For the second year in a row, Ball State has observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
However, it seems that Ball State basically shut down and gave everyone the day off.
At their meeting Tuesday, members of the Black Student Association debated the university's involvement in the observance, stressing the absence of on-campus events to commemorate the holiday.
Their argument is valid as there were no events at Ball State.
However, the university sent an additional message.
Monday, Bracken Library changed its hours, residence hall dining services were closed until 3:30 p.m. and classes were canceled. No activities in honor of King were scheduled on campus.
This gave students and staff no incentive to stay on campus. With no place to eat, no place to study and nothing to do, students went home. They did their laundry and watched television. That was their observance.
If Ball State wants students to observe MLK day, more activities need to be offered to keep them from hopping in their cars when they are done with Friday classes.
Classes can be canceled to let people observe, but the campus should not shut down.
The closed campus sent one message to students: three-day weekend.
To students, a three-day weekend is a chance to get off campus and out of Muncie, not an opportunity to honor a civil rights leader.
If Ball State wants to give students the opportunity to observe MLK Day, it should be better prepared. The day should be full of options for students to participate in activities and learn about King's accomplishments.
The concept of canceling classes is a strong one, as Ball State should be part of the nation-wide observance.
To accomplish this, Ball State must understand that observance demands more than canceled classes.
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