1/26/03

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

SRU STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF HONORED FOR DEDICATION TO CIVIL RIGHTS

AS PART OF DAYLONG ‘REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., DAY OF SERVICE PROGRAM

           SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Students, faculty and staff were presented Slippery Rock University’s first Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Leadership Awards for their demonstrated support of civil rights and their work for social justice as part of the campuswide “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service” program.

           In addition, winners of the university’s annual “Rev. Martin Luther King Speech Competition” were announced.

Receiving the Civil Leadership Awards were:

•      Dr. Bernice Brown, associate professor of elementary education and early childhood;

•      Dr. Catherine Massey, assistant professor of psychology;

•      Jeff Milliner, communication major from Aliquippa; president of SRU’s Student Government Association;

•      Dr. Renay Scales, assistant vice president for human resources and diversity; and

•      Sandra Stevenson, assistant director of diversity and employee training.

           “The recipients were nominated by fellow students, faculty and staff, and each demonstrate leadership in moving and motivating others toward an understanding of, and quest for, civil rights and social justice for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or age, ableism,” explained Robert Clay, assistant director of Intercultural Programs and co-chair of the Rev. King “Day of Service” program.

            The day included assembly and delivery of some 280 “Care Bags” to residents of five area nursing and personal care homes as part of a student community-service program, a candlelight remembrance vigil and a “Shattered Dreams” address by Leon Williams, director of intercultural programs at Buena Vista University.

          Robert Clay, assistant director of SRU’s Office of Intercultural Programs and co-chair of the day of service program, explains, “We wanted to honor Dr. King and the values he stood for. We thought the best way was to call attention to his leadership through community service. The day allowed us to show students, faculty, staff and members of the regional community the benefits of living the kind of life Dr. King epitomized. I think everyone who participated was enriched. We met our goal of making the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service a day ‘on’ not a day ‘off,’” Clay explained.        

           Interim President Robert Smith praised the daylong program saying, “I witnessed a vision of Slippery Rock University that was one of the most exciting experiences since I've been here. The concept of the ‘Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service’ was a day of recognition for diversity, reconciliation and celebration of individual triumph, as well as a day of commitment to service and a communion of community.  Every aspect of the day articulated through action the core values of what our institution is based on.” He urged the university community to mark its calendar for next year’s program on Jan. 17.

The annual speech competition, opened this year to related areas of performance, saw the top award presented to Terrell Milliner, a sophomore communication major from Aliquippa, for his address “Our Present Future”; second place went to Regina Wheeler, a sophomore social work major from Pittsburgh; and third place to Tina Robinson, a junior  sociology/criminology major from Aliquippa. Each received a book scholarship from the Student Government Association Student Bookstore.

PN, PgN, WPN, PR, AA