Published Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999 Some students chuckled as their peers marched by.
But everyone took notice of the three dozen students, including about 12 minority students, protesting the New Wilmington college starting spring semester classes on the holiday to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"This is about coming together to make a change," said Jason Hunter, president of the Black Student Union, the group sponsoring the activities.
Westminster President R. Thomas Williamson shook hands with the protesters as they passed his office and spoke to them later.
"If you look at history, every time you see it takes action to have change," said Hunter, a senior from Buffalo, N.Y.
Hunter said he was happy with the number of students who joined the protest but would have liked to have seen more.
"Many people told me they were supporting this, but I guess they didn't have the courage to come out," he said. "You are what you believe in and you don't have to necessarily agree with us, but if you have this in your heart you should be out here."
One professor dismissed his class as the protesters walked through the hallway, but few of his students joined the march. Instead they headed for the opposite door.
Lori Scott, a junior from Bellaire, Ohio, said she planned to attend the college-sponsored King Day events later in the day, but was first going to lead a tour of the college.
Many of the students not participating in either the college's events or the protest were leaning toward having the day off.
"I don't understand what the big deal is about starting tomorrow," said Sarah Miller, a sophomore from Beaver Falls. "It's just bad timing."
Sam McKissick, a sophomore from Butler, said other schools adjusted their schedules for the holiday and it was an insult for Westminster not to.
"We have low minority numbers and it's a slap in the face that they started classes on this holiday," he said.
Regionally, Youngstown State University, Grove City College and Slippery Rock University did not hold classes Monday. Thiel College in Greenville and the Pennsylvania State University campuses did.
Westminster also holds classes on other federal holidays, including starting the fall semester on Labor Day.
Neither Ms. Miller nor McKissick skipped classes to participate in the boycott, saying they couldn't afford to do that on the first day. But, they said, if it had been later in the semester, they would have stayed away from class.
"No one really missed classes today except for the people whose priorities were messed up anyhow," McKissock said. "For most, class is a priority."
Jennie Millison also said she also felt she could not afford to miss classes on the first day.
"We really shouldn't have class, because it's a day of tribute," the senior from Bethel Park, Pa., said.
Students should be able to attend events honoring Mr. King all day long, not just after classes, said Marfel Barnett, a freshman from Sharon.
The Rev. Phil King of Farrell, the college's director of multi-cultural affairs said, "In Old Main where a number of the classes are held, it appears to be business as usual.
"We want to challenge students and their critical thinking. We want to challenge them to question, not to simply criticize."
He pointed out that the slain civil rights leader traveled 3,050 miles a year, without taking a day off to celebrate.
"He was busy about the job of education," he said. "I'm glad he didn't take a day off. We have to look at it that education plus commemoration equals emulation."
Phil King said he didn't think that the students understand that boycotts during the civil rights movement were a last resort, that Martin Luther King worked just as Abraham Lincoln did to make his enemies his friends.
"I hope this celebration is not just a vacation dressed up," Phil King said. "This is a grand opportunity to walk down the middle of the road to come with a solution for this."
The college has invited students to meet with the curriculum operations committee to discuss the best options for honoring Mr. King and for education. "We are looking for a reasonable solution," said Mark Meighan, director of communication for the college.
