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THE Cravens and Women’s Warren halls basketball welcome new REFLECTOR ranked 17th resident in NCAA I1 directors. UYIV~~KKITYOF INDIANAPOLIS standings. See Page 4. 1400 E~crHANN,A AVENUE INDIANAPOLIS. IN 46227 See Page 7. MLK DAY MLK DAY MLK observance draws support and criticism Altered class schedule, one on his birthday and another on the observed holiday. Jessica Roberts Sims said that a week-long celebration was always held Managing Editor assembly mark in remembrance of King, and Sims would appreciate something similar at U of 1. Sondra Hayes, chair of the multicultural committee, U of 1’s King At several colleges and universities around the explained that this year’s MLK Day events will continue state, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is a vacation throughout the year, rather than being concentrated in Day observance day. University of Indianapolis students often wonder one day or one month, as they were last year. why it is observed differently here. According to Dr. “[The goal is to] keep people aware and informed, Everette Freeman, senior vice president and provost, and that is not a one-day thing,” she said. Julie Anderson the university is not insensitive. Rather, the U of I Hayes said that she and the multicultural committee News Editor observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day follows have planned events in February to celebrate Black that of most private schools. History Month, as well as events in other months. Some “It is not uncommon for private universities to be of these programs include a sickle cell anemia lecture in session on Dr. Martin Luther King Day,” he said. presented by the U of I School of Nursing and a “One The University of Indianapolis “So it isn’t a question of are the private institutions Love” concert. Barry Scott, the professional speaker observed Dr. Martin Luther King, heartless or uncaring.” and actor who performed at last year’s MLK program, Jr. Day on Jan. 20 with a special Freeman reminds students that public colleges and will return this March. convocation and an adjusted class universities tend to be in tandem with the govern- “If we are doing this [celebrating] throughout the schedule. ment, meaning they, too, observe the holiday with a year, the next logical step would be to give students the Classes were cut short by about day off. day off,” Hayes said. ten minutes to make room in the “Private universities [instead] seek to find ways to Even though she feels that having the day off could day’s schedule for a time of reflec- pause during the course of the day to reflect and honor Photo provided by U ojI Television occur in the future, she still has reservations. Since the tion and the assembly, which fea- tured a keynote address, song and Dr. King,” he said. “So that’s been our tradition. And Rev. Gloria Moncrief speaks at the current tradition works well for people, she knows that I hope we continue that tradition.. .that’s the way of the committee will have to make a strong argument in prayer. Martin Luther King Day convocation in At noon, classes and other cam- bringing our community together around issues of Ransburg Auditorium. support of the change. However, she knows that stu- social justice.” dents, faculty and staff may not use the extra time to pus activities stopped for a campus President Jerry Israel said that the university’s “decent” job of organizing the holiday’s events, but observe the holiday properly. wide period of prayer and reflec- observance of MLK Day is successful at stimulating she thinks more should be done to honor King, with- “You know we would all be asleep [if we had the day tion. By 12:30, Ransburg Audito- campus unity and reflection. out having to cancel classes. offl,” she said. rium was filled with students, fac- “By being together as a community,” he said, “and “If I weren’t at school on this day, 1 would prob- Israel has the same concern as Hayes. “If we gave the ulty, staff and other members of the modifying our schedules to allow for a special com- ably be out shopping, and that’s no way to honor such day off,” he said, “given the press of everyday life’s community who gathered to hear munity event, we do two things: [We] offer some time an important man,” she said. “Being in classes and demands, I am afraid very few of us would use the time the Rev. Gloria Moncrief of Unity to reflect and learn and interrupt our routine schedules attending the MLK ceremony was good because it to think about Dr. King’s legacy.” Church of Indianapolis. enough to pay attention that something different and brought students, faculty and staff together to reflect Rife said that she would like to see an organized The assembly began with a few important is going on.” on civil rights issues.” discussion among students of different ethnicities. opening words from Professor How best to spend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Clinton Sims, a junior communication major and “The more we can get U of I students to come Sondra Hayes, a member of the holiday is not clear cut, however. Some faculty mem- former Black Student Association president, also together and discuss current issues,” she said, “the more university’s Multicultural Affairs bers and students consider the university’s obser- feels that the university holds a good program for the students will be prepared to address issues out in the Committee. Chaplain Lang vance of the holiday acceptable, but others feel that it MLK Day. But hc considers canceling classes a better community. U of I has a great deal of diversity, consid- Brownlee followed, offering a could be improved. way to honor King. ering we are such a small school. We should all be prayer for peace. The University of Tiffany Rife, student affairs associate in the Office Sims was raised in Gary, Ind., where the city and learning from one another to become more understand- Indianapolis Gospel Choir per- of Co-Curricular Programs, said that U of I does a the school system had two programs to honor King- ing. Having activities that address these issues should be formed and then Dr. Everette Free- the goal for MLK Day.” man, senior vice president and pro- vost, introduced Moncrief. “Part of Dr. King’s legacy is that RELIGIOUS LIFE civil rights belong to all of us,” Freeman said. “None of us can ab- stain from the responsibility of Chapel improvements welcome all faiths making this world a better place to live.” These words echoed the theme of Moncrief‘s speech. Carey Hart U of I is a place “where diversity StaffWriter is welcomed and honored,” Moncrief said. She stressed the value of each person’s contribution A religious service in which the Bible, to society, saying “each of us is a Qur’an, and Tanakh are all used may radiant possibility.. .each person is seemunlikely but not at the University of a child of God. This is what Dr. Indianapolis. On Jan. 22, at the Univer- King was about.” Describing King sity Chapel Dedication, Christians, Mus- as ‘‘ a man that found his purpose lims, Jews and Hindus gathered to cel- and followed his conscience,” ebrate recent changes made to the Moncrief also read excerpts from chapel’s interior. “The ceremony was several of King’s speeches, includ- beautiful,” said sophomore Greg ing the famous “I have a dream” Schneider. “I think all religions will be speech. welcomed there, and it will be a great Moncrief, grew up in Georgia place to worship.” and has served as pastor in churches Before the dedication could take place, throughout the United States. several individuals worked to make the Moncrief said she accepted her cur- chapel feel less like a conference room rent assignment in Indianapolis for and more like a place of worship. When one reason: “because it is integrated. Schwitzer Center opened in September I wanted to be part of a church that 2001, the members of the Ecumenical represented the human family.” and Interfaith Council (EIC) knew they wanted to make further improvements to Moncrief‘s plea for acceptance the chapel, located on the second floor, of each other was another underly- but they did not know when these im- ing theme of her speech. In addition provements would be financially fea- to calling for acceptance of diver- sible. In October of 2001, Dr. Michael sity and civil rights, she stressed to Cartwright, dean of ecumenical and in- the audience the difference that one terfaith programs, applied for a grant person can make. Martin Luther from the Religion Division of the Lilly King is proof of what “one life lived Endowment in order to improve reli- in service.. .one life committed to gious life at the university through The Photo by January Newbanks love” can do, she said. Crossings Project. Following a second performance In December 2001, the university re- Dr. Michael Cartwright, Bishop Woodie W. White, Dr. Jerry Israel and the Rev. Lang Brownlee reflect during the chapel rededication service Jan. 22. Chapel renovations over winter break, by the gospel choir, the audience ceived the $1.5 million grant, which made was invited to stand, join hands and The Crossings Project possible. made possible by money from The Crossings Project, are intended to help students, faculty and staff of different faiths feel welcome in the space. sing “We Shall Overcome.” The Cartwright is the executive director of words of this song, quoted by King the project, which is designed to provide Gathering, which is an interfaith syni- who are not Christians, the circle wel- brought symbols of their own faiths to himself in his speeches, reflected students with opportunities to explore bol, and a lectern.

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