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

BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION TALK SHOW HOST TO BE FEATURED SPEAKER AT IUPUI'S DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DINNER

INDIANAPOLIS - Time magazine called him one of America's most promising young leaders. Newsweek described him as one of the nation's captains of the airwaves. The NAACP gave him one of its coveted Image Awards.

And now he is coming home.

Black Entertainment Television (BET) talk show host Tavis Smiley, raised in north central Indiana and educated at IU Bloomington, will be the featured speaker for IUPUI's 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner.

The Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis King Day celebration will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 15, 2001 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 W. Washington St. This year's theme is "Advocacy: Dr. King's Influence in the 21st Century."

Smiley, host of the "BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley," is the author of three books, including his recent "Doing What's Right: How to Fight for What You Believe and Make a Difference." He is also a featured speaker on the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Morning Show."

The dinner follows a morning of community involvement during which IUPUI faculty, students and staff honor the legacy of Dr. King by performing community service at various sites around Indianapolis. Service project sites include Hawthorne Community Center, Atkins Boys and Girls Club, Indy Parks facilities, and other locations.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived by a philosophy of service to mankind. For us as a university it is important to practice that same philosophy," said David Fredricks, community service project coordinator with the IUPUI Office of Neighbor Resources. "With the day off without classes, it would be best for us to honor Dr. King by going out and doing service for the community."

Tickets for the dinner are on sale at the Office of Student Life and Diversity Programs in the University College building, 815 W. Michigan St. Tickets for IUPUI undergraduate students are $10, if purchased by Dec. 8, or $15 after that date. Tickets for faculty, staff, graduate students and community guests are $30 each. Ticket sales will end Jan. 8, 2001.

Businesses, community organizations and individuals are invited to place advertisements in the souvenir book that will be distributed at the dinner.

The Martin Luther King dinner is co-sponsored by the IUPUI Office of Student Life and Diversity Programs and the IUPUI Black Student Union. For additional information about the dinner, tickets or souvenir booklet ads, call (317) 274-3931.

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