Posted by DEAN SKIP RUTHERFORD – The Clinton School–and for that matter the entire University of Arkansas System–will be off Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was only a few years ago when Warwick Sabin, then the student body president at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, began a grassroots campaign to give University of Arkansas students, faculty and staff the day off, as was already the case on a large number of college campuses. Warwick, who is now on the staff of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, deserves great credit and Arkansas’s sincere thanks for his leadership and vision.
As we remember Dr. King’s life, his commitment to civil rights and social justice and his advocacy for non-violence, we also remember that almost 51 years ago, he came to Little Rock, stayed with Daisy and L.C. Bates, sat in the stands at Quigley Stadium and watched Ernie Green become the African American to graduate from Little Rock Central High School. When you visit the Clinton School, be sure and note the poster signed by all the Llittle Rock Nine–given to us by Carlotta Walls LaNier–which we proudly have on permanent display.
While we will have no classes on Martin Luther King Day, several of our students will be performing public service projects, some will be participating in various King Day ceremonies and others will be gathered with families and friends.