Following a year marked by national tragedy and local cultural tension, this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service might have particular significance to some Penn State students.

The third annual event, presented by the Undergraduate Student Government on Jan. 21, includes activities ranging from a celebration march on the steps of Old Main to a community commemorative bell ringing ceremony.

MLK Day co-directors Rebecca Levin and Jeffrey Paradise have already secured 66 student organizations to sponsor service projects, an increase from last year's participation.

"Service is a direct part of social change and should not be neglected for other forms of activism," said Laurie Rosenberger, co-director of Womyn's Concerns, a group that will participate in MLK Day for the first time.

"We wanted to do a program that would raise awareness," she added.

Levin agreed that a major part of the event is to bring together different groups.

"Our goal is to enhance diversity appreciation on (the) Penn State campus through education and a cooperative outreach to the community," she said.

Regarding the United States' current conflict overseas, the day's events will also include such relevant presentations as "The Taliban, Human Rights and Women" and "Racism on Campus."

"We are aiming for quality, not just numbers," Paradise said.

The attendance figures also are poised to be impressive — roughly 3,000 people are expected to be there, exceeding last year's figures.

"People are looking to help others now more than ever," said Jennifer Storm, the political co-director for the Lambda Student Alliance, another organization that will be involved. "MLK was created as a day on, not off, when you're out practicing King's ideology and giving back to the community."

Paradise said there will be several opportunities for students who want to participate. They will be offered 14 on-campus activities in the HUB-Robeson Center, including an information center, film screenings and a service fair.

Additional on-campus events will include Allies' presentation of "Straight But Not Narrow," a black-Jewish dialogue called "The Garden," and a speech by Colgate University Professor Adam Weinberg, "Civil Rights and Money in Politics."

Other sponsors include Circle K, National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, Womyn's Concerns and the Black Graduate Student Association.

This year's MLK Day will come to a close with an evening celebration featuring Yolanda King, King's eldest daughter, who will address Penn State on the same day that her father spoke in Rec Hall 37 years ago.

"Yolanda will definitely be the most pertinent guest for this event," Paradise said.