The event will be preceded by a march from Beaumont Tower to the Wharton Center, beginning at 6 p.m. Classes will not be held Jan. 21 to celebrate the holiday.

Also, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 20, a concert and discussion will be held by members of the MSU Jazz Studies Program in the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.

Darren Lamb, a journalism senior and programming director for Black Student Alliance, said he thinks the events are important because they honor King’s life.

“I think the MLK celebration is a seminal part of African American heritage that we respect and respond to on MSU’s campus,” he said. “MLK was an important man who did important things for the good of all people, not just black people.”

But Lamb said students should concentrate on King’s overall impact and not focus on individual accomplishments.

“I think one problem in the past was that people have forgotten his tradition and legacy,” he said. “Hopefully, this year we will get to see something new and provocative.”

Camille Spencer

College promotes Strampel to acting dean post

The College of Osteopathic Medicine has named Dr. William D. Strampelas its acting dean.

The MSU Board of Trustees approved Strampel’s appointment at its Dec. 7 meeting. Strampel succeeds Allen Jacobs, who died Dec. 2.

Strampel, a professor of internal medicine, is not new to MSU or the college, for which he has served as senior associate dean since 1999.

Before joining the MSU community, Strampel held many different positions.

Some of them include special assistant to the U.S. Surgeon General for force protection, director of quality management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and commander of the Great Plains Regional Medical Command and the Brooke Army Medical Center.

Strampel’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a doctorate from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Plans to fill the dean’s position permanently are indefinite.

Megan Frye

Seniors kick off fund-raiser, contest with U-M

Spartans are usually more than willing to show up their perennial foes in Ann Arbor. This academic year, the senior class hopes to raise more “green” and leave a monetary impression on their alma mater.

For the second straight year, the graduating classes from MSU and the University of Michigan are competing to see which class will have the most participants donating to the senior class gift.

The tradition of senior class donations began in 1873 and the idea to expand the pledges into a competition came last year to generate more donations. Almost 975 seniors contributed, raising $25,000 and setting the current record.

This year’s drive will end March 30 and the winning school will receive a $1,000 grant from either MSU Federal Credit Union or the U-M Credit Union.Seniors interested in making donations and increasing the chances of beating U-M should contact University Development at (517)353-3121.

E. Claire Lepine

Petitions available for ASMSU student positions

Petitions for students who are interested in becoming a member of ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, will be available today in 307 Student Services.

Matt Weingarden, Student Assembly vice-chairperson of internal affairs for ASMSU, said out of the four questions on the petition, applicants should be most concerned about what issues they will pursue as a representative and how they will make them a reality.

“We are hoping as long as there is a lot of people in the election, we will be able to make big changes,” the biology junior said. “The focus of the election will be, ‘How can you make a difference on this campus?’”

To run in the ASMSU elections in mid-March, students must turn in a completed petition with 15 signatures to 307 Student Services by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18.

After petitions are approved, debates and social gatherings will be held to meet the candidates before elections.

Alison Barker