The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving marks one of the busiest and most expensive times to travel during the year. Because the University schedules classes that day, students who plan to go home are forced either to skip class, travel on Thanksgiving day, or deal with the hectic travel period on Wednesday night. The University should make the Wednesday before Thanksgiving an official University holiday to minimize the stress and costs associated with last-minute holiday travel.
By beginning Thanksgiving break on Thursday, the administration acts as though most Columbia students live within a short distance of the University. As it stands, classes run through Wednesday night, forcing well-intentioned students who prefer not to miss class to book transportation late Wednesday or early Thursday when buying tickets ahead of time. For example, students must pay several hundred dollars more for Wednesday night or nonstop Thursday flights that will get them home in time for family events. Paying higher fees is all the more frustrating when professors—perhaps out of kindness to their students or due to similar family obligations—cancel their Wednesday classes after students have already booked trips home. Ironically, both University President Lee Bollinger and Provost Alan Brinkley have cancelled their undergraduate classes on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Making the Wednesday before Thanksgiving a University holiday would make the lives of professors and students alike a little easier, both financially and academically, during the busy end-of-semester period. Though professors often decide to cancel Wednesday classes, students cannot count on this when planning trips early in the semester and might book more expensive tickets than they end up needing. Given that Columbia prides itself on the geographical diversity of its student body, the University should lengthen the holiday to alleviate the financial burdens on students who must travel long distances to be with their families on Thanksgiving. Moreover, canceling Wednesday classes would actually even out the current discrepancy in class meetings—this semester, Tuesday-Thursday classes are scheduled to meet 26 times while Monday-Wednesday classes meet 27 times.
For many years, students—including numerous Spectator Editorial Boards—have voiced complaints about having to attend class on the day before Thanksgiving. It is finally time for the University to respect student complaints, adjust the academic calendar, and give students a sufficient Thanksgiving break.
Comments
We're looking for comments that are interesting and substantial. If your comments are excessively self-promotional or obnoxious you will be banned from commenting. Consult the comment FAQ and legal terms.