University of Arkansas Presents an Evening with Carlotta Walls LaNier: A Mighty Long Way

Civil rights icon and National Women's Hall of Fame inductee Carlotta Walls LaNier will speak to the University of Arkansas community on Thursday, Feb. 11. LaNier will speak about her time at Central High School as a member of the "Little Rock Nine" and discuss the current racial climate.

At 5 p.m., a faculty and staff-led interactive panel will take place in the Verizon Ballroom of the Arkansas Union. Those in attendance will have the option of asking questions about and discussing topics regarding racial relations and gender equality. LaNier will not be taking part.

A reception will be held at 6 p.m., with the lecture beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Verizon Ballroom. A question and answer session will immediately follow LaNier's lecture. Admission is first-come, first-serve.

After the event, LaNier will sign copies of her book, A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School at 7:30 p.m. The University of Arkansas Bookstore will provide copies of LaNier's book for purchase.

LaNier is known for motivating audiences with her personal story of perseverance and strength and bringing to life a moment in history that changed the world while inspiring hope for the future.

In 1957, fourteen-year-old Carlotta Walls was the youngest member of the "Little Rock Nine" the group of African American students who integrated Central High School. She and eight other students faced angry mobs and racist elected officials in a crisis that required federal intervention by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She had no way of knowing that day was the beginning of a journey that would challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change the social landscape of America.

Sponsors for the event include New Student & Family Programs, the Office of the Dean of Students, University Housing, Residents' Interhall Congress, the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, the Honors College, Greek Life, the School of Law, PROFOUND Pioneer Entertainment Group, National Residence Hall Honorary, and the School of Social Work.

Madeleine Chaisson, a student resident assistant and president of the Volunteer Action Center, said having LaNier come and speak is an opportunity to hold an open dialogue about race on the U of A campus.

"We need to have a conversation about race in general and also about gender roles," Chaisson said. "Our thought is that this is a really good platform to facilitate an open and honest conversation. I think that students need to be reminded of where we've come from to appreciate where we are now and to then continue to move forward."

Chaisson and three other students have been working to bring LaNier to campus since last year. The students wanted to remind the university community about where it has come and help them to continue to move forward. After getting funding and support from different departments and offices across Student Affairs and the community, Chaisson said they were able to solidify plans to bring LaNier to campus.

"My main hope for the event is that everyone is a little bit more educated on the civil rights movement and what happened at Central High School," Chaisson said. "I think it's really important to recognize what has happened in the past so we can move forward. While we have made great strides, we still have work to do. I hope that Ms. LaNier can give us some insight into the past and also on outlook for the future."

Eric Hall, coordinator of residence education for University Housing, has been involved with the student group in bringing LaNier to the university. Hall said the night is about acknowledging Arkansas' heritage and looking to the future of diversity in the state and country as a whole.

"We want the night to be about an open dialogue," Hall said. "Ms. LaNier will present not only the history piece and help us understanding where times have changed, but then discuss where we're at now and looking forward. Looking through her lens at what she's seen and hearing her take on how we've progressed and how we can move forward to be a unified society accepting diversity across the board."

This lecture is sponsored in part by the Charles and Cappy Whiteside Code to Creed Program.