Despite day off, MLK events abound Monday

UIndy is canceling classes and closing offices Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a change from the past practice of opening with an adjusted schedule and a special mid-day program to mark the occasion.

Despite having a three-day weekend, hundreds of students have signed up for a series of university activities arranged around the King legacy and the struggle for civil rights. If you’re into the social media thing, look for their photos and comments under the hashtag #MLKUIndy.

The day begins with a morning service trip to paint and clean at Indianapolis Parks & Recreation’s Indy Island facility. Buses will depart UIndy at 8:30 a.m. and return to campus by noon.

The university also is transporting students to the Madame Walker Theatre for a presentation by Sarah Collins Rudolph, a survivor of the infamous “Four Little Girls” church bombing in 1963. Her talk, “Journey to Freedom from Racism —Moving Forward While Looking Back,” begins at 10 a.m. Buses leave campus at 9:15 a.m. and return around 11:30 a.m.

Another option is a tour of civil rights-related sites around Indianapolis, followed by a catered dinner and discussion on campus. Participants will visit Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, tour the Crispus Attucks High School museum, watch the documentary “Ripples of Hope” and hear remarks from community leaders. The tour will begin at 1 p.m. and return to campus in time for the 5:30 p.m. dinner, which will feature music from UIndy’s Voices of Worship gospel choir and a talk from Sister Jane Marie Klein, who helped to administer last rites to King upon his assassination.

The day will end with a private screening of the acclaimed film “Selma” at the nearby AMC Southern Plaza multiplex. Buses leave at 7:30 p.m. and return around 11 p.m.