A message from President Tim Sands and Vice President Menah Pratt on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
To the Virginia Tech community,
We hope you join us today to honor the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the vision of equality he and his contemporaries worked towards over half a century ago.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which greatly expanded protections against discrimination based on race. King himself described the act as a “second emancipation proclamation,” and its passing was due in great part to the movement he led. That work continues in the 21st century.
Global unrest and division have increasingly come to define our era, and we must continue to ensure an inclusive and safe environment for our campus communities. InclusiveVT, our institutional and individual commitment to Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence, serves as a guide to advance King’s work amidst this challenging landscape. But there are always further opportunities to learn, and we urge you to participate in this year’s programming to find new ways you can help advance Virginia Tech’s values.
Today kicks off a week of events celebrating King’s life, including opportunities to gather in reflection and celebration. The signature keynote address on Thursday by Janice Underwood, a national expert on addressing structural inequalities within government and education, will be an important campuswide opportunity for conversation and learning.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make this week possible. Please take some time to review this year’s events and find a new way to support a stronger Hokie community in 2024.
Tim Sands,
President
Menah Pratt,
Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity
