A time to break silence.
For the first time in Eastern Mennonite University’s history of over a century, classes were canceled to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a way that has never been seen in our community.
All classes on Jan. 21 were canceled to provide students with a “day of learning, service, and legacy,” as stated in a letter from The President’s Office and signed by President Susan Schultz Huxman. In an interview with Celeste Thomas, Director of Multicultural Student Services and Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity and Inclusion, she explained, “This day was something that had been in the making for several years.”
A few years ago, the Black Student Union (BSU) at EMU, along with Thomas’s office, submitted a proposal that Eastern Mennonite University observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day by canceling classes to make more time to honor the legacy of Dr. King. Her proposal was denied; however, last year during Homecoming weekend, current students, alumni, faculty, and staff started a petition to reverse the ruling on the previous request to observe the holiday.
Letters of support from the BSU and the Student Government Association were also submitted with the petition. After review by President Susan Schultz Huxman and the Cabinet, the proposal was approved.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee was formed by Celeste Thomas with members from various organizations and volunteers on campus to plan this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day events. In total, 28 different events, workshops, and service opportunities were available across campus and within the Harrisonburg community.
Sophomore Jakiran “J.D.” Richardson, co-president of BSU, explained his hopes for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day “that will move the EMU [community] to more peace building… [and] show students how to break their silence and help them stand in what they believe in.”
The committee for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day was tasked with finding the most qualified speaker for EMU’s celebration of this national holiday.
Thomas explained that there were “several people on the table” as candidates to be this year’s speaker. She went on to say that the committee “wanted to make sure that the [speaker] was a Reverend… and that it was someone who was open and accepting to everyone.” After looking at Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, the Committee decided that he would be the best fit as this year’s speaker.
The decision to cancel an entire day of classes was somewhat controversial with some of the professors on EMU’s campus. However, professors also understood the great importance that this national holiday holds in our history as a country.
In reflecting on the turnout of this year’s events, Thomas hopes that EMU “will continue to have a day on for service and legacy… [and] that the community feels welcome to come regardless of… [their] walk of life.” Junior Paul Kayembe, Vice President of the Student Government Association, believes, “It was a good first step…, [but] the message wasn’t well conveyed.” He felt that the message was more about fighting against something than peace-building, as suggested by Richardson.
Melody Panel, Chairperson of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, is hopeful that in the future, attendance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities will be, “mandated by the administration like [it currently is] for the ACE Festival.”
Just as Thomas said, “It’s not over… there is still room to grow… [and] for people to start living into the message and King’s struggle.” There will be more opportunities to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. as the years go by. Richardson hopes that this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, “will ripple throughout EMU history,” as the first year we observed this National Holiday together as a community.
