Martin Luther King Jr. convocation today in Blackman Myrlie Evers-Williams, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chair emeritus and widow of Medgar Evers, will be the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation today in Blackman Auditorium from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Afterward, Evers-Williams will take part in a reception and a question-and-answer session at the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute. Evers-Williams is the author of two books: “Watch me Fly: What I Learned on the Way to Becoming the Woman I was Meant to Be” and “For Us the Living.” She also received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Northeastern in 2005. -Mary Ann Georgantopoulos, News Staff

No more free rides; T- fares increase as of Jan. 1 The fare increase for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) public transportation is effective as of Jan. 1, 2007. A ride on the T now costs $1.70 when using the plastic Charlie Card, up from $1.25. The plastic card is available at kiosks at various convenience stores and train stations. When using the paper Charlie Ticket or paying with cash, the cost is $2. Bus fares rose to $1.25 from 90 cents when using the Charlie Card and $1.50 when paying with cash or the paper ticket. The free outbound rides from above ground stations also ended with the start of the new year, which means students traveling on the green line from the Northeastern stop toward Brigham Circle will have to pay the appropriate fare. -Jessica Torrez-Riley, News Staff

Financial aid officer dies at 42 Brian Dunbar, a Northeastern financial aid officer for the past four years, died Jan. 3 at his home. He was 42. Born in Boston, Mr. Dunbar lived in Weymouth for most of his life. He was a retired Navy veteran decorated for distinguished service as regional director of morale, welfare and recreation in Singapore during the 1990s. In this post, he served as a liaison and organized lodging and activities for servicemen in Southeast Asia. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Lehane; eight sisters, Christine Farrar and Kathleen Sullivan of Whitman, Deborah Lundgren of Braintree, Stephanie Cameron of Needham, Cheryl Reynolds of Maine, Kimberly Devin, Michelle Dunbar and Holly Dunbar of Weymouth; and his brother Carl Dunbar Jr. of Medford. A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m. tomorrow at McDonald Funeral Home in Weymouth. – Mary Ann Georgantopoulos, News Staff

RSA hosts mid-year elections for VP of finance At its final meeting last semester, the Resident Student Association (RSA) elected Christina O’Sullivan, a middler finance major, as vice president for finance. O’Sullivan was asked a barrage of questions by the RSA General Council about her previous financial experience, participation in RSA and other campus organizations, work ethic and character. She replaced Christy Capriccio, a middler business major, who was in her second year as vice president for finance when she resigned. O’Sullivan will fill the remainder of Capriccio’s term, which ends with the traditional elections for all RSA officers at the end of this semester. – Brian Benson, News Staff

Music Marathon accepting submissions The Northeastern Department of Music and the Multimedia Studies Program are now accepting submissions for The Visual Music Marathon, a 10-hour showing of works that reflect the junction of musical composition and moving images. The Marathon will be held Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. as part of the Boston Cyberarts Festival, in the university’s Raytheon Amphitheatre. About 30 minutes of footage from the event will be chosen for national cablecast on the Harmony Channel’s Mood Zones. Artists seeking to submit work can visit www.music.neu.edu/mnn or call 617-412-1415. The deadline for submissions is January 22.

– Mary Ann Georgantopoulos, News Staff

Northeastern joins Australian University Northeastern University and Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia joined together last month to offer joint master’s degrees and explore cooperative possibilities. Swinburne is noted for career-oriented education emphasizing in technology research. The universities will offer two master’s degrees under the Global Leadership Program: a master of business and international business combined with a master of science in leadership and master of accounting combined with a master of science in leadership. The program will be taught by Northeastern faculty who will travel to Australia and is expected to attract 50 students when it opens in February. Within three years, the program is foreseen to expand to 400 students. Provost Ahmed Abdelal told the Northeastern Voice that Northeastern is exploring similar arrangements with the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, and already offers counseling programs in Israel and Kuwait. The College of Business Administration is also exploring ways to expand its international business program.

– Mary Ann Georgantopoulos, News Staff