FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Through lectures, artwork and theater, the University of Arkansas will celebrate the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. throughout January and examine the changes in society that he championed as a proponent of civil rights and racial equality.

King, a pastor, scholar and activist during the 1950s and 1960s, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work to bring about peaceful change in American civil rights and race relations. King was assassinated in April 1968 while in Memphis, Tenn., to lead a protest march.

The Northwest Arkansas MLK Planning Committee and the University of Arkansas will host the Recommitment Banquet featuring Marc H. Morial, president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League. The banquet will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at the Fayetteville Town Center. Tickets for the banquet may be ordered by e-mailing nwamlk@yahoo.com.

Morial, a former mayor of New Orleans and president of the National Urban League since 2003, spoke out following the devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and the slow response by federal and state authorities in the aftermath.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Remember! Celebrate! Act!” Complementing the university events, community events planned by the Northwest Arkansas MLK Planning Committee include church services, community service projects and the Martin Luther King Jr. March starting at 11:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at the Walton Arts Center parking lot and proceeding to the UA campus.

In addition, the university’s celebration of King’s birth and his legacy has been broadened this year to include lectures in all the colleges and schools of the university, with artwork and more lectures in Mullins Library, and a theatrical production called “The Meeting” at the Arkansas Union Theater. “The Meeting” will be presented by the Grimes Theatre Group and dramatizes a meeting between King and Malcolm X at a Harlem hotel in 1964. It is free to the public, and a reception will follow.

University events include:

Continuing through January and February

Art Exhibit: "High Water,” by John Newman, Mullins Library.

Monday, Jan. 16

Noon — Student Vigil, Fulbright Peace Fountain. (In case of rain, the vigil will be in the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge.)

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Noon — Law School Lecture: “Reflections of MLK Faculty and Students,” Room 113, Law School Courtroom.

1:30 p.m. — University Lecture by Charlene Johnson-Carter: “Dr. Martin Luther King, Whose Hero Is He?” Room 104, Mullins Library.

Noon — College of Education and Health Professions Lecture by Glenn Anderson: “Dr. King’s Legacy and Influence among People with Disabilities,” Graduate Education Auditorium.

1:30 p.m. — University Lecture by Joe Seabrooks: “Does Hip-Hop/Rap Influence African American Consumer Trends: Art Imitating Life?” Room 104, Mullins Library.

1:30 p.m. — University Lecture by Darell Fields: “Reconcilable Differences: Architecture and Blackness,” Room 104, Mullins Library.

5 p.m. — J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Lecture by Jeannie Whayne: “William 'Snake’ Tony and the Art of Passive Resistance,” Room 523, Dean’s Conference Room, Old Main.

4 p.m. — College of Engineering Lecture by Michele Lezama: “The Silent Crisis: The Global Need for STEM Talent & Will the U.S. Be a Supplier?” Room 209, Engineering Hall.

2:30 p.m. — Sam M. Walton College of Business panel discussion: “The Martin Luther King Legacy and Corporate America,” Auditorium, Don W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development. Panelists: Donald Bland, Esther Silver-Parker, Michael Steel, Shaun Coker and Gerald Jordan.

4 p.m. — Lecture by David Chappell: "Contested Legacy: A Conversation on How Americans Have Used and Fought Over the Memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.," Room 404, Multicultural Center, Arkansas Union.

Monday, Jan. 30

7 p.m. — Entertainment: “Second Annual Diversity Show” by Diversity Alliance, Arkansas Union Theater.

For updates on events related to the celebration of King's life, go to the UA Multicultural Center's Web site.

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Marc H. Morial bio:

Marc H. Morial is the President and CEO of the National Urban League, the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights and direct services organization empowering African Americans and other emerging ethnic communities.

Since his appointment in 2003, Morial has re-energized the movement’s diverse constituencies by building on the strengths of the ninety-five year old organization. Morial laid out an ambitious five-point “Empowerment Agenda,” that covers Education & Youth, Economic Empowerment, Health & Quality of Life, Civic Engagement and Civil Rights & Racial Justice.

These five areas are now measured as a part of a new quantitative analysis, the “Equality Index,” found within the League’s much-heralded State of Black America report. They have come to serve as the cornerstone for his efforts to help improve the quality of life for each and every American. In 2004, Mr. Morial launched an Annual Legislative Policy Conference in Washington, DC.

Armed with a common agenda of jobs, education and civil rights, the Urban League leadership (staff, board and volunteers) from across the country served as frontline advocates in discussions with national legislators.  A Black Male Commission was formed to explore and formulate concrete   recommendations, solutions and program to address the alarming inequities, disparities and social trends disproportionately affecting black males.

Morial also established the Urban Entrepreneurial Partnership Program, combining public and private sector resources to support business development growth among minority entrepreneurs. Under Morial’s economic agenda, five economic empowerment centers will be established; and  $127.5 million has been secured in new market tax credits for business financing.

Previously, Mr. Morial served two distinguished four-year terms  (1994-2003) as Mayor of New Orleans. He maintained a 70 percent approval rating, reduced crime by 60 percent and reformed a corrupt police department, built $400 million in city infrastructure improvements including 15,000 new home owners, 200 miles of streets, a new sports arena and expansion of the convention center. He also brought the NBA’s Hornets basketball team to New Orleans. Morial was also president of the U. S. Conference of Mayors (2001-2002). After leaving the Office  of the  Mayor, Morial briefly practiced law.  Before becoming mayor, Morial served as a Louisiana State senator for two years.  He has bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.