Martin Luther King, Jr. Candlelight Vigil

The Black Student Union and the office of Multicultural Student Services at Utah State University host an annual Martin Luther King, Jr., candlelight vigil Tuesday, Jan. 17. The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center International Lounge.

 

The campus and local communities are invited to join the event in celebration and commemoration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

The program includes a keynote speech by William A. Smith, assistant professor at the University of Utah in the department of education, culture and society and the ethnic studies program. His current research focuses on inter-ethnic relations, racial attitudes, racial identity and socialization, academic colonialism, affirmative action attitudes and the impact of student diversity on university and college campuses. He is the author of numerous papers and is the co-editor of “The Racial Crisis in American Higher Education: Continuing Challenges for the 21st Century.” Additionally, Smith is co-founder and associate director of the University of Utah’s Center for the Study of Race and Diversity in Higher Education.

 

The USU program also includes remarks by Black Student Union President Jennifer Gowan. Moises Diaz, director of USU’s Multicultural Student Services, will also speak. Musical numbers by USU students are included, while other students will present readings from Dr. King’s writings. A slide show accompanies the candle lighting at the end of the ceremony.

 

Utah State University will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, in honor of Dr. King.