Thursday marks the second anniversary of the historic Million Man March organized in Washington, D.C. It would be wise for the SIUC community to use the positive force of that day by striving to excel in our work and studies instead of asking for a reprieve from those responsibilities.

But an opposing sentiment is being broadcast through a number of fliers posted on bulletin boards across the campus encouraging students to skip classes on Thursday and these fliers are even handed out to students on their way to classes. Discouraging students to put off responsibilities to commemorate the Million Man March sets a bad example for a number of reasons.

Organized by minister Louis Farrakhan, of the Nation of Islam, and Benjamin Chavis, past director of the NAACP, the Million Man March encouraged African-Americans to peacefully assemble. These people were able to share the sometimes-forgotten tools of peace, brotherhood and respect to invigorate their respective communities once they returned to their homes across the nation.

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Million Man March participants did not travel to Washington, D.C,. so that we could use their noble efforts as just another excuse to let our responsibilities slide.

But this is the premise offered by the Holy Day of Atonement, a day devised to honor the legacy of the Million Man March. Last year, the anniversary of the march was deemed a day for African-Americans to abandon school and jobs and repent for injuries done against and within their communities. The anniversary of the march was deemed a day holy enough for African-Americans to find solutions to the myriad of problems facing their culture, their community and their families.

But while a small number of SIUC students used that day for its actual purposes last year, some students believed the day was akin to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Students skipped class to spend the day absorbed in the activity that Million Man March participants united against:abandoning the responsibilities that will make the African-American communities stronger.

We fail to see how playing hooky strengthens the legacy of the Million Man March.

But while we are against duty-shirking for the Holy Day of Atonement, we realize that not all Day of Atonement participants will use Thursday for that purpose. Some atoning individuals will responsibly use the day to tutor underprivileged kids, deliver meals to the elderly or even clean up sections of forgotten inner-city neighborhoods. These are the people who are remembering the spirit of Million Man March and who have been excused for the day by their teachers and supervisors beforehand.

On the other hand, individuals who will use the day to bemoan the African-American community’s problems from the comfort of their beds do not deserve this day.

If students use the Holy Day of Atonement for its genuine purposes and have pledged to work even harder for their communities once they return to work and classes, then Oct. 16 can become a truly holy day for the SIUC campus. But leaving the job that pays the bills or the class that will get a student a degree for a taste of the weekend is lazy. Most of us can celebrate the second anniversary of the Million Man March by taking care of our responsibilities.

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