The University of South Carolina honors the life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of service-focused activities and events beginning Jan. 16, 2020.
The University of South Carolina began honoring the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
three years before his birthdate was declared a federal holiday by President Ronald
Reagan and 14 years before then-Governor Jim Hodges signed the holiday into law across
the state of South Carolina.
Honoring a Civil Rights Leader
In January 1983, the USC Black Alumni Caucus sponsored the first university program.
The group continued to sponsor the event, held in Rutledge Chapel, until 1986. In
1986, the program was expanded and moved to the Russell House Ballroom featuring King’s
daughter, Yolanda King, as keynote speaker. In 1999, then-President John M. Palms
canceled classes and declared the day a university-wide day of service, and that tradition
continues today.
A Week of Service and Reflection
More than 30 years later, the Rutledge Chapel service has grown into a major university tradition with a wide-ranging week of activities, including a commemorative breakfast, a day of service, and the university’s Social Justice Awards. Various university programs and offices complement the university’s commemoration with a variety of events in connection with the MLK holiday.
The Matthew J. Perry Chapter of the National Black Law Students Association will host a forum titled, A Dream Deferred: How the Criminalization of African American Girls Impedes MLK’s Dream, to screen and discuss "Pushout" by Monique Morris, Ed.D.
Panelists for the discussion are Vivian Anderson, founder of EveryBlackGirl; Josie
Brown, J.D., associate professor of law; Helen Nelson Grant, J.D., chief diversity
and multicultural inclusion officer for Richland School District Two; Josh Gupta-Kagan,
J.D., associate professor of law; and Seth Stoughton, J.D., associate professor of
law.
Thursday, January 16, 2020, at 6 p.m. with a reception starting at 5 p.m.
Karen J. Williams Courtroom, School of Law
The keynote speaker is Rick Wade, ’84 B.S. biology, who is the vice president of strategic
alliances and outreach at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Two faculty members, along
with a staff member and student will be recognized for their social justice efforts
on campus and in our community as the 2020 Social Justice Award winners.
Friday, January 17, 2020, at 7:30 a.m. Doors open at 7 a.m.
Russell House Ballroom
Tickets are $10 for faculty, staff and the public.
Parking is available in the Bull Street Garage Gate 3
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Check-in located at Davis Field (by the reflecting pool in front of Thomas Cooper Library.)
Organized by the Leadership and Service Center, this day of service is one of many across the United States. Join with fellow students to serve others in your community from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Freedom Rings will celebrate the arts featuring violinist Dominque Hammons, with performances
by soprano Angela Small Blalock, the Bible Way Church of Atlas Road Praise Dancers,
the All Star Community Choir and Rev. Ellis White reciting excerpts of King's "I Have
a Dream" speech.
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at 6 p.m. with a VIP reception beginning at 5 p.m.
Booker T. Washington Auditorium
VIP Tickets $25 and tickets for faculty, staff and the public are $10.
No cash sales at the door. Card only.
Tickets for the Breakfast and Freedom Rings are available.
For more information, call 803-777-4518.
Previous Social Justice Award Winners
Faculty Winner - Dr. Rajeev Bais
Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
School of Medicine
Director, Carolina Survivor Clinic
Staff Winner - Maureen Grewe
Director of Student Conduct
Department of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
Student Winner - Chelsea Jimenez
Undergraduate student
Senior majoring in early childhood education
Student Winner - Lyric Swinton
Undergraduate student
Junior majoring in sport and entertainment management
Faculty Winner - Kenneth Campbell, M.S., Ph.D.
Associate professor
School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Faculty Winner - Michele Myers, M.S., Ed.S., Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
College of Education
Staff Winner - Sarah Keeling, M.Ed., Ph.D.
Student Services Manager
School of Library and Information Science
Student Winner - Dizha Green
Undergraduate student
Senior majoring in early childhood education
Faculty Winner - Ed Madden
Professor
Director, Women's and Gender Studies
Staff Winner - Bobby Gist
Executive Assistant to the president
Equal Opportunity Programs
Student Winner - Jonathan Keefe
Undergraduate student
Senior majoring in psychology
Director, Gamecock Panry
Faculty Winner - Bobby Donaldson
Associate Professor
Faculty Principal Preston Residential College
Faculty Winner - Lemuel Watson
Dean
College of Education
Staff Winner - Thelathia Barnes Bailey
Director, TRIO USC-Lancaster
Student Winner - Alysha Baratta
Graduate student in geography
Faculty Award - Jane Brewer
Associate dean for student services
USC-Salkehatchie
Staff Award - Jim Glasson
Human services specialist
USC-Beaufort
Student Award - Kim Cunningham
Graduate, USC-Lancaster
Community Member - Bob Coble
Columbia Mayor
Faculty Award - Gloria Boutte, M.S., Ph.D.
Yvonne and Schuyler Moore Child Advocacy Distinguished Chair of Early Childhood
College of Education, Department of Instruction and Teacher Education
Staff Award - Thomas L. Stepp
Former secretary of the Board of Trustees
Student Award - Alex Rutherfod
Undergraduate student
Junior majoring in history
Faculty Winner - Sacoby M. Wilson, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Arnold School of Public Health
Dr. Patricia Wilson-Witherspoon
Medical Director, Department of Family Medicine
School of Medicine
Staff Winner - Andrea Williams
Associate Director, Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities
Arnold School of Public Health
Student Winner - India D. Rose
Ph.D. candidate, Arnold School of Public Health
Faculty Award - Saundra Glover, M.B.A., Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Arnold School of Public Health
Staff Award - Pamela Robinson, J.D.
Director Pro Bono Program
School of Law
Student Award - Anna Walton
Undergraduate student
Senior majoring in biology and Spanish
Student Award - Jelani Kerr
Ph.D. candidate
Arnold School of Public Health
Faculty Winner - Thorne Compton
Associate Director
Institute for Southern Studies
Cheryl Soehl