TO THE EDITOR:
During my last two years at UNC, I worked with the Martin Luther King planning committee as the MLK Banquet Coordinator, and I saw firsthand how much planning went into organizing the annual MLK week.
Your recent editorial opinion questions the lack of non-minority participation in this year’s events. As a former committee member, I know that the committee comprises a diverse group including members from Campus Y, CUAB and Student Government. Moreover, the committee works as a whole to ensure each event not only honors Dr. King’s vision, but also actively encourages all UNC students — regardless of racial, ethnic or religious background — to participate. But despite months of publicizing the events, it is up to the UNC student body to attend these events and enlighten themselves on an era that wasn’t as progressive as it is today. Participation, however, should not be determined by one’s race, ethnicity or religious ideology.
Finally, the editorial board’s discussion of the Public Policy Polling survey is misplaced because it doesn’t directly correlate with this issue. The lack of widespread participation during MLK week is one issue, while North Carolina’s political ideology is entirely different.
The celebration of MLK’s vision seeks to transcend race. His celebration at UNC should be observed by everyone.
Kirstin Garriss
Class of 2011
