Princeton University Prof. Cornel West, who made news in April with his abrupt split from Harvard University, will speak at Northwestern on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in 2003, university officials said Tuesday.
“We hope that Cornel West is a visible figure and people will have some curiosity to come see him in person,” said Stephen Fisher, associate provost for undergraduate education and a MLK Day committee member.
West, a professor of religion and African-American studies, left Harvard after the university’s president criticized him for his activism outside the classroom. His departure sparked debate about the significance of race in the academic world.
NU’s MLK Day committee chose West as the keynote speaker because his name is easily recognizable and because of the popularity of his best-selling book, “Race Matters,” said Tamara Kagel, Associated Student Government academic vice president.
“(The Rev. Samuel “Billy”) Kyles last year was an incredible speaker,” she said. “But he just wasn’t in the news the way Dr. West is.”
Last winter’s keynote speaker, Kyles, worked with King during the Civil Rights Movement. But Kyles drew only about 450 students and community members to Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and satellite locations.
Organizers of that celebration said Kyles lacked the name recognition of the previous year’s speaker, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose speech attracted more than 1,400 people.
“(West is) probably the authoritative figure on race relations in this country,” Kagel said.
Kagel said attendance also is important if students want to make the case for a full day of observance at NU.
“It’s really important that students go,” she said. “If we stop coming out and supporting the celebrations that are going on, we could lose the three hours of activities that we have now.”
University President Henry Bienen sent an e-mail to the NU community Oct. 7 announcing that MLK Day observances at both the Chicago and Evanston campuses will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Jan. 20.
A speaker for the Chicago Campus celebration has not been announced.
The university canceled classes last year from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Evanston Campus and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Chicago Campus to allow Kyles to appear at both campuses.
Although students and staff are not required to attend NU’s keynote speech, Fisher said he hopes people will treat the holiday as opportunity for learning.
“It’s a perfect time for members of the university to reflect on the message of Martin Luther King Jr. — not only what he accomplished in his lifetime, but also what it means for us today, ” Fisher said.
To involve more students in MLK Day celebrations on campus, ASG is working to organize more activities and alternative ways of observing the holiday, said ASG President Rachel Lopez, a Weinberg senior.
Weinberg senior Dale Vieregge will head an ASG committee that plans to allow about 25 minority high school and middle school students to come to campus for MLK Day. Vieregge said the students likely will be exposed to classes on the Civil Rights Movement, information on college admissions, a college tour and a discussion of the work of Cornel West.
Applications for the committee are available on the ASG’s Web site (asg.northwestern.edu).
