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Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: News

GIMME SOME TRUTH: A young marcher makes a statement at the event last year. Trinity usually buses in the largest group of University walkers.

Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech Nikki Giovani will address a crowd in Laurie Auditorium for a lecture entitled, "Words for Change" on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

The 64-year-old has won numerous awards for her expression of beliefs through the written word. Drawing inspiration from the civil rights movement, she began writing in 1967 what would amount to more than two dozen volumes of poetry and prose. Much of Giovanni's work is embedded with the theme of equality for African Americans and other historically under-represented social groups.

Starting in the early years of elementary school, students learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. and how he influenced this country's approach to race and social change. At Trinity, the speaker series honoring King began in 1994, making Giovanni's lecture its fifteenth. It was not until 2003, however, that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was named a University holiday, allowing for school participation in the city's MLK, Jr. march.

Since being given the day off, many Trinity University students, faculty and staff choose to take their time off and walk in San Antonio's three-mile march commeorating Martin Luther King, Jr.

Trinity is the most represented university at the nation's largest MLK march. Usually over 100,000 San Antonio community members participate, beating out marches held in Chicago, Washington DC and Los Angeles. Of that total about 140 represent the Trinity community, according to Ankita Rakhe, coordinator of diversity and student programs. Often as many as 20 of that total are professors and staff, and Rakhe said she hoped to see larger numbers of both students and staff than any other year in the past.

Buses will transport all interested students, faculty and staff to the march route from campus. Meet outside the Bell Center at 8:15 a.m. Monday. Return buses will arrive back at Trinity in two shifts: 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. There is no need to RSVP for a spot. T-shirts will be given to participants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All arrangements are made by the MLK, Jr. Committee, a group of three faculty, two staff and two student members, including the president of the Black Student Union. A budget of $17,500 is allocated by University President John Brazil to Student Affairs to fund the speaker's visit and Trinity's participation in the march.

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