Staff Editorial: Honoring King's memory

Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday is and ought to be a time to remember the message of the late civil rights leader and to honor his legacy. To do so, President Judith Rodin has recommended that classes not be held on Martin Luther King Day in the future, we believe holding classes is entirely consistent with the principles and guiding spirit of the holiday. But the goals of the commemoration -- a greater appreciation for America's diversity and remembrance of Dr. King's message -- are not compromised when students and faculty engage in academic work. And classes do not detract from an individual's ability to celebrate the holiday in a manner befitting Dr. King's memory. Therefore, we believe that classes should continue to be held on this day in the future Dr. King's birthday should be -- and for many, is -- a day to reflect on the civil rights movement, its successes and those dreams that have yet to be fulfilled. It is a day that unites all Americans, reminds us of where we have been and allows us to look at where we are going as individuals and as a society. Every year, this campus sees a plethora of speakers, programs and service activities that succeed in keeping Dr. King's spirit alive, now 71 years since his birth. We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of these powerful opportunities, both on the King holiday and over the course of the year. It is imperative that the ideals for which Dr. King lived and died be passed onto the next generation, and active participation in the events marking this holiday will make that a reality. But Dr. King was also a firm believer in the power of an educated mind, and holding classes is an embodiment of his vision, not a denigration of it. King was an active campaigner for civil rights in the days before Brown v. Board of Education, and no image would be more consistent with his vision than that of students, from a variety of backgrounds, engaging on equal footing in vigorous academic dialogue. Truly commemorating Dr. King does not mean limiting opportunities for personal and intellectual growth. Those who would make Martin Luther King Jr. Day an official University holiday should consider whether canceling classes would really better serve the goal of honoring Dr. King and his vision.

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