Some students, faculty, and staff members have asked me how the University commemorates the holiday marking the birth of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Penn State University celebrates the birth of King with a special afternoon program. This is the seventh consecutive year that the University community has so honored Dr. King.

This year's commemoration will feature Professor Chuck Stone, Walter Spearman professor of journalism and mass communications at the University of North Carolina and a former Philadelphia Daily News columnist, as the keynote speaker. The event is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20 from 4 to 5 p.m. in Eisenhower Auditorium. It will be broadcast live on WPSX-TV and via satellite on PENNARAMA cable channel statewide.

I would like to encourage all students, staff and faculty members to attend this special commemorative event.

It should be that special provisions have been made to allow the University Park community to attend this event. University Park classes for that day have been canceled from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. The only exceptions are for classes where cancellation or rescheduling is impossible, such as certain laboratory sessions. Similarly, University Park staff members are also excused from work starting at 3:45 p.m. Exceptions to these provisions are made only for the persons in essential service areas, such as security.

This approach to celebrating Dr. King's birthday acknowledges his commitment to education, and we encourage students and faculty to explore his work throughout the week.

I would also like to add that the theme for this year's commemorative event is "A Vision Redefined." We hope this activity will strike home with all of us as we attempt to re-examine Dr. King's legacy.