One year ago, I would have been relieved to have read yesterday's front page headline ("Officials cancel MLK Day classes," Feb. 10). But after working on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service for a year, I feel differently about what is the best way to celebrate this holiday at Penn State.

The Undergraduate Student Government currently celebrates MLK Day through community service, keynote speakers, round table discussions and celebration.

With the cancellation of classes, I can almost guarantee that all of this will end and in its place will be a day off of classes.

I am extremely fearful that this holiday will now be an excuse for us to take another long weekend or continue the weekend's festivities until Monday. We are giving up one of the only days that students, faculty and community members have to talk about race and problems of race in a frank manner.

I think that the best idea concerning classes was forwarded by the USG Senate; it called for a suspension of classes during a period on the holiday. This would allow anyone within the university community the chance to attend events without missing classes or work.

I feel that this approach is extremely sensible and would allow this day of service to reach even more individuals, helping to continue King's legacy.