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January 12th 2005 • Printer version Law faculty member Ibrahim Gassama, a professor
of
international
 law, will be honored with one of the UOÃs Martin Luther
King, Jr Awards on January 27 for exemplifying KingÃs ideals. These include showing
moral courage, promoting racial justice, welcoming people of color,
promoting cultural awareness, and setting an example.
In addition
to his inspired teaching, Gassama freely lends his time to human rights
causes all over the world. Raised in Sierra Leone and educated at
Harvard, he has assessed the effects of war on his homeland, the
embargo on Cuba, global trade on Caribbean nations, and has trained and
recruited election observers in Haiti and South Africa.
ThereÃs so much work to do, Gassama says, so much pain in the world.
I tell my students to get out and do this work before they settle down.
The other award recipients are Robin Holmes, director of the counseling and
testing center, Chicora Martin, director of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender support services in Student Life and Martine Wigham,
admissions coordinator for the American English Institute.
In addition to the annual awards ceremony, the university will honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther
King, Jr. with a number of free, public events during and around the
national holiday.
Vice Provost Greg Vincent, who also teaches at the law school, will
serve as master of ceremonies at the campus and community celebration
honoring KingÃs Life on Monday, January 17 at 6 p.m. in the Erb
Memorial Ballroom, 1222 E. 13th Ave.
The event features best-selling author
and journalist Bebe Moore Campbell. She will address the eventÃs theme
of Celebrating Diversity Through Shared Humanity. EugeneÃs new
mayor, and a number of community groups will also
participate in the program.
The Washington Post calls Campbell one of the most important African
American writers of this century. She is a recipient of the National
Endowment for the Arts literature grant and is the author of three New
York Times best sellers Brothers and Sisters, (Berkely, 1995), Singing
in the Comeback Choir, (Berkely, 1999) and What You Owe Me, (Penguin
Putnam, 2001). As a journalist the Los Angeles-based writer has written
for the New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Los Angeles
Times, Essence, Ebony and Black Enterprise and is a regular commentator
for National Public RadioÃs Morning Edition.
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