On Monday, Jan. 21, 1991, the United States will honor one of its greatest citizens, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One of the greatest because he sought no leadership position and yet was at the forefront of a movemnent that was to engender the descendants of slaves with full rights to U.S. citizenship.

A federal holiday is in order for a man who helped direct the masses of Black people in their struggle for human rights, dignity, justice and equality.

This University citing an inability to sponsor a paid holiday for its workers has stated repeatedly that classes will not be canceled. In fairness, it does not do so for former Presidents Washington and Lincoln on their federal holiday (both were slavemasters.) Some professors have already said they will not have classes Monday. Several students have said that in order to celebrate Dr. King and to protest the University's decision, they will not attend classes. Surely not to cut classes, but to laud Dr. King and attend the University convocation in Eisenhower Auditorium at 4 p.m.

This is a day to study the life of Dr. King -- all of it. It should be a day for serious study of Dr. King's good works, not a vacation from course work that does not include reading any of his books (he wrote five -- "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" being his last.) A day off without any actual observance would not serve Dr. King's legacy.