1/9/03

JULIAN BOND

JULIAN BOND TO HELP AU DEDICATE CENTER FOR DIVERSITY

AUBURN -- Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP, former Georgia state senator and lifelong worker for civil rights and economic justice, will be the featured speaker when Auburn University officially opens its Center for Diversity and Race Relations on Jan. 14.

The dedication ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the center, which is located in the James E. Foy Student Union. Bond's address is scheduled at 5:45 p.m., in the auditorium of the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center.

"This is a great benchmark for Auburn and we are pleased to have someone like Dr. Bond on hand to help us dedicate the center," said AU President William F. Walker. "He has spent his life advocating the value of diversity and justice. To have someone of his stature come and share in our building value of diversity here at Auburn is appropriate and exciting."

A Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the American University in Washington, D.C., and a faculty member in the Department of History at the University of Virginia, Bond became involved in the civil rights struggle as a student at Morehouse College. There in 1960 he helped found the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights, the Atlanta University Center student civil rights organization that won integration of Atlanta's movie theaters, lunch counters, and parks.

Bond helped form the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and shortly thereafter became its communications director, heading the printing and publicity departments, editing its newsletter and working in voter registration drives across the rural South.

Bond served four terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and six terms in the Georgia Senate, ending his tenure only when an unsuccessful congressional race in 1986 prevented him from seeking re-election. He holds honorary degrees from 14 colleges and universities and has served on the boards of numerous organizations working for civil rights and social change.

Bond, Walker, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Pritchett, Interim Assistant Provost for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Keenan Grenell, Black Student Union President Kai Mumpfield and Student Government Association President Heath Henderson will each speak briefly at the dedication ceremony.

A reception, featuring dance by the Indian Cultural Association of East Alabama and AU's Indian Students Association, will immediately follow.

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CONTACT: Grenell, 334/844-4184.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Bond will be available to the media at 5 p.m. in Meeting Room C of the AU Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers immediately following his address. Media who would like to speak to Bond in advance of his Auburn appearance should contact Pam Bond at 202/466-7000. A photograph of Bond is available upon request by calling David Granger at 334/844-9999.)