In an email sent to the Brown student body last Tuesday, President Ruth Simmons explained the historic and controversial decision, writing, "The month of February has a rich and colorful cultural legacy that begs - nay, requires - us to celebrate. There are so many days that go unrecognized: the 5th, the 6th, the 7th, and how could we forget the 8th?"
Debate on the topic began several weeks ago when the University's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society took up the cause.