Former ONU Students Recall Visit By Martin Luther King Jr.

1/19/18 – 5:03 A.M.

Former Ohio Northern University students who attended a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on campus in 1968 spoke to current students Thursday. The Courier reports ONU is commemorating King’s visit with a series of events on campus this year.

Monty Siekerman was the university’s director of public information fifty years ago. He told Thursday’s audience that King’s speech was the “epitome of oratory.” He added, “people listened to what he said.”

Joel Weaver was a pharmacy student in 1968. He said, “He educated the entire crowd. There were no protesters outside. There were no hecklers in the front row. The place was absolutely quiet and everyone listened and became educated.”

Sadicka White was a student at the time. She also was a founding member of the Black Student Union. She said the day King spoke at ONU left “an indelible impression in my life.”

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