In 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr., visited Penn State and spoke to about 8,000 students.

But you probably don't know that, given that this significant event has not yet been celebrated as part of Penn State history.

The importance of that visit cannot be denied, as it came in the heat of a national civil rights movement. It can, however, be marginalized if the proposed Penn State senior class gift, a garden outside of Rec Hall, comes to fruition.

The garden, named the Martin Luther King, Jr./Thon/Athletes -- Celebration Park, will honor Rec Hall as the site of several important historical events on campus.

As the name suggests, the garden will honor the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, which called Rec Hall its home for eight years before moving to the Bryce Jordan Center this year. It also honors the many Penn State athletic teams that played there -- or in some cases still do.

And it will honor King, but not in the manner he deserves.

Recently, Black Caucus raised concerns about the proposed gift, calling it insensitive to group King with Thon and athletics, two areas of Penn State the group feels have histories of racism.

Racism aside, Black Caucus has a point.

At the very least, King deserves a separate monument for his visit to University Park. For years, Black Caucus has been lobbying for such a monument, and to honor King along with Thon and athletics would be a copout by the university.

Already among the various monuments on campus are a statue of football coach Joe Paterno and Eisenhower Auditorium, which honors former President Dwight Eisenhower. But where on campus does anything really honor diversity?

By acting appropriately and creating a separate monument, Penn State could help alienated minority students feel more at home in central Pennsylvania, an area not renowned for its diverse climate. This year, Thon left Rec Hall. And in the past decade, sports teams like the men's and women's basketball teams have moved into the BJC, too. Soon, Rec Hall will no longer be known for Thon or athletics.

But it will always be the site of King's speech. And that alone deserves some recognition.