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Student Government Association officials were upset by University of Louisville administrators’ recent decision not to excuse students participating the “Skip Class 2/7/07” day, and rightfully so.
SGA has been working to organize students to participate in a rally for higher education in the state Capitol that day, and representatives from the association are now worried that few students will show up since their absences from class will not be excused on a university-wide basis. Last year only about 50 students showed up for the rally, which is organized by the Kentucky Board of Student Body Presidents, so the decision not to excuse students from class on Feb. 7 may only make the turnout more dismal.
It must be noted that university administrators did not forbid students from going to the rally, however, so the decision to miss class is really a negotiation between students and their professors. Faculty members may excuse students from class on an individual basis if they choose. And when asked, teachers should be supportive of a students’ right to lobby his or her legislators.
University faculty and administrators must realize that legislators are only in Frankfort between Tuesday and Thursday, and only during daytime business hours. With such a small window in which to make their voices heard, students wanting to push for more support for higher education have little choice but to do so during class time.
Moreover, the decision seems ironic since University President James R. Ramsey and Provost Shirley Willihnganz have always been supportive of the student cause, especially when it comes to garnering support for higher education. After all, it is in their best interest to keep education affordable since that is the only way to keep students at the university. This unexpected dissent is more like a blow to the student body, rather than a move to keep minds in the classroom.
The decision also seems unfair to students considering what official policy says about the situation. As SGA President Darrell Messer pointed out in an e-mail to Ramsey last week, “A university sanctioned event or activity shall be one in which a student represents the university to external constituencies in academic or extra-curricular activities. These include but are not limited to student government congresses, intercollegiate athletic and debate contests, music competitions, academic meetings, and conferences.”
Messer also said in his e-mail, “If the rally for higher education doesn’t qualify as students representing U of L to an external constituency in an extra-curricular way, I’m not sure what does.” The members of this editorial board agree. What more can students do to show support for their university than lobby state lawmakers for increased funding for higher education?
But students who are concerned enough about the rising cost of college and university tuition around the state to travel to Frankfort in the first place should care little about the bigwigs’ breakdown of support. Go to the Capitol anyway. If enough students turn out for the rally, what can be done to punish them all?
Students should put forth their best efforts to arrange their absences with professors before they attend. It is of course students’ responsibility to make up any work they miss, but professors must be willing to cooperate with civic-minded pupils. It is, after all, a teacher’s job to train the leaders of tomorrow, and keeping a student from attending a rally of this nature, especially by dangling his grade above his head, is in all ways contrary to that duty.
Professors who are worried that students who supposedly miss class for the rally but might really be playing hooky have little to be concerned about. SGA officials are taking attendance in Frankfort to make sure that only students who actually participate in the event receive official excuse notes. SGA Academic Vice President Ashley Howarth, a senior biochemistry major, said SGA even plans to post a list of student attendees online so that professors can more easily verify absences from their classes.
Still, there comes a point when students must take a stand. Even if an absence won’t be counted as excused, Cardinals should weigh the value of attending the rally against missing class for a day. Perhaps then they will see that missing one day of class to support higher education will prevent them missing class on a more long-term basis when higher education doesn’t support them.
So don’t delay in speaking with professors about participating in the rally. Go online to http://sga.louisville.edu and register to attend.
