While the University of Central Oklahoma recognizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of service by closing classes and offices, the university does not host any events on campus. In previous years, the university hosted a week of events celebrating MLK Jr. Day called “King Week.” The last press release regarding this event was posted in 2021. In that release, the university encouraged faculty and students to volunteer in the MLK Day of Service, the only event UCO still participates in. The event was co-sponsored by Central’s Volunteer and Service Learning Center and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Neither office exists on campus anymore. The event is now sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement, which “empowers students to become active citizens and develop a responsibility toward the community through service and volunteerism.”
In the past, there was also an event called the Martin Luther King Jr. Enterprise Oratory Competition, which started in 2010. Each year, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion selected an inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. quote that students would base their speeches on. Each finalist received a scholarship provided by the event sponsor, with first place receiving $500.
According to a press release, this event “was established to celebrate the words, life and achievements of the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.” The university also used to host marches on campus to “represent the political and emotional marches of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, many led by King.”
All events hosted on campus ended in 2023. Since then, the only event UCO acknowledges is the Day of Service, which takes place in downtown Oklahoma City. While MLK Jr. Day used to warrant an individual press release encouraging faculty and students to celebrate, now it only receives a short section in the Centralities newsletter.
Why are events that encouraged students to reflect on progress and inclusion no longer happening? Have those ideals become less important to the university? According to Adrienne Nobles, the vice president for communications and public affairs, the university did not decide to end the events but shifted responsibility for them to other offices.
On this year’s MLK Day of Service, Community Engagement will be working with the MLK Day Parade in downtown Oklahoma City. This parade is the third-largest MLK Jr. parade in the United States. This year’s theme is “We Are Better Together.” The parade will be on Jan. 19 and will begin at 2 p.m.
