Message to Campus Regarding MLK Day

Monday, January 16, 2017

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

Each year, Lehigh joins with other community groups, organizations, governmental offices and companies to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, who dedicated his life to the pursuit of equality, compassion and social justice.

Dr. King challenged us and inspired us. He didn’t hesitate to speak out against the forces that imperiled his dream of a just society. He implored each of us to live up to our potential as a force for good in the world. And he reminded us that success, or failure, impacts us all, “caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.”

As a community of scholars, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to examine these critical issues with clarity and context. We are also fortunate to be able to put these principles into play in our own campus, shaping a culture that reflects the ideals King fought for: respect, inclusion, dignity, equal opportunity, justice.

We are challenged to live these ideals wherever we are. We encourage you to find a way to honor Dr. King whether you are on campus or elsewhere.

We also encourage all members of our campus community to take part in upcoming discussions, lectures and community events that provide an opportunity to view Dr. King’s work with a deeper understanding, as well as a renewed commitment to put his ideals into action and work toward a more compassionate and just society – here at Lehigh and across the globe.

The campus MLK Committee and other campus groups will be presenting a number of events in the next few weeks. We urge you to look for announcements of these events and to participate in them.

John D. Simon, President
Patrick V. Farrell, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost