“If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice, say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

 -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Welcome

Recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthdate has been a tradition at The University of Iowa since 1969, and the national holiday has been observed through human rights programs since its inception in 1986. In 1990 the University initiated the Human Rights convocation program. Afternoon classes were cancelled to encourage student, faculty, and staff participation in programs that encourage dialogue about diversity and reinforce the principle that the University is a forum for the free exchange of ideas. The convocation has been an opportunity for serious thinking by all of us about issues of social justice, human rights, and world peace.

An official University holiday was designated in 1995 to provide an opportunity to engage the University community in a discussion of the human values that the King holiday epitomizes. These initial events have grown into a campus wide celebration that engages faculty, staff, students and community members to give lectures, discussions, and cultural arts presentations. All events are free and open to the public. For a complete and updated list of events, view the event listing.

Event Toolkit

Get invloved in Human Rights Week 2012! Encourage your student organization to get involved in this year's events and create their own. Use these customizable posters to promote your event on campus.

Typing Template

8.5 x 11 Poster