January 17, 2023

Dear UM Colleagues,

A winter welcome to every Grizzly as we begin Spring Semester 2023 together! 

At the heart of the University of Montana is our ethic of service and cultivating a purpose bigger than ourselves. So it is fitting that yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, just as we begin the academic term. 

As the country honors King's dream for a better America, we know his vision for a more equitable country still requires deep work from us all. We lose sight of this when his legacy and contributions are reduced to a single quote, day or moment.

This why I’m thrilled to welcome to Dr. Lerone Martin, faculty director at Stanford University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, next Thursday for the President’s Lecture Series. The lecture, "Becoming King: How A Wavering Teenager Became A Global Icon," will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, in UM's Alice Lund Instructional Auditorium. 

I hope you'll join and listen as Dr. Martin shares with us why King’s dream is not yet accomplished, the heavy work it took to get where we are today, and resistance faced by historical and contemporary audiences. The President's Lecture series this month is a great opportunity to engage. 

Of course, there are many other events on campus that will make this semester a memorable one, including a host of events this week to celebrate the return of students and our vibrant campus in deep winter. Among them: ice skating, Griz on Tap, a bonfire and pep rally, the opening of Monte's Den in the University Center and Griz hoops into the weekend. 

I look forward to the semester with you. 

In partnership,

Seth