As a student I use this university to provide me with classes and programs that are going to encourage me to make decisions on the person I am and on my responsibility to the world around me. My attitudes on current and past history are constantly being molded by my professors, family and peers, Consequently, it is the role of the university to show its students that racism and discrimination have absolutely no place on this campus or in the attitudes of people as a whole. Therefore, by this university not recognizing Martin Luther King Day officially as a national holiday on Monday, January 16,1988, it is giving a message to its students -- Penn State has not made a full commitment to equal rights.

We are faced with the violence and racism in some way each day; whether it be in the media or through personal experience. We still have a long way to go before equality between the races will be attained. But the battle to reach this goal is not an impossibility if there is a combined effort by both the government and the educational institutions.

And without a full commitment by both these institutions, biased attitudes toward marginal people can be justified. This commitment to equal rights cannot be based on the percentage of blacks in the university.

Granted Penn State has not ignored this holiday entirely, nor does it deprive its students from participating in classes that educate and promote equal rights. But the availability of these opportunities is hindered when there is not a full commitment by the university.

I feel by not officially supporting Martin Luther King's holiday Penn State has shown a tremendous lack of responsibility to its students and to its reputation as an equal-opportunity university. The non-violent methods of attaining equality for all people preached by Martin Luther King must be taught, practiced and supported fully by this university to show that under no circumstances will discrimination toward people be tolerated.