For the first time, Ferris canceled all in-person and online classes on Monday, Jan. 15, giving everyone the opportunity to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
While the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration has been a part of the university for decades, with events held such as an annual march, this year the university decided to do things differently.
Instead of the tradition of doing events on the holiday to celebrate, they were spread out throughout the week, so students could reflect on the importance of the holiday, without being interrupted.
University president Dr. Bill Pink spoke on what Martin Luther King Jr. Day meant to him as a person of color.
“MLK Day reminds me that there are people throughout history who have stood up for others in the midst of adversity and opposition,” Pink said. “I have to believe that our founder Woodbridge Ferris and his wife Helen did this in the late 1800s, when it wasn’t a popular message of education for everyone regardless of skin color, gender etc. Dr King’s message was strong, and eventually cost him his life. What an incredible example!”
In addition to telling why the holiday is a significant day to him, Pink also gave his personal preference as to why it’s important for the university to be taking the day off.
“The life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact to our country are recognized by taking a pause every January to remember and celebrate,” Pink said. “I am honored to be the president of Ferris State during the time period when the institution moved toward this new level of recognition.”
Despite most colleges and universities taking off the day, there are still some across the country that don’t. Maggie Walcott, the administrative assistant of the president’s office, gave her input on why universities that don’t take off Martin Luther King Jr. Day should take it into consideration.
“I would love to see a subtle shift in the focus of this day,” Walcott said. “Yes – we absolutely need to use it to talk about Dr. King’s history and civil rights, but I think we also need to remember to use it to uplift local communities with a ‘Day On’ of service, versus just a day off.”
Public relations junior Braden Gebbink gave his intake on what Martin Luther King Jr. Day meant to him from a student perspective since he took a family trip to see Dr. King’s motel room in Memphis and visited the area where he was shot and killed, making him feel more connected to the holiday.
“He’s a man who put in a lot of hard work and time to make sure people are treated kindly and with fairness,” Gebbink said. “A day to appreciate and be thankful for everyone who stands up for what’s right and makes the world a better place.”
Throughout the week a few events were held on campus to celebrate. On Tuesday, a student-led choir performance took place at David L. Eisler Center 202B/C. On Wednesday, the university had its Annual MLK March, and Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American teenager who was shot in 2012, came to the university and gave powerful messages of activism. And finally, on Thursday the Diversity, Inclusion and Strategic Initiatives organized a Black History Month Trivia Night at DEC 202C to recognize Martin Luther King Jr., Black History, Ferris Activism and Social Justice.
Ferris State University will continue to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by having all in-person and online classes cancelled for Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.