Last week's 24th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Week for Peace saw the Dillard, Tulane, Xavier and Loyola communities joining together. From January 18-22, students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the life of Dr. King and discuss the state of race relations in America today and in the future.

Highlights from the week included "Expressions of Unity," a celebration of Dr. King's life through music, dance, drama and spoken word at Dillard's Cook Theatre. Another high point was the convocation at Tulane University, which featured a lecture and booksigning by esteemed political journalist Roland S. Martin, who spoke on the theme "Change: From Rhetoric to Action."

Community Service Awards were also presented at the convocation, with one going to Dillard's Sabrina Bland. A senior from Oakland, Calif., Bland is pursuing degrees in urban studies and public policy, and has worked with numerous charitable organizations, including the United Negro College Fund, Habitat for Humanity, Hands Across America and Gentilly Cleanup.

Dillard would like to thank all those who participated in the 24th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Week for Peace for helping to make it a great success. For a full listing of the week's events, please click here.

(Above, R-L: Roland S. Martin, D.U. Vice President for Student Succcess Dr. Toya Barnes-Teamer, and her husband.)

(Right: Provost David Taylor bestows the Community Service Award to D.U. senior Sabrina Bland.)

January 20, 2010

In addition to facilitating the relief efforts of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Dillard University is doing its part to assist the victims of the Haiti crisis by openings its doors. In a letter today to President Clinton, Dillard President Marvalene Hughes announced that the university is prepared to offer assistance to students of higher education who may be displaced from universities in Haiti. Dillard is willing to offer educational support for those who may choose to matriculate at the university. It may also be possible for Dillard to accommodate some faculty members. Dillard University asks that you keep the people of Haiti in your hearts, and thanks the community for its generosity during this difficult time.

January 19, 2010

Message from the President:

Our campus community has been mobilized to prepare an urgent response to aid Haiti in its state of crisis. It is reported that the sense of urgency is increasing. It is crucial that we make visible efforts to provide immediate support to Haiti in a similar manner in which the world reached out to Dillard University during Hurricane Katrina.

We want to ensure that contributions made by Dillard’s faculty, staff, students and alumni are received directly by the Haitian people. Remember that Presidents Clinton and Bush both appeared on our campus during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to deliver funds that they had raised for hurricane recovery. President Barack Obama asked them to resume this role for relief and recovery efforts to help Haitian people. 

To this end, I am asking faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the Dillard community to make contributions to aid Haiti through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Contributions may be made in three ways:

On the Web:              Click Here (secure, online donation page)

Mobile Giving:           Text the word “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Charged to your cell phone.

Mail:                           The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

                                    c/o William J. Clinton Foundation

                                    Donations Department

                                    610 President Clinton Avenue

                                    Little Rock, AR 72201                    

One hundred percent (100%) of all donations made through the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will be provided directly to address the needs of the Haitian people. No deductions are made for administrative costs. I strongly encourage you to give as generously as possible to this worthy cause.

Sincerely,

Marvalene Hughes, Ph.D.
President

January 14, 2010

Message from the President:

In times like these it is important for those of us who are fortunate to be in good health and are in safe environments to do our best to send a message to Haiti during this time of grief and tragedy.
We are not certain about all the options at this point, but the message received from former President Bill Clinton is to collect any amount of money that is available and find a means to get it to Haiti.

Shortly, we will send out instructions on where donations from Dillard students, faculty, and staff will be collected. I would ask that when you give, please give generously. Also, keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.  

With sincere gratitude,

Marvalene Hughes, Ph.D.
President

South African human rights activist and politician Helen Suzman is being honored this month at an exhibit in Dillard University’s Will W. Alexander Library. The exhibit, which runs from Jan. 9 to Feb. 1, will culminate with the dedication of the American-Jewish Committee Distance Learning Conference Room on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.

While serving in Parliament for 35 years, Suzman befriended Nelson Mandela and fought resolutely to end apartheid in South Africa. She passed away last year at the age of 91. To learn more about Helen Suzman’s courageous work, please click here.