Alaska Civil Rights Day Celebration

Submitted by Tori Tragis
Phone: (907) 474-6438
01/13/04

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Office of Multicultural Affairs will host a presentation as part of Alaska Civil Rights Day Friday, Jan. 16, from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. Motivational speaker Dennis Brown will talk about the power of a positive attitude and how one chooses to react in challenging situations. He will be followed by local photojournalist and writer James Barker, who will give a slide presentation of his photos taken during the 1965 civil rights marches in Selma, Ala. Both men will also participate in the community celebration Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Chena River Convention Center.

UAF’s formal recognition of Alaska Civil Rights Day will take place at UAF Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 2-3 p.m. in the Wood Center Carol Brown Ballroom. The celebration will feature guests Chancellor Marshall Lind, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker and members of the Native Student Organization.

A reception will follow both events, which are free and open to the public.

In observance of the holiday, there will be no classes and UAF offices will be closed for regular business Monday, Jan. 19. The University of Alaska Board of Regents approved the holiday and changed the name to Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Celebration of Alaska Civil Rights in 1994. University of Alaska Civil Rights Day has been celebrated at UAF since it was originally established to honor Martin Luther King Jr., Alaska Native leaders and organizations and others who have led civil rights initiatives benefiting all Alaskans.

CONTACT: LaJuana Williams, Office of Multicultural Affairs, at (907) 474-7300 or Tori Tragis, University Relations, at (907) 474-6438.