Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Inaugural Day of Service

The University announced recently that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be a holiday for students, faculty, and staff so that we all can honor Dr. King’s legacy in our own way. As Fr. Jenkins said in announcing the holiday, you might choose to participate in a service project, attend a community event or religious service, or spend time with loved ones.

Notre Dame Law School is taking this opportunity to start a new tradition. In 1994, Representative John Lewis and Senator Harris Wofford — both former friends of Dr. King — introduced a bill to turn Martin Luther King, Jr. Day into a national day of service. While presenting the bill, Senator Wofford explained:

“[N]othing would have aroused Martin more, even angered Martin more than people supposedly honoring him by sitting home watching TV or sleeping late. The King holiday should be a day on, not a day off; a day of action, not apathy; a day of responding to community needs, not a day of rest. Martin would want the holiday honoring his birthday to be a day of reflection not recreation, service not shopping, a day not only of words but of deeds.”

On January 17, 2022, the Law School will hold its first Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service to celebrate the spirit of Dr. King’s unwavering fight for racial and social justice.

Those of you who wish to spend part of the day volunteering with other law students, faculty, and staff will be able to sign up for a service project from a list of options. At the end of the day, the Law School will host a gathering with food and fellowship for all volunteers.