By DAVID MURIMI

Staff Writer

In celebration of the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, a Unity March parade will begin on Tech's campus at 11:15 a.m. Monday, followed by a nondenominational service at the Ruston Civic Center, located at 401 N. Trenton St., later that afternoon.

"The goal of these events is to embrace the diversity of our community and celebrate the ideals of what Dr. King stood for," Lindsay Mencacci, vice president of the Student Government Association and a senior biology major, said.

The theme for this year's event is "With Faith, Let Freedom Ring."

Mert Douglas, director of multicultural affairs, said the planning committee, marchers and participants in the parade will assemble at 10:45 a.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center parking lot.

Mencacci said the SGA has invited all recognized student organizations, Ruston civic organizations and churches from the surrounding area.

"The next step is to make contact with the university and Ruston police," Mencacci said. "My main goal is to get a large and diverse group from the Tech and Ruston community,"

Douglas said it would not be a day for students to sleep in or enjoy an extended weekend.

"It is an opportunity to pay tribute to a man who has contributed to some of the benefits that blacks, whites and other races are currently enjoying," Douglas said.

Mencacci said the community was receptive to the third annual observance event because some of the community members were familiar with the service and the march.

"The committee always plans a good program and is always successful," Jimmy Washington, a member of the planning committee and the admissions minority recruiter, said.

According to the planning committee, the purpose of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Program is to heighten awareness, in both the university and Ruston communities, of Dr. King's dream of respect and cultural and ethnic diversity for all people.

Douglas said she would like to see this as a means of unifying for a common cause.

"Many times the community will come together when there is a crisis and when it seems to have settled down, we go back to our own individual world," Douglas said.

Mencacci said with all the tragedy and injustice people are witnessing today, everyone can find comfort and hope in the message of peace and equality that King left behind.