MTSU community to host 2025 MLK Celebration Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Student Union

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the Student Union Atrium, 1768 MTSU Blvd.

Danielle Rochelle, director, Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs — Danielle Rochelle

In observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, MTSU will be officially closed Monday, Jan. 20. Classes begin for the spring semester Tuesday, Jan. 21, with the King observance the following day.

“The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration has historically been held on the actual holiday. However, this date was a barrier for some as the university is closed for the holiday, and it precedes the start of the spring semester,” explained Danielle Rochelle, director of the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs, which hosts the event annually.

Rochelle said the decision to also change the time will give the chance for more people on campus and in the wider community to attend the free event honoring the slain civil rights leader and his widow, the late Coretta Scott King.

Speakers for the celebration will include Dakota Logan of The Point Campus Ministry and Student Government Association President Michai Mosby. The occasion is a Connection Point event for MTSU students.

“It is an incredible honor to speak at MTSU’s 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration,” Mosby said. “Dr. King’s legacy of justice, equality and service continues to inspire us as we strive to build a campus and community that reflect those ideals. This event is a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a more inclusive and equitable world.”

Other guests include the men of the Murfreesboro Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, of which King was a member, and women of the Murfreesboro Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which Mrs. King was an honorary member. The Rev. Vincent Windrow, pastor of Olive Branch Church and retired associate vice provost at MTSU, will provide remarks on the history of the True Blue Pledge as it relates to the late civil rights leader.

The public is invited to attend the celebration. Parking is available just north of the building off Blue Raider Drive.

Off-campus visitors can obtain a temporary parking permit from the Parking and Transportation Services office at 205 City View Drive or pay by plate by visiting this webpage, https://bit.ly/mtvisitorparking, and clicking the appropriate link under “Visitor Parking.” Visitor permits are $2 per day.

A campus parking map is available at https://bit.ly/MTSUParking and more information is available at https://mtsu.edu/parking/.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who was inspired both by his Christian faith and by civil disobedience tactics employed by Indian leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, led marches and demonstrations that promoted the end of legally enforced racial segregation in public accommodations. His work and that of his followers prompted Congress to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the Aug. 28, 1963, march on Washington, D.C. MTSU students and others will celebrate King's memory during a Jan. 21 candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense Archives) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the Aug. 28, 1963, march on Washington, D.C. MTSU students and others will celebrate King’s memory during a Jan. 21 candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense Archives)

After speaking to sanitation workers who were striking for better wages and working conditions in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, King was assassinated as he stood on the balcony of the city’s Lorraine Motel.

On Nov. 21, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the law creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national celebration of King’s birthday. King was born Jan. 15, 1929, and the first observance of the holiday was on Jan. 20, 1986. The holiday is celebrated each third Monday in January.

For more information about the celebration, call 615-898-5812 or email ida@mtsu.edu.

MLK Day campus closings

In addition to Monday’s universitywide closing, the Student Union and James E. Walker Library will be closed Saturday-Monday, Jan. 18-20.

Campus Recreation Center will be open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday-Monday, Jan. 18-20.

Hours for MT Dining locations will vary. McCallie Dining Hall will be open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Jan. 19-20. For more details on other locations, visit https://mtsu.campusdish.com.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)