FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas will kick off Black History Month with a wide array of events and celebrations, beginning Friday, Feb. 1.

According to Lonnie R. Williams, UA assistant vice chancellor for student affairs, Black History Month actually began in 1917 with Dr. Carter G. Woodson's "Negro History Week." As time passed, it emerged into what is now known as Black History Month, a celebration in which the U of A is proud to be involved.

"In a similar way, the participation by groups on campus has expanded significantly, as can be seen by the number of different sponsors of activities," Williams said. "This growth in participation and collaboration is significant. Our remaining challenge is to extend those offerings and collaboration throughout the year and not just in February."

Saturday, Feb. 2, the UA Post Office will begin selling the Langston Hughes/Black Heritage Commemorative Stamp Series.

Monday, Feb. 4 will feature two events. Nola Holt Royster Suite Dedication Service and open house will begin that morning. The open house and tour of the Career Development Center will begin at 10 a.m., and the dedication service will begin at 11 a.m. in Arkansas Union 607. For more information call the Career Development Center at 575-2805. That evening, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" will begin at 7 p.m. in Reid Hall.

Tuesday, Feb. 5 will feature two events. "More Stories from the Life of Bass Reeves" will take place at the UA Museum Gallery at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. with great stories from the life of legendary 19th century black Arkansan Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves. The Silver Dollar City storytellers, Richard and Judy Young, will perform as well. For more information call 575-8739.

The College of Education and Health Professions and Multicultural Student Services will present the "Faces of Diversity" colloquium series one, "Succeeding as a Graduate Student of Color: Tales from the Front Line." The panel discussion showcasing University administrators, faculty and students will take place in the Multicultural Center from 6:30-7:30 p.m. A drawing for a $250 book stipend will be awarded to a student in attendance to at least one of the programs. Please join us for a reception following the program. For more information contact Gigi Secuban at 575-4205.

Wednesday, Feb. 6, the department of communication and the Arkansas Union Society will co-sponsor a chamber debate at the Reynolds Center Auditorium in the Walton College of Business. "This House Would Recognize Kwanzaa" will begin at 6 p.m., and "This House Believes The Dream is Over" will follow at 7 p.m.

Chamber debates are exhibition parliamentary style debates conducted by the University of Arkansas Debate Team and moderated by the Arkansas Union Society. These debates offer opportunities for students to practice and to exhibit skills of critical thinking, logical and reasoned argumentation, and publicly address university and community issues. If you would like to speak to the students participating, or if you would like to be a guest speaker at the debate call 575-3046 for more information.

Feb. 7-9, the Black Graduate Student Association will sponsor the 3rd Annual Graduate and Professional Student Conference. For more information contact Brian Cornelius at bkcorne@uark.edu.

Friday, Feb. 8 will feature three events. The art department will display all day the exhibit "Work of John Newman" and exhibits from selected UA students. That evening, the Black Students Association and the Black Graduate Students Association will co-host Friday Night Live and a spades/dominoes tournament in the Arkansas Union. For more information call 575-3346.

Feb. 8-14, Chartwell’s will hold a drawing in the Arkansas Union Food Court for reproduced artwork, "Tempo," by Geoffrey Holder.

Saturday, Feb. 9, the North Arkansas Jazz Society and Multicultural Center will co-sponsor Matt Wilson at the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Concert Hall at 8 p.m. Wilson is one of today's premier drummers known for his creativity and versatility. For more information call 442-0990.

Monday, Feb. 11, guest speaker Timothy McCain will talk about his three books ("ALWAYS," "UNTIL," and "FOREVER") in the contemporary, ethnic, women's romance genre at the Arkansas Union Theater at 10:30 a.m. His fourth book, "EMOTIONS," will be released this April by Defina imprint (Kensington Publishing). His book, "UNTIL," is being used as part of the listed reading for a collegiate-level human development class on campus. A reception and book signing will follow the lecture in the Multicultural Center. For more information contact Leann at 575-7131.

Tuesday, Feb. 12 will feature "Faces of Diversity" colloquium series two, "Successful Women in Academia: The Struggle Continues" from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Center. The College of Education and Health Professions and Multicultural Student Services will sponsor the panel discussion showcasing University administrators, faculty and students. There will be a drawing for a $250 book stipend to be awarded to a student in attendance to at least one of the programs, and a reception will follow the event. For more information contact Gigi Secuban at 575-4205.

Thursday, Feb. 14, University Programs will present Loston Harris, Jazz Trio at the ALLTEL (Arkansas Union) Ballroom at 8 p.m. Call 575-5255 for more information.

Feb. 15-21, In the Arkansas Union Food Court, Chartwell's will hold a drawing for reproduced artwork, "Blue," by Archibald Motley.

Feb. 15-28, Chartwell's will hold two drawings for reproduced artwork. At Brough Commons, the drawing will be for "Blue Hole, Flood Waters, Little Miami River" by Robert Duncanson, and the Pomfret Dining Center will hold a drawing for Edward Bannister's "Sabin Point, Narragansett Bay."

Sunday, Feb. 17, Humphrey's Hall will host a Kabin Thomas and Courtney Penny concert at 3 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 18, three events will take place. Bryon Bain’s lecture on racial profiling will begin at 8 p.m. in the ALLTEL (Arkansas Union) Ballroom, sponsored by University Programs. Call 575-5255 for more information.

Gregson Hall will host the Underground Railroad Re-enactment at 8 p.m., and the African-American History Quiz Bowl will begin at 9 p.m. in Yocum Hall.

Tuesday, Feb. 19, will feature "Faces of Diversity" colloquium series three, "Student Athletes: The Past and Present- Stereotypes and the Struggle" from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Center. The College of Education and Health Professions and Multicultural Student Services will sponsor the panel discussion showcasing University administrators, faculty, and students. There will be a drawing for a $250 book stipend to be awarded to a student in attendance to at least one of the programs. For more information contact Gigi Secuban at 575-4205.

Thursday, Feb. 21 will feature the Hartman Hotz Lecture Series "The Elaine Race Riot: A Debate." Grif Stockley and Jeannie Whayne, UA history department chairperson, will be debating, and Tom Dillard will be moderating. The program begins at 3 p.m. in the Leflar Law Center Courtroom and is co-sponsored by the School of Law and Fulbright College. For more information call 575-4504.

Friday, Feb. 22, the Six Pioneers Room Rededication Ceremony will be held to honor and rededicate the Six Pioneers Room to Silas Hunt, the first black admitted to the University of Arkansas School of Law and the first five black graduates of the University of Arkansas School of Law. The program will begin at 3 p.m. in the Six Pioneers Room. For more information call 575-4504.

Feb. 22-28, Chartwell’s will hold a drawing at the Arkansas Union Food Court for reproduced artwork, "The Banjo Lesson," by Henry Ossawa Tanner.

Saturday, Feb. 23, two events will be held. The "Omega Psi Phi Fraternity High School Talent Hunt" will be held at the Arkansas Union Theater at 7 p.m. The program will feature a "step" performance by the fraternity, and admission is $5. For more information call 575-2064. "Rhythm & Brass," a concert featuring jazz, blues and country with works by Bob Marley, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, will begin at 8 p.m. at the Walton Arts Center. For ticket information call 443-5600.

Sunday, Feb. 24, there will be two events. John Newman's work will be on display in a solo art show at the Fine Arts Gallery. The opening for the art exhibit will be coupled with a Sunday showcase performance presentation by UA music professor Kabin Thomas. Also that day, the Black Students Association will sponsor another spades/dominoes tournament at the Arkansas Union. Contact Barrett Petty at 575-3346 for more information.

Tuesday, Feb. 26 will feature "Faces of Diversity" colloquium series four, "Moving up the Ladder: Successful Men of Color in University Administration" from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Multicultural Center. The College of Education and Health Professions and Multicultural Student Services will sponsor the panel discussion showcasing University administrators, faculty, and students. There will be a drawing for a $250 book stipend to be awarded to a student in attendance to at least one of the programs. There will be a reception following the program. For more information contact Gigi Secuban at 575-4205.

Thursday, Feb. 28, a soul food extravaganza will begin at 12:10 p.m. at the Leflar Law Center. Several soul food dishes will be prepared and served by the members of the Black Law Students Association. For more information contact BLSA President Tiffany Armstrong at 251-9387 or tarmstr@uark.edu. Ticket price to be determined.

Later that evening, the Tidwell Dance Company will perform from 8-10 p.m. at the HPER Dance Studio. For more information contact Mary Huizar at 575-5255.

The month of March will also feature three events.

Friday, March 1, African-American comedian Rodney Johnson will perform at midnight in the ALLTEL (Arkansas Union) Ballroom as a part of Friday Night Live. Call 575-5255 for more information.

Saturday, March 9 will feature a spring gospel fest to be held at the Arkansas Union Theater. Call 575-3346 for more information.

Thursday, March 28, the Kuumba House Dance Company will perform at the HPER Dance Studio. The group fuses different regional African styles, delivering a fresh and unique approach to African concert dance. They will perform in authentic costumes to live music utilizing indigenous instruments. For more information contact Julienne Gutierrez at 575-5255.

Feb. 1-28, there will be several month-long exhibits. "African-American History: Famous Firsts" will be on display at the University Museum. The exhibit will display historical figures that were the first African-Americans to achieve recognition in their fields, and it will feature posters, display items and interactive exhibits. "Black Women: Achievement Against the Odds" will present posters from the Smithsonian Institution that feature women who labored on many fronts to see freedom triumph in medicine, arts, theater and the military.

Also at the University Museum will be the exhibits "African-American Historical Figures Recreated in Handmade Dolls" and "Some Arkansas Famous Firsts."

"African-American Historical Figures Recreated in Handmade Dolls" features the work of I. Roberta Bell who created dolls depicting African-American historical figures. Among the people represented in this exhibit of dolls are Crispus Attucks, the first American to die in the Revolutionary War; Jean Baptiste du Sable, the first citizen of Chicago; and Matthew Henson, the first person to plant an American flag at the North Pole. "Some Arkansas Famous Firsts" spotlights three famous firsts from Arkansas - Daisy Bates, Florence Price and Bass Reeves. For more information on these exhibits call 575-3466.

Jan. 23-Feb. 28, the exhibit "Selected Photographs of Geleve Grice" will be on display at the Multicultural Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Grice is a 1942 graduate of Dunbar High School in Little Rock, and since the late 1940s he has served as a photographer for the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. In 1948, he accompanied Silas Hunt, Wiley Branton and Harold Flowers to the U of A when Silas Hunt enrolled at the UA School of Law. This exhibit features photographs of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., Muhammad Ali, former Governor Bill Clinton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Joe Louis, Silas Hunt and many others.

Feb. 1-28, The UA Bookstore will be running a month-long promotion in recognition of Black History Month, spotlighting the following books at 20 percent off. The books include "Salvation," by Bell Hooks; "On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam CJ Walker," written by her great-great granddaughter A'lelia Perry Bundles; "A Piece of My Soul Quilts by Black Arkansans," by Cuesta Benberry; and "Blood in Their Eyes," by Grif Stockley.

Free postcards will be given with the purchase of black history books. Look for special floor and window displays!

Also throughout the month, the Arkansas Union Food Court, Brough Commons, Pomfret and Fulbright Dining Center will feature menu items that are associated with African-American culture. Please visit http://dining.uark.edu for weekly, resident dining hall menu details and the Arkansas Traveler's dining services ads on January 28th and February 11th for menu updates.

All of the residence halls will be sponsoring different activities honoring Black History Month. For more information, check with the front desk in the residence halls.

Feb. 1-7, Chartwell’s will hold a drawing at the Arkansas Union Food Court for reproduced artwork, "Family, No. 1," by Charles Alston.

Feb. 1-14, Chartwell’s will hold a drawing at Brough Commons for reproduced artwork, "Parade on Hammond Street," by Alan Rhohan Crite. At the Pomfret Dining Center, Chartwell's will hold a drawing for reproduced artwork, "Justice, Faith, Hope and Peace," by Joseph Overstree.

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