Message from the President

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Thank you for joining us in this 27th annual commemoration at Michigan State of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme of this year's celebration-exploring civil rights through arts and culture-is particularly relevant as we have designated the 2007-08 academic year as MSU's Year of Arts and Culture. Both celebrations acknowledge the important role that arts and culture play in nurturing the human spirit and providing an outlet for creative expression.

In the 1960s and 1970s, during the height of the civil rights movement, many artists, musicians, dancers, poets, authors, and playwrights used their gifts to powerfully illustrate the struggle for equality that Dr. King and others were leading in the streets, churches, schools, and courtrooms across the country. The inspired work and lasting impact of this artistic movement-which was central to the civil rights movement and not merely an adjunct to it-is still evident today and is highlighted in many of the performances and programs happening at MSU throughout this year of Arts and Culture, and through the events commemorating Dr. King this month.

African American author Alice Walker once asked, "If art does not make us better, then what is it for?" Arts and culture truly do enrich and enhance the quality of our lives and, as witnessed during the civil rights movement, they also can serve as instruments and catalysts for change. From an academic perspective, arts and cultural activities are vital in helping to prepare students for a global world. Art, whether visual, performance, or written, enables us to explore the diversity of human expression and gives us a window into cultures and experiences different from our own. The events and programs on campus this year to honor the life of Martin Luther King Jr. exemplify this ideal.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. It is an opportune time, as we commemorate his life, to also take a moment to reflect on and acknowledge the sacrifice he made to move this country forward and to open the doors of freedom for millions of Americans. His leadership and his passion provide exemplary models and motivation for all of us to continue to do all that we can to make the world a better place.

Sincerely,

Lou Anna K. Simon, Ph.D.

President