Groups celebrate King's life, impact

Several organizations on campus and in the surrounding community
are staging events to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.

One event is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest,
sponsored by the Office of Residential Life.

The contest functions as an outreach program in addition to
honoring the legacy of King. High School participants account for
roughly half of the speakers.

The contest, which will take place on Jan. 27, is an opportunity
to expose high school students to higher education and the UCLA
campus, said Jack Gibbons, associate director of ORL.

The contest “helps familiarize students with
(King’s) teachings and the concepts he has left for
us,” Gibbons said.

Kirk White, resident director of Dykstra Hall, said the
organizers are trying to instill a passion for the spoken word.

“The civil rights movement sprang from his
speeches,” he said.

Another event is a concert presented by Delta Sigma Theta and
Alpha Kappa Alpha incorporated sororities, both of which have
chapters on the UCLA campus. The concert includes a voice ensemble
of 75 university singers.

“We’re trying to support his dream by
celebrating,” said Danellen Joseph, director of the Delta
Choraliers.

In the surrounding community, Thomas Bradley Environmental
Science and Humanities magnet elementary school is recreating the
march lead by King years ago.

The goal of the event is to engage the community and to bring
peace to the community, said Stephanie Johnson, peace games
coordinator at Tom Bradley.

“There’s an alternative (to violence), and that
alternative is peace,” Johnson said.