Library event suffers because of student apathy

Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a federal holiday since 1983, the holiday has been considered by many students as more of just a day off than a day to spend volunteering and remembering King. Schools around the country give their students the day off in hopes that kids will embrace King's message of service and volunteerism by getting involved. \nYet over the years, the day set aside to commemorate a man who made monumental changes through his pacifist approach and unending activism has become an extension to the weekend partying. In honor of King's holiday, the MLK Holiday Film Festival was held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. in the Main Library. Four classic movies concerning race relations were shown: "Blackboard Jungle," "The Defiant Ones," "Carmen Jones" and "Raisin in the Sun." The event was created through the effort of DeLoice Holliday, IU libraries' multicultural outreach librarian, in collaboration with several other offices on campus. Yet with about a year's worth of organization put into this event and free admission, only around four students opted to attend the first two movies of the event.\n"I am not happy with the turn out," said Frans Sturgis, an employee at the undergraduate office of information. "I think people should get out and view these films." \nEric Love, IU director of diversity education, felt that this particular event's attendance rate was not indicative of the entire campus' involvement in such projects. \n"Everyone can't go to everything," said Love. "There have been other events where tons of people have attended."\nLove said he feels that student apathy comes and goes, changing with the generations and current events.\n"Apathy is pretty much ongoing, but there are waves of activism, like huge involvement in the 1960s," he said. "It is actually on the decline." \nBrian Hartz, a 2001 graduate, and senior Katelyn MacKellen were the lone students who attended the film festival. They viewed the films in the near-vacant room but were unfazed by the empty seats.\n"I decided to attend because I think it is important to not just take the day off," MacKellen said. "I wanted to do something in memory of Martin Luther King." \nLove said he knows that many students choose to stay in their comfort zone. He said he feels many people are interested in focusing on getting an education and then a job, but some do not realize how important community involvement can be. \n"You have a better perspective when you are involved in extracurriculars or diversity education," Love said. "And you will become less apathetic when you see how things can affect you."\nHartz views the day as one of togetherness and unity. \n"This day shows we can become better people and improve ourselves," Hartz said. "It gives us a chance to step back and see the work we have to do and all the things that still need to be done."\nDespite the dismal crowd, the films were shown in the spirit of keeping MLK Day alive.\nThe movies portrayed the racial struggles King dedicated his life to ending in hopes of giving meaning to the day off. \n"I wish people would have come and seen the insight these films can give you," Sturgis said. "Lots of people took the day off and not on."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Kimberly Laughlin at kmlaughl@indiana.edu.