January 18, 2019

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day on which we commemorate the life of one of the most important leaders this country, and this world, has ever known. While he was never the nation's president, we know that isn't necessary to be a leader. He didn't dominate social media or Twitter; it didn't exist in his day. And yet he is considered among our nation’s great orators, communicators, and moral leaders. Sadly, he wasn't allowed to become one of our elders, commenting sagely on the state of the world. He was killed by a force against which he spent his adult life fighting: racism. Without any of those accolades or what we take today for leadership, he was truly a leader of people, of people of all colors and faith journeys. He was a leader because he said out loud what we needed to learn, and then to remember and act upon: all people are equal. All people are deserving of respect and security, no matter their race, no matter their differences.

Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day on which we commemorate the life of one of the most important leaders this country, and this world, has ever known. While he was never the nation's president, we know that isn't necessary to be a leader. He didn't dominate social media or Twitter; it didn't exist in his day. And yet he is considered among our nation’s great orators, communicators, and moral leaders. Sadly, he wasn't allowed to become one of our elders, commenting sagely on the state of the world. He was killed by a force against which he spent his adult life fighting: racism. Without any of those accolades or what we take today for leadership, he was truly a leader of people, of people of all colors and faith journeys. He was a leader because he said out loud what we needed to learn, and then to remember and act upon: all people are equal. All people are deserving of respect and security, no matter their race, no matter their differences.

He is someone that I learned a great deal from as I came into adult consciousness. Over the years since his murder in 1968, I have read some of his writings and heard some of his speeches. I have been moved by individual quotations that I have come upon. One of those is this: Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.

I have tried to live by this admonition and to speak out when I can and where I can on issues of importance. I urge us all to speak out about those things that matter to us, whether they are large social issues, or small concerns that affect only a few people. Today let us reflect on the work we still have to do and new challenges that face our country as we work toward equality for all.

With the recent government shutdown, let us reflect on those currently targeted as they seek refuge and a better life—as we continue to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.

Through our work as educated people let us continue to speak out and advocate for what we pledge to our nation’s flag: “liberty and justice for ALL.”

When I speak of “all” I include people of color, members of our LGBTQA community, and other underrepresented groups. One of those groups for me, given the current climate in our nation’s capital, is made up of the members of our University community who are undocumented and/or whose families are undocumented.

I want to reaffirm the University’s commitment to our students who face great insecurity in their lives including changing government policies, the fear of deportation, and the struggle to pay for school in the absence of federal grants. I remind all that in-state tuition and state financial aid funds are available for undocumented students in need, along with a multitude of University scholarships.

I would affirm that it is not only our professional obligation to educate our undocumented, Dreamer, and DACA students, it is our moral obligation.

Dr. King put his life on the line for oppressed people from many different backgrounds. He gave his life in the end as he spoke out for working class municipal workers, and as he demanded justice for people of color.

May we remain true to his causes and true to our own ‘things that matter’ as we remember him. May we remember to recognize each other’s fundamental goodness and humanity.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Helldobler, PhD
President