A Letter from Dean Williams on MLK Jr. Day
January 16, 2023
Dear CLA Students, Staff, and Faculty,
As we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, we hope you will treat this as an opportunity and a calling to further his work by helping others in some way. Dr. King literally gave his entire life to the cause of Equity for All. On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we ask you to think of ways you can give to this cause in your own life. Below are some suggestions.
Volunteer. Dr. King believed deeply that helping others is the key to moving forward as a society. One way to honor him today is to reach out to those in need. See this link for some opportunities in the San Luis Obispo area.
Educate Yourself. Many have begun to read books focused on antiracism or to find ways to learn more about how to be closer to the ideals of Dr. King’s goals for education: “intelligence plus character.” On this day of celebrating him, we can all make a commitment to read a book such as those on this list. If you are a student, commit to enrolling in a class next quarter that focuses on issues of justice and equity. If you are faculty or staff, make time to engage with some of the DEI-focused workshops offered by our Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. Education is not a box we can cross off; it is a lifelong pursuit.
Take Action. We don’t all have the fortitude to take on a path of action like that of Dr. King, but we can all do something to contribute to his cause. Dr. King’s quote — “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward” — is a call to action for all of us. It is easy sometimes to sink into despair when looking at the enormity of a goal like an equitable society for all. It is important to remember that every small step forward helps. Take some time to think about how you can crawl, walk, run, or fly toward actions that move us toward this goal.
I want to end with one last quote from Dr. King: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” I want to encourage you to listen to Dr. King’s words for the betterment of our community as a whole. It is easy to get caught up in an “us vs them” feeling these days in our society, regardless of which side you fall on. And yet, the only way forward, as King and multiple others have taught us, is to try to get past this divide in some way.
We hope you will attend our 7th Annual Social Justice Teach In (hosted by CLA and the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion) on February 9, and in particular, our Keynote Address which will be given by Dr. Claude Steele on the very topic of how to get past our differences.
In solidarity,
Philip J. Williams, Dean
Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti, Associate Dean for Diversity and Curriculum
Josh Machamer, Associate Dean for Operations
Kate Murphy, Associate Dean for Student Success