Since his death on April 4, 1968, much has changed in the United States. Known for leading different peace marches and demonstrations during the 1960’s, Martin Luther King Jr. changed the way the world looked at race and social equality.

Although today we still are fighting for equal rights and race equality, Grand Valley State University has taken the correct step to cancel all classes that fall on Jan. 21, also known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in observance of the holiday and in hopes to bolster participation numbers of students at MLK Jr. Day events on campus since conflicting class times will no longer be a factor. Up until now, GVSU was one of only three public universties in Michigan that kept class in session annually on the holiday. The decision, based on a recommendation by University Academic Senate, and supporting materials from the Academic Policy and Standards Committee, the Provost and a resolution passed the Student Senate, is indeed what Bobby Springer, associate director of the Office of Multicultural affairs and MLK Celebration co-chair called “a step in the right direction.” If the university will close for winter holidays, Thansgiving, and New Years Day, it only make sense to close classes on a day that honors one of the most socially influential people in U.S. history, allowing more wiggle room for students and faculty to participate in the multitude of celebrations that take place around campus that day.

Here at the Lanthorn, we know we are not your mother, your girlfriend or boyfriend, or your professor (though sometimes we might act like it), but we’ve just got to make a recommendation of our own: classes being cancelled should not translate into a get-out-of-class-free card. It does not mean your Sunday night socializing should bleed into Monday morning just because you don’t have to worry about making it to GVSU’s campus on time. One of the main reasons the university took so long to make the decision in the first place was the fear that students would treat the holiday like a long weekend, and that participation in on-campus events would go way down. So, prove them wrong. Find out how you can get involved, show up to the breakfast or the silent march or drop in to see one of the MLK Day guest speakers. The university is going to revist the motion in five years, to decide whether or not the cancellation in classes is effective. So, in a way, it’s the decision of whether or not this continues for future generations of Lakers is largely on the shoulders of the students to decide. So take a step in the right direction, GVSU, and take a day to remember the man who changed the way we look at our neighbors, and taught us that love and equality always wins.