Dear Monmouth University Community:
Today, while our country processes the events of the last few weeks and prepares to inaugurate a new president, we pause to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his courageous example of social activism. Dr. King’s commitment to social justice and racial equality should inspire all of us here at Monmouth to consider the weight of our words and the impact of our actions as we pursue a more diverse, more equitable, and more inclusive community.
To this end, I hope you will join the university community on Wednesday, January 27 to honor Dr. King’s legacy at the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Lecture in Social Justice, and hear from one of today’s leading scholars on anti-racist research, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. As we prepare to start a new semester in the days ahead, and to host Dr. Kendi’s virtual visit to campus, I am heartened by Dr. King’s declaration, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.”
Together, we must continue to commit ourselves to carrying out Dr. King’s dream to build a country and a community free from bias, bigotry, racism, and hate. And, thanks to continuing efforts on our campus to foster a truly inclusive community, I am hopeful for the semester to come.
Enjoy the holiday!
Dr. Patrick F. Leahy
President