Ninety-nine years of editorial freedom Vol. IC, No.76 Ann Arbor, Michigan -- Tuesday, January 17, 1989 Copyright 1989. The Michigan Daily Campus celebrates King ROBIN LOZNAK/DaIly About 2,000 people gather yesterday for a noontime rally on the Diag to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. -March BY KRISTIN HOFFMAN AND VERA SONGWE Although this year's traditional Unity march drew about 2,000 students, faculty and members of the community, the overall mood of the procession seemed more subdued than last year's, when student boycotted classes to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. This year's march, which was sponsored by the Conimemoration of a Dream Committee, took place for the first time on a day of cancelled classes. And, unlike last year, two University administrators addressed the crowd in addition to the student activists. celebrates King's But -the student speakers raised many points of contention to the University's claim of progress in campus racial relations - es- pecially the University's labelling of Martin Luther King Day as "Diversity Day." Some students had objections to Univer- sity President James Duderstadt speaking at the rally and hissed when Duderstadt and Provost of Minority Affairs Charles Moody were introduced. "The march is really the coming together for the beginning of a long journey," Duder- stadt said. He said that next year he wanted to see "ten times" as many people at the rally. But to see that, noted student speaker Errol Anthony Henderson, Duderstadt will have to admit "that many more Black students" to the University. Said another student at the rally: "It was appropriate to have the president of the Uni- versity here. You want to know what his views are." After the two administrators made their remarks about the importance of honoring King, student leaders made scathing attacks of the University's policies. "It's ironic that President Duderstadt is speaking to us today, if you recall, last year, dream in his speech he categorically refused to honor MLK Day," said UCAR representative Kim Smith. "It would be OK if [Duderstadt] stayed at the back of the line. The whole reason he's here is to get publicity for his policies," said Andrew Hagelshaw, another UCAR member. BSU President Christopher Jones did not want to "discuss or debate the Michigan Mandate" but expressed a certain sarcasm and questioning where Duderstadt will lead the University in the 21st century. Student activities vary on day off BY STACEY GRAY, MARTIN OTT, AND NOELLE SHADWICK LSA first-year-students Sara Demeritt and Masue Li went to the mall. Junior Engineering student Bonita Williams marched. And LSA Sophomore Troy Fabregas studied in the UGLi. Although many deemed the Uni- versity's first "Diversity Day" a success, not everyone used the day to attend the programs offered by the University to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Some people took advantage of the University-sponsored events; some people had to work; and some people spent the day catching up on schoolwork. "I'm going to get some work done today," said a junior engineer- ing student. "I'm not really sure what's going on campus for Diver- sity Day..,. I'll check it out later." "Most of the people I know are doing their own thing today. Just studying or maybe went back home for the weekend," said Hsiao Peng, a dental student. Events were scheduled around campus from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Crowds at morning events in the Michigan League overflowed into the halls outside of the Vanderberg hallway, and some audience mem- bers sat on the floor of the Michigan League Ballroom to watch what was going on. However, said one participant, "The people who need it the most are those who are still sleeping." The turnout by students at morn- ing events was smaller than at after- noon events, said Tom Morson, the coordinator of the Post-Unity March Reception. Morning events were at- tended mostly by faculty, but at least 80 percent of the people at events after the march were students, he said. Approximately 2,000 people marched in The Annual Unity March, which began at the corner of South University and Washtenaw at noon and finished in the Diag about an hour later. "It was wonderful," said Bonita Williams, a junior in the School of Engineering. "I've never seen anything like this or been involved [before]," said a first-year Music School student. Speakers at the rally spoke about Dr. King and last year's student struggle to get classes cancelled for the holiday. Bystanders also said "diversity" was not the day's only issue. "I'm glad it's happening. For too long people have been very compla- cent... I brought my sons because I wanted them to begin with this. Hopefully as they grow, they'll be involved," said Eylastine Green- Roberts, a graduate student in the School of Social Work. The Post-Unity March Reception Young speech closes activities BY KRISTINE LALONDE Mayor Andrew Young, who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement, shared many per- sonal anecdotes about King's per- sonality in the closing address of Martin Luther King Day last night. "He [King] wasn't even trying to be a leader, in fact, he was trying very hard not to be a leader," Young said. "He was not an aggressive, take-charge kind of person." He added that King was not a revolutionary, but merely someone trying to show "that in every person is something divine." Young told of the strengths of King's movement. He said the struggle for racial equality is helped by not pinpointing the blame on anyone for the situation of Blacks. "We're not worrying about who is right and wrong," he said. "What we're saying is together we have to establish a new relationship." Young, whose speech was inter- rupted often by applause in the overflowing Hill Auditorium, said he was impressed by the day's activities. "While one day of the year will never solve our problems, it does serve as a reminder," he said. Physics department chair Homer Neal, the co-chair for the Dr. Martin Luther King Symposium Commit- tee, said Young was chosen for his awareness of the continuing civil rights struggle and his personal in- Mayor Andrew "Diversity Day" See Young, Page 6 how Dr. Martin JESSICA GREENE/1Daily Young addresses a full Hill Auditorium during the closing speech of activities. Young shared personal insight on the civil rights movement and Luther King's ideals could be applied to today's world. See Day off, Page 2 * Reagan's remarks offend rights leaders Laureate Brooks pays poetic homage to King BY LISA MAGNINO AND MARIE WESAW Despite more than 500 people crowding the Michi- gan Union Ballroom yesterday afternoon to hear her speech, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks still believes there is little interest in Black literature. DETROIT (AP) - President Ronald Rea- gan's remarks Sunday on CBS television's "60 Minutes" in which he said some civil rights leaders may perpetuate racial strife, sparked criticism from several speakers, in- cluding California State Assembly Speaker - Willie Brown Jr., Jessie Jackson's 1988 pres- Reagan's civil rights record. The remarks came on the birthday of Mar- tin Luther King: State and national holidays were observed yesterday. Many remembrances to the slain civil rights leader took place across Michigan. s t *- % ar ;5,;;