Tewoflos Tewoldeberhan ’25 and Thomas Coffey ’25, both wearing ties, lead the march from Slayter Hall to Mitchell Center.
Tewoflos Tewoldeberhan ’25 and Thomas Coffey ’25, both wearing ties, lead the march from Slayter Hall to Mitchell Center.

On a chilly Monday morning, hundreds gathered to join Denison’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. legacy march. There was singing and chanting; some students carried homemade signs. The rows of marchers set out from Slayter down to the Mitchell Center, where they shared a brunch and listened to speakers and performers honoring the legacy of the late civil rights icon.

The MLK march was the signature event in three days of programming that included service projects, workshops, and discussions.

For more than two decades, Denison has celebrated MLK day in its own way. The university’s remembrance is held on the second Monday following the start of the spring semester, allowing organizers to place special emphasis on the commemoration. Classes are canceled so students can participate in a full slate of activities.

Students, faculty, and staff assemble outside Slayter Hall for the march to Mitchell Center as part of Denison’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
Blake Gooch, assistant director of the technology, data, and science learning career center, holds up a “We Shall Overcome” sign.
The MLK march attracted hundreds of marchers despite below-freezing temperatures.
Chloe Echols ’27 and Renai Heath ’25 carry signs during the march to Mitchell Center.
Niomi Ellis ’26 and Chanel Jordan ’26 were among hundreds of students to join the Martin Luther King Jr. activities on campus.
Nicole Ausmer, senior associate vice president of Student Life, addresses the crowd at a brunch inside the Mitchell Center.
President Adam Weinberg shares his thoughts during the MLK brunch.
Kiara Ansley-Hinds ’24, president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, speaks to the importance of Martin Luther King Jr.
Tewoflos Tewoldeberhan ’25 is among the student organizers for the 2024 MLK celebration.
Ladies’ Night Out performs during the MLK brunch in the Mitchell Center.
Timothy Carpenter, center, leads the African-American Roots Ensemble in a song.
Richard Brown, director of the Center for Belonging and Inclusion, provides closing remarks at the MLK brunch.
January 22, 2024