Hero’s commemoration weak

A hero’s birthday celebration passed this week, and Missouri Southern barely seemed to notice.

Martin Luther King Jr. did more for civil rights in this nation than possibly any other person, yet the College does little in comparison to others to commemorate him. With an international mission, one would think Southern would do more to celebrate the life of such an incredible person.

The College does host an annual breakfast in King’s honor, and it is always very respectful. But at 7 a.m., few students are willing to attend. Southern Impact sponsored a moving ceremony around the flagpole at noon Jan. 20. But it still is not enough.

The biggest concern is what we do not do to remember King. Of the eight schools out of 10 in the MIAA that had started classes by Jan. 20, Southern was the only one that did not cancel classes. And this is an every-year occurrence.

Complaints arise across campus each year because classes are never canceled on this holiday. Yet each year, students continue to find themselves sitting in the classroom on the third Monday of January.

Whether canceling classes is the correct way to honor King is questionable, but Southern should at least realize that this is exactly what the majority of other colleges do. We could also learn a little bit from the way other colleges celebrate the holiday.

Take Central Missouri State University, for example. That college begins the celebration the night before with a special church service in King’s honor. And of course, Central does not hold classes the next day. Still, special activities occur throughout the holiday.

People can take freedom ride buses to Kansas City, students make performances at local schools, a gospel choir performs, and the day is capped off with a scholarship dinner.

Southern’s celebration seems pretty weak in comparison.