INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Administration Building, Suite 136 355 N. Lansing Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-2896 317-274-7711 Fax: 317-274-5457

IUPUI 2002 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY DINNER TO FEATURE 'LITTLE ROCK NINE' ACTIVIST; TICKETS ON SALE THRU DEC. 14

INDIANAPOLIS - It took 1,000 paratroopers to get Minnijean Brown-Trickey safely to class on her first full day at Central High School.

That was Sept. 25, 1957 and the eyes of the nation were on Brown-Trickey and eight other teen-agers now known as The Little Rock Nine. The students were the first African Americans to attend the Arkansas high school forced to integrate under U.S. Supreme Court desegregation orders. President Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the teen-agers who had been previously barred from entering the school by national guardsmen acting under defiant state orders.

On Monday, January 21, 2002, Brown-Trickey, will be in the spotlight as the keynote speaker for the 32nd IUPUI Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner at 7 p.m. at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 W. Washington St.

The theme for the celebration, sponsored by the IUPUI Black Student Union, is "Let Freedom Ring: Continuing the Legacy." Brown-Trickey will draw on her experiences as an articulate and forceful member of the Little Rock Nine to provide an enlightening exploration of social change, diversity and the battle against discrimination and racism.

"This year the Black Student Union has been focusing more attention on the important issues of freedom and equality in our community," said program chair Porsha N. James. "In keeping with these themes, Minnijean Brown-Trickey will be our featured speaker."

The integration of the Little Rock school is considered one of the defining moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Brown-Trickey didn't finish that memorable school year over 40 years ago. She, along with the other African American students, were subjected to abuse from some of their schoolmates, and Brown-Trickey was expelled after several incidents, including one during which she dumped a bowl of chili on the head of an antagonizing student.

Brown-Trickey eventually moved to Canada where she earned a master's degree in social work. After returning to America in 1999, Brown-Trickey, now a Maryland resident, served as deputy assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior in the Clinton administation. She is working on her soon-to-be published autobiography, tentatively entitled "Mixed Blessing: Living Black in North America."

Once again the King dinner will follow a morning of community service projects held to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Fourth Annual IUPUI Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day-On of Service will be held from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, 2002. Teams of IUPUI students, faculty, staff and their family members will volunteer for several service projects at community agencies near campus.

Additional service projects will also be supported by the IUPUI Center for Service and Learning through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mini-Grants of $200-$600. IUPUI students, faculty and staff are being invited to submit project proposals. Previous grants were used to create a community mural, sponsor a youth education symposium, and host a Dr. Martin Luther King Day birthday celebration at a community center.

Community members are invited to join IUPUI for both the service projects and the dinner. Early registration tickets for the dinner are on sale through Friday, Dec. 14. Prices are $10 for IUPUI undergraduate students and $30 for faculty, staff, graduate students, and community guests. After Dec. 14, ticket prices will increase $5. Ticket sales will end Jan. 14, 2002.

Dinner tickets are available through the Office of Student Life and Diversity Programs. For tickets, or additional information, call (317) 274-3931.

Persons interested in volunteering for the Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Day community service projects should contact Lorrie Brown at lorrbrow@iupui.edu or (317) 274-5198.

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