R.8 Regarding Support for the Observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Whereas, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a respected leader and founder of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s and left behind for the world a legacy of hope and equality; and

Whereas, at great personal risk to himself, Dr. King struggled to end segregation in America and bring true freedom to African-Americans and other oppressed people of color; and

Whereas, Dr. King’s life tragically ended in 1967, and to honor his memory and legacy, the United States Congress declared in 1983 that the third Monday in January, the anniversary of his birth, should henceforth be recognized as “Martin Luther King Day;” and

Whereas, it took 17 years before all states officially recognized and observed this day but that even in 2007, only 33% of employers adhered to its observance by closing their businesses; and

Whereas, this delay in fully honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. bears witness to the struggle to acknowledge the importance of one of only three individual persons distinguished by a national federal holiday; and

Whereas, the New York State government recognizes the third Monday in January as an official state holiday, along with hundreds of local governments, school districts, and private businesses; and

Whereas, Cornell University has failed to recognize the significance of this day by commencing the first day of the spring semester for the last two academic years on the third Monday in January; and

Whereas, Cornell, as an institution of higher learning, by observing MLK day would indicate its commitment and support for greater recognition of this symbolic day; and

Whereas, Cornell’s recognition of this day would be a symbolic message to the student body, many of whom wish to change the world, by honoring a man who invested himself in gaining an education, despite the odds he faced, and used his learning to change the world around him; and

Whereas, SA has previously supported the recognition of this day via Resolution 26, submitted by At-large member Matthew A. Galin, ‘01 and Secretary Benjamin A. Perry, ‘99 on January 21, 1998;

Be it therefore resolved that the GPSA strongly urges the University Provost, in planning future academic calendars, to include the third Monday in January, as an official University holiday to honor the achievements and courage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

Be it finally resolved that this resolution be circulated to David J. Skorton, President; W. Kent Fuchs, Provost; Alison Power, Dean of the Graduate School; and William E. Fry, Dean of University Faculty.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mario Guerrero
Executive Vice President

Nighthawk Evensen
GPSA Member — Biological Sciences