2010 Event Details
Date: Monday, Jan. 18, 2010
Exhibition and seating 1 p.m.
Location: Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University. (Alexander Hall is located behind Nassau Presbyterian Church, opposite Palmer Square on Nassau Street.)
2009 Event
Princeton commemorated the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at its annual King Day celebration Monday, Jan. 19, in Richardson Auditorium of Alexander Hall. The event, which was free and open to the public, began with musical selections at 1 p.m.
The theme of this year's program followed the hotly contested presidential election and asked, "If he were alive today, what would Dr. King most want our newly elected president to be concerned about?"
The event included the presentation of awards to essay, poster and video contest winners in grades 4 through 12 from area schools. The students submitted entries in which they assumed the role of a cabinet member advising the president on a key issue that would be of particular interest to Dr. King. The names of the contest winners are posted on the University's King Day website.
During the program, Professor William A. Massey received the MLK Day Journey Award for Lifetime Service in recognition of his untiring commitment to mentoring and supporting minority students in the sciences and engineering. The event also included a performance by Oasis Youth Steel Pan Ensemble, which is part of the Oasis Folk Arts Academy program in Newark, N.J.
The keynote address, delivered by Hugh Price, the John Weinberg/Goldman Sachs Visiting Professor of Public and International Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, reminded the audience that while the election of President Obama is a great stride, there is still much work to be done if we are to achieve Dr. King’s dream of equality and justice for all.
Price, who began a five-year appointment at Princeton this academic year, is the former head of the National Urban League. He has dedicated his life to advocating for civil rights and equal opportunity. During his time at Princeton, he will lead courses that explore the many ways in which governments, foundations and nonprofit organizations can use their resources and influence to address social issues.
In addition to serving as president of the National Urban League for nearly a decade, Price has been a vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation focusing on at-risk youth, a senior vice president of the Thirteen/WNET public television station in New York, and a member of the editorial board of The New York Times, writing about education and criminal justice. Price is the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards.
The webcast of the King Day event has been archived at http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/special/. The annual celebration is convened by the University's Martin Luther King Day Committee and is coordinated by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Human Resources.