Large crowd anticipated for Convocation

Missouri Western State University is making plans to accommodate a larger-than-normal crowd for the R. Dan Boulware Convocation on Critical Issues featuring Martin Luther King III. The Convocation will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 in the M.O. Looney Complex Arena, with a live simulcast in the Potter Hall Theater. The event is free and open to the public.

“People have expressed a lot of interest in our Convocation this year, so we wanted to make plans to accommodate everyone,” said Jerry Pickman, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri Western State University Foundation.

Doors to the Looney arena will open at 8:30 a.m. The arena set-up has been changed from previous years, allowing for more seating. If the venue fills to capacity, additional guests will be invited to enjoy the simulcast in Potter Hall.

King’s topic is “Embracing the Ideals of Freedom, Justice and Equality.” As the oldest son of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King III has seized the torch lit by his parents and is continuing their quest for equality and justice for all people. He has been sharing this message with audiences around the world for nearly 20 years. A human rights advocate, community activist and a political leader, King also has been actively involved in significant policy initiatives to maintain the fair and equitable treatment of all citizens, at home and abroad.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.