Reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
As we celebrate the work and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is impossible
to ignore the impact he had on the education and moral compass of students over many
decades, or the importance of his lessons to today’s students. Most of our students
were yet to be born as Dr. King shared and spread his message of peace and hope. Dr.
King’s message continues to resonate across college campuses throughout our nation
and worldwide. It vibrates louder than ever in importance and significance as our
seemingly divided nation wrestles with the meaning, value, and future of diversity,
equity, and inclusion in higher education, and as we try to better respond to Dr.
King’s call to action in the “fierce urgency of now.”
At Farmingdale State College, we remain focused on and committed to the ideals that
Dr. King lived. Small steps matter. Words matter. Actions matter. In this less than
perfect world, what we do matters, is significant, and stands as a model for our students
and the community around us. I’m proud of the many activities, programs, and voices
that emanate from our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence and throughout
our campus. I’m proud of all the ways, small and large, that we take our commitment
to the vision of Dr. King seriously.
As we reflect on his work, it is also critical that we recognize what he so clearly
shared – that “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Patience is difficult in the face of adversity and ongoing racism, bias, and hate.
Yet we know how Dr. King responded to these very issues. FSC contributes in meaningful
ways to helping the arc bend but it is a marathon, not a sprint. Let’s together spend
a bit of time on this day to think about, and act on, our personal commitment to helping
that arc continue to bend in the right direction.
Robert S. Prezant, PhD
President
Professor of Biology
