Understanding history can help rethink the way things are done today while acknowledging missteps of the past. That was part of the message Eddie R. Cole, Associate Professor of Higher Education and History at UCLA and a graduate of the Higher Education and Student Affairs program, brought with him in two events last week in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Cole spoke first at Bloomington’s celebration, where he discussed how many of the pressing racial issues in society today are intertwined with higher education and emphasized the role of housing discrimination and the relationship between education and the broader community.

“As we reflect on the life of Martin Luther King, it is important to remember that many of the civil rights causes that he dedicated his life to are connected to the colleges and universities. Therefore, as we think about civil rights efforts for fair housing, we must also think about how universities drive the cost of living up as developers create more amenities that cater to the university while simultaneously pricing out local residents, particularly working class communities which are oftentimes communities of color,” Cole said. “That is just one way we see how cities and universities have handpicked parts of Dr. King’s legacy while ignoring other parts. This does more harm than the good often espoused by King quotes.”

Cole also spoke to students, faculty and staff last Tuesday in a discussion around his research studying college presidencies and how they shape racial policies. He pointed out how decisions about education in particular can affect students for generations and told students no matter what they were studying, history has shaped the framework around that topic.

“I always ask students, have you ever been in a meeting and you ask why we do something a certain way, and someone says that’s just the way we do it. That’s a subtle nod to history,” Cole said. “Some decision made before that meeting shapes the work you’re doing right now. Whatever the topic is, something in the past shapes how we understand that topic.”

Cole discussed the importance of understanding social history, not just institutional history: “The social history is the people’s history. Institutions should serve people but history reminds us that people from different grounds and backgrounds have not always been served equitably. Of all places, a School of Education should know this history and be committed to ensuring that policies and practices today uphold equitable outcomes.”

“My hope is people think deeply about history in a way that better informs their understanding of the present and their future decisions, and that they feel inspired to act beyond Martin Luther King Day,” he added.

Cole received his Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration and his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the School of Education.