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The Black Student Union held an annual dinner, first convened in 1969, honoring Martin Luther King Jr., that has been canceled this year.<\/p>\n
Indiana University in Indianapolis canceled a dinner in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. hosted annually in January by the Black Student Union, Mirror Indy<\/em> reported. This year\u2019s would have been the 57th consecutive annual MLK dinner, which was first convened in 1969.<\/p>\n Officials in the Division of Student Affairs told the Black Student Union the event was canceled at the end of the fall semester, citing \u201cbudget constraints,\u201d according to a letter the Black Student Union executive council posted on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cFor months prior, we had been diligently seeking guidance and confirmation on whether the dinner would be approved, funded and supported,\u201d the executive council wrote. \u201cThis is not just about a dinner. This is about the erosion of Black traditions under vague justifications. This is about institutional decisions being made without Black voices at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n In a letter to campus Tuesday, IU Indianapolis chancellor Latha Ramchand said, \u201cThe MLK Dinner is not going away\u2014rather we are in a moment of transition,\u201d and described a new task force that will \u201chelp us reimagine our affinity dinners and related events.\u201d The task force will complete its work by April 10, she said. The university will host other MLK Day events next week, including a teach-in and an open mic session \u201con Dr. King\u2019s legacy expressed through words and art,\u201d Ramchand wrote. <\/p>\n In their response letter to the Division of Student Affairs, the Black Student Union\u2019s executive council questioned whether the current political climate may have influenced administrators\u2019 decision to cancel the dinner. The university in May closed its diversity, equity and inclusion office, which included the Multicultural Center and the LGBTQ+ Center; student organizations within the office were transferred to the Office of Student Involvement. A student with the Queer Student Union told Mirror Indy<\/em> that the Harvey Milk Dinner, typically held in October, was also canceled this academic year.\u00a0<\/p>\n (This story has been updated to include details of MLK Day events that will be held on campus.)<\/em><\/p>\n