South African human rights activist's daughter will speak at IU for MLK Day

Naomi Tutu, the daughter of South African bishop and human-rights activist Desmond Tutu, will speak on campus later this month. \nThe lecture is part of a series of events hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration Committee to commemorate the birthday and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\nTutu is an educator, activist and founder of the Tutu Foundation for Development and Relief in Southern Africa. In 1997 she was program officer and co-convener of the Gender-Based Violence and Education Program at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, according to the World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship.\nTutu will speak about the "power of one" and address the effects of King's efforts and contributions in the U.S. and worldwide, according to the event press release. \nTiffany Combs, a staff member at the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs, said the theme of the event is about raising awareness of AIDS and poverty.\n"I really hope students, especially undergraduates, will participate," Combs said. "We will be focusing on King's message on a national and international level."\nCombs stressed that she would like to see a large turnout of students and the Bloomington community for all events during the celebration. \nRichard McKaig, dean of students and vice president for student affairs at IU Bloomington, credited the committee members for all of their work for the celebration.\nMcKaig said that he serves as a board member and that the real nuts and bolts of the operation came from the members of the MLK Committee.\nAxelle Atchade, vice president of the African Student Association, said that although her organization is not directly involved with the event, it will be promoting the lecture. \n"I definitely will be asking a lot of people to come out and support this," Atchade said. "ASA plans on spreading the word through Listservs, e-mails and flyers to get as people to attend as possible."\nOther events that are part of the MLK celebration, which will take place from Monday to Feb. 1, will include panel discussions and musical performances. For more information, visit the MLK Committee Web site at www.indiana.edu/~mlkjr