Moore said an increase in awareness is a major reason the service day has grown so much.

The USG Senate appropriates funds yearly to the day of service. In 2000, the Senate gave $600 to the event, one-third of this year's allocation. The money donated by the Senate this year helped rent HUB-Robeson Center space and cover other expenses, Krohn said.

The day of service is one part of a weeklong tribute to King sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity. It also officially begins social change week -- an expansion of 2002's social change block party -- another USG-sponsored event.

South Halls Sen. Ace Ekhtiarzadeh sponsored the legislation to allot the money to MLK Day. He said he worked closely with Moore and Krohn to make sure they received the amount of money needed from the Senate.

Some senators were hesitant about the amount because of a potential budget deficit in November when the legislation was proposed. Ekhtiarzadeh said although the Senate's overall account was a concern, he did not want to see the money taken away from MLK Day, one of USG's biggest yearly projects.

"We were not going to touch MLK Day," Ekhtiarzadeh said. "MLK Day is a chance to advocate the great principles of Martin Luther King. We can give something back to the community."

Black Caucus President Tiffanie Lewis said the group was not participating in service activities as a whole. She added that while the day was a good idea, she thought King would be best honored if people would continue his dreams in everyday life, not just for one day.

Students have varying opinions about the holiday.

Roxanne Morris (sophomore-theatre and African and African-American studies), said she thinks people need to do more to celebrate the holiday but added that she thinks there is a tendency to forget other cultures.

Melissa Kalwanaski (senior-English) said she was volunteering to spend today with residents at the Salem Hill personal care home as part of the Schreyer Honors College Student Council.

"I feel it's something important to do," she said.

Collegian staff writer Jeremy Heebner contributed to this report