MLK Day: UW community invited to turn holiday into service day

The UW will mark Martin Luther King Day Monday, Jan. 15 with a Day of Service. Students, faculty and staff are invited to come to By George at 9 a.m. to sign up for a service project, which they will then spend the day completing, together with their colleagues.

In a letter to the UW community, President Richard L. McCormick quoted King, who said, “Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”

“Governor Gary Locke has invited us to answer that question by working together on projects that benefit our communities,” McCormick said. “I enthusiastically second his invitation.”

Those interested in participating can sign up on the Graduate and Professional Student Senate Web site: http://depts.washington.edu/gpss/servpledge.html. Some UW participants will be able to get to their service assignments by using a U-PASS, but drivers are also needed for carpools. Registrants should indicate if they will be able to drive fellow volunteers.

The service day is not the only way the UW is marking the King birthday. There have been and will be several events this week, including:

  • Wednesday, student volunteers organized by the Women in Science and Engineering program spent a half day at the Pacific Science Center, serving as leaders and guides for fourth- and fifth-graders at the center’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Children’s Math and Science Celebration.

  • Today, the UW Health Sciences Center presents its annual tribute to King. The program begins at 11:30 a.m. in the lobby and includes music and entertainment by community groups and presentation of a Distinguished Service Award to Professor Hubert G. Locke, who will give the keynote address.

  • On Friday at noon there will be a slide presentation on the life and times of King in 316 South Campus Center. Edward Jones, retired lecturer in American Ethnic Studies, will make the presentation.

  • Also on Friday, Harborview will hold a celebration to honor King at 2:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. The program will feature storyteller Albert Mensah and the Seattle Children’s Samoan Choir.



    University Week
    The faculty and staff publication of the University of Washington
    uweek@u.washington.edu
    January 11, 2001