For the first time ever, Grand Valley State University has made the decision to close all regularly scheduled classes on Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The action follows a resolution passed by the Student Senate, as well as recommendations and supporting materials from the University Academic Senate, the Academic Policy and Standards Committee, the Senior Management Team and the Provost.

“The decision to cancel classes for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday beginning in 2013 is the result of several years of thoughtful discussion and reflection by both students and faculty,” said Jeanne Arnold, vice president of Inclusion and Equity and vice provost of academic affairs at GVSU.

When she arrived at GVSU as the vice president of inclusion and equity in 2008, Arnold said she received several complaints from students who wanted to attend MLK day events but feared missing classes. In 2009, she formed a subcommittee to examine the way the university observed the holiday, including a subcommittee that explored whether or not GVSU should close for the day.

The subcommittee made a recommendation to close the university for the holiday in 2011, when Arnold presented the recommendation to both the faculty in University Academic Senate and the Student Senate, who passed a resolution supporting closure later that year.

Provost Gayle Davis gave the motion its final approval in June and the new closure was announced, with the addition that the decision will be revisited in a few years to determine whether the changes “prove to be compatible with the best interest of our students’ academic success,” as stated on the Inclusion and Diversity page on GVSU’s website.

No additional classes will be added to make up for the cancelled classes, which Arnold said, much like Labor Day, is a standard practice when holidays are involved.

“For myself I just think that it was the build up – it’s been talked about every year, we’ve got the momentum,” said Bobby Springer, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and co-chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration executive planning committee. “…We were one of the three (universities that do not close on MLK day), and now for us to be one of the universities that will cancel classes on that day, I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

Despite the good news, there are still concerns over how the cancelling of classes will affect student participation on the day of events – something administrators like Springer hope they can curb by packing MLK Day with events that students want to participate in.

“We don’t want it to be a long weekend for students – we know with some students, that’s what’s going to happen and that was always a concern in the past, students not being engaged,” Springer said. “And that’s even more important now that classes are cancelled, is to make sure that we get students and faculty involved so therefore we have to really increase what we do on that Monday to make sure that people are excited and that they want to be a part of the events on campus.”

The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Executive Planning Committee are in the process of deciding what new events to add, and how to get students involved n the planning process.

“In our meeting today we’re talking about doing additional things to make sure that people are on campus and engaged in some parts of multiple things that we’re doing on campus that day,” Springer said. “But we think with a great day of events to really get people involved that students and faculty will come out will participate and it will be an opportunity where students will not have to worry about missing classes, and they can just relax and enjoy the moment.”

Springer said with the passing of this decision at GVSU, all eyes will be on that Monday to see whether or not it is really making a difference.

“The majority was in favor of this, but that didn’t happen over night. There was a build up for this to happen and just making sure things were in order,” Springer said. “…and that’s why it’s very important that we make this spread and do more now that people have the time to really engage, and make sure we give them something that they can participate in something they can really participate in and want to come back for more.”

If you ask Springer, he’d tell you there is still work to be done in terms of racial equality -both worldwide and right here at GVSU.

“We all have to continue to grow, and learn and engage in this process that’s going to make things better,” Springer said. “We’re not there yet. I think it’s very important for all of us to engage. Because we bring some dynamic interview on campus, we do some great things and I think there’s a piece for all of us in some of things we’re doing.

I know I learn something every year, and I’m right in the middle of it. I just think that could happen for others as well because the more that we learn, equip ourselves with, the more we will be able to pass on to others and continue to build in that way.”

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