Without a doubt, students across campus enjoyed the long weekend provided by the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. However, University officials are questioning the legitimacy of this academic hiatus, given the utter lack of student participation in MLK Day programming and events.
There is general agreement amongst the members of the Duke community that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s memory is one which merits meaningful recognition. As such, the debate over whether to make MLK Day a school holiday in coming years hinges on two questions. First, does honoring Dr. King's memory necessarily warrant cancelling classes? And second, are the events, performances and speeches throughout the weekend productive, given their consistently poor attendance rates?
The purpose of celebrating MLK Day is to commemorate the work and message of Dr. King's life. Ideally, the day should foster awareness about a variety of important issues, including race, equality, non-violence and love. Admittedly, discussion and reflection along these lines could take place whether Duke holds classes or not.
Since the University first cancelled classes for MLK Day in 1999, the student body has given officials much reason to reevaluate the academic recess--students have not chosen to participate in the commemorative events that are offered in place of classes. Especially with MLK weekend coinciding with the end of sorority rush, many students use the holiday to recover from partying or to sleep in and relax, rather than reflect on Dr. King's legacy.
While this may be the case, the academic recess is important for other reasons. First, it allows University staff, including residence staff and housekeepers, food service workers and other employees time off from their duties to celebrate the holiday as they see fit. This could not occur if the University operated on a normal Monday schedule. Further, having the day off naturally causes students to pause to wonder why, in fact, they are not in class, even if only for a few brief moments. This is as much reflection as can reasonably be expected from some students.
Officials are further considering the necessity of continuing to hold the many programs that take place during the weekend, since attendance is abysmal. Duke, as one of the most prominent colleges in the South, has a moral obligation to hold MLK festivities.
Students who want to celebrate the holiday in a public forum with programming should be given the opportunity to do so. MLK Day is not a ritualistic holiday--we can't get together to decorate trees, light candles or carve a turkey, so it should be expected that events will be sparsely attended. However, the events mean a great deal to those who do attend.
The University should continue to make MLK Day an academic holiday, and hold a variety of on-campus events and speeches. Publicity should be more vigorous, but the general structure of the holiday should remain intact.
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