With Thanksgiving less than a week away, students look forward to the two-day holiday and the opportunity to spend time with family. However, some students are frustrated that the Wednesday before is a full day of classes.
"What about people who live out of state with night classes," said Deborah Lansford, sophomore English major. "Apparently they don't need their family as much as the student whose classes end at noon on Wednesdays."
According to several students, some teachers cancel class anyway. Since students tend to skip classes before holidays, teachers must decide if they want to teach to a half-empty classroom.
Ralph Faudree, University of Memphis provost, explained why there are classes on Wednesday.
"We're part of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system," he said. "Our schedule is pretty much set to coincide with the other schools in the system. There's a little flexibility with it, but not a lot. It comes into play with online classes, which can be taught by a professor from a different university."
Schools in the TBR system are Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, Austin Peay State University, Tennessee Technological University, East Tennessee Sate University and virtually every community college in the state.
Faudree said he was open to a change if a rational solution was presented.
"I understand the concerns, but we have to keep the classes even in regards to the number of instructional hours they have," he said. "You can't just chop off hours."
Lansford does not buy this rationale.
"If the University tries to say 'you'll be cheated out of a day of school,' then I say so be it. I cannot count the number of people who would be more than willing to give up the cost of one day for the treasure of waking up in their home to the preparation of a Thanksgiving meal."
One professor, who wished to remain unidentified, said that when he has had Wednesday classes in past, he has occasionally cancelled class.
"If we needed the extra day of instruction, we'd have class. If we didn't, then I probably would've cancelled class," he said.
He also said that in some other places he has taught, there were no classes on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving because more students came from statewide or even longer distances. At The U of M, most students are from the metropolitan area, therefore not needing the extra day to get home.
While Lansford said she is from Memphis and doesn't have a problem, she has several friends who do. She said that just because most students are not affected, the issue shouldn't be ignored.
"An entire day off might be a bit excessive," she said. "But what of evening classes? I am not an older student as many night-class students are, but I still have to attend night classes as a result of schedule conflict. Why not just cancel evening classes to allow everyone to have a truly happy holiday."
