The Observer, February 24, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 18
Harry Belafonte talk now rescheduled for next week
On Tuesday at 7 p.m. Harry Belafonte will give a speech at Strosacker Auditorium. Originally scheduled for Feb. 7, the speech was postponed due to a superseding obligation to speak at Coretta King's Funeral. The event is cosponsored by Case's University Program Board (UPB) and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Belafonte is currently a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, only the second American to hold the title, and Chairman of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Fund. He is the winner of awards from Kennedy Center and Boy Scouts of America.
Recently, he's been vocally protesting what he perceives as extralegal action on the part of the Bush administration.
The rescheduling of the event has caused some trouble for the UPB office. Some ticket holders, unaware of Belafonte's cancellation, showed up at the event on Feb. 7.
Also, since previous tickets are still acceptable for entrance into the speech, it is possible that some ticket holders may not show up to the new event, making it difficult to prejudge the event turnout.
Organizers have increased the amount of advertising for the rescheduled event in order to inform the public of the event's new time.
"It's made the job twice as hard because there's a lot of confusion about the event, but we want people to know that the event is rescheduled for Feb. 28," Eric Hammond, senior UPB officer and organizer for the speech, said.
Hammond remains cautious but optimistic about the attendance of the event due to the increased advertisements and Belafonte's cancellation. "I completely understand his reason for canceling the first event; he was a close personal friend of Mrs. King, and she was the matriarch of the civil rights movement," Hammond said.
Belafonte sent a letter to Case in regards to his postponement. According to the letter, the loss of King was "profound." He seemed to suggest that he would speak at the funeral himself by stating, "I could not imagine being required to speak in the church at her service and not be in attendance."
However, Belafonte did not give a eulogy at King's funeral. His absence from the speakers list during the funeral prompted queries from news sources. Belafonte could not be reached for comment, and has not yet made a public statement explaining his absence. A spokesperson for the King family denied any rumors that he had been asked not to speak at King's funeral.
Case students have been understanding about Belafonte's obligation to the King family. "As an activist in the African-American community, it seems that he would have an obligation to attend her funeral. I don't perceive it as disrespectful towards us," senior David Ziegler said.
Tickets to the event are free and can be picked up at the UPB office or at the door. Previous tickets from the cancelled speech are still valid for entry at the rescheduled event.
