Community to celebrate life of legend

Students and community members will celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., with cultural, educational and volunteer activities through next week.\nMonday is the federal holiday that honors the civil rights leader who was assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn.\nActivities include "Archie Bunker's Neighborhood" 8 p.m. today at Teter Quad -- one of several teach-ins sponsored by Residential Programs and Services' CommUNITY Educators; Wednesday's free showing of "Remember the Titans" in the Indiana Memorial Union's Wittenberger Auditorium; Friday's free concert at 8 p.m. at the School of Music; and next Tuesday's Unity Summit at noon in the Indiana Memorial Union's Frangipani Room.\nAnother highlight is "A day on! Not a day off," a program that pairs community and University volunteers in more than 40 community service projects, said Darrell Ann Stone, associate director of student activities. Service activities will take place Saturday and Monday.\nGloria Gibson, co-chair of the campus Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee, said planned activities, including "A day on! Not a day off," will teach people about King and work to continue his legacy.\n"It's a day to be involved, it's a day to meet new people, it's a day to have new experiences in the community and on campus," Gibson said.\nNow in its fourth year, "A day on! Not a day off" has grown from 10 projects to 40, said Craig Brenner, Bloomington special projects coordinator.\n"We organize projects so members of the University and community can work side by side," Brenner said. "We get people from different backgrounds to rub shoulders -- to actually do something."\nJames Cameron, who survived a racial lynching, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Willke Auditorium. Preceding his lecture, at 5 p.m., history professor James Madison will have a teach-in.\nThe festivities King will culminate in the annual King Birthday Celebration 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Bloomington Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave.\nManning Marable, Columbia University professor of history and political science and founding director of the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia, will be the keynote speaker. He has written 13 books and is a prominent lecturer and interpreter of political and racial history in America, Brenner said.\nMarable will be introduced by IU President Myles Brand, Brenner said. Campus buses will be provided Monday evening to encourage student participation.\nGibson said the events will be both entertaining and educational.\n"We hope that students will not only learn about the legacy of Martin Luther King, but will take the opportunity to learn about cultures different than their own and learn to celebrate other cultures," Gibson said. "We hope students can carry away a message that will be part of their educational experience here at IU."\nFor more information about volunteering for "A day on! Not a day off," contact the Volunteer Student Bureau at 855-8290.