207.98
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Postage

$8.75

Grand Total

$21,365.65

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