Week-long celebration honors Martin Luther King Jr.

While most students are happy to have as much time off school as possible, next Monday’s university holiday is not just an extra day to sleep late. It’s a time to remember the life of one of the most prominent civil rights leaders, Martin Luther King Jr.

The historical importance of King’s contribution to the world received national recognition in 1983 when the United States Congress designated the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In King’s honor, the department of Multicultural Student Affairs annually organizes events to celebrate his life achievements.

“We want to keep the dream alive,” Fernando Salazar, coordinator of Hispanic Student Services, said.

SMU’s Association of Black Students collaborated with the multicultural department to coordinate next week’s events. Among the events scheduled, Kefla Hare, from MTV’s Road Rules season 6, “Down Under,” will speak Wednesday in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center forum from noon to 1 p.m.

“Our goal is to inform the community by bettering the students’ knowledge of what King stood for,” Salazar said.

The week’s celebrations begin Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the “Unity Walk” from Dallas Hall to the Hughes-Trigg Student Center commons area.

“Finding ways to make the purpose known, and to make people want to come year after year is the hardest part of putting together this event,” Regina Davis, administrative assistant to the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs, said. “We hope that this year’s events will stand out as a success.”

Thursday’s events include a daylong Diversity Education Program presentation, “Picture This,” and a debriefing at 6 p.m. in the Hughes-Trigg commons.

DEP’s presentation shows pictures of controversial themes in America today such as the Elian Gonzalez affair and the September 11 attacks. The debriefing offers students an opportunity to give their perspectives and to reflect on the pictures they see earlier in the day.

“I’m an advocate of diversity on campus, and I think this is a step forward in joining the majority and minority people at SMU,” Association of Black Students’ MLK week committee member Matt Houston said. “I’m especially looking forward to the Unity Walk, because it’s the first event, and I’m eager to see who comes out to walk.”

The national holiday usually falls close to or on King’s birthday on January 15.