Photo courtesy: floridaclassic.com
It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving break is slowly approaching and for Florida
A&M University students it also means gearing up for the annual Florida Blue Florida
Classic football game in Orlando.
Every year, students are faced with the battle of choosing between going home for
Thanksgiving after the classic weekend in Orlando or returning back to Tallahassee for
classes that take place on the following Monday and Tuesday.
The inconvenience of having classes on the Monday and Tuesday after classic
weekend affects many students, especially students who live south of Orlando who will
already be in closer proximity to their homes, where they will be headed for
Thanksgiving, than they will of FAMU. To travel back to Tallahassee for just two days of
classes, seeing each class only once, is a hard bargain for many students.
Chiyle Briggins, a second-year computer science student from Miami, says that
returning to Tallahassee after classic weekend isn’t ideal for his situation.
“I live in Miami and I drive to the game so driving back to Tallahassee and then all the
way back to Miami just doesn’t make sense for me,” Briggins said.
Some professors have understood these concerns and have already canceled classes
the week of Thanksgiving. Other professors who do hold classes on that Monday and
Tuesday don’t end up covering much material in recognition of the vast number of
students who do not attend.
Leonard Gant, a second-year business administration student from Louisville, Kentucky,
says that going back to Tallahassee just isn’t in the plans for him
“My situation is kind of unique being that I live in Louisville,” Gant said. “Yeah I enjoy
going to the Orlando game but its also easier for me to fly out of the Orlando airport to
go home than it is out of Tallahassee, so I plan on missing class all of Thanksgiving
week because I will already be home.”
Formally canceling classes the entire week of Thanksgiving would also prevent students
from having to miss class information and having to use an unexcused absence for their
missed classes.
Jania Davis, a fourth-year business administration student from Atlanta, feels that
canceling classes for the whole week of Thanksgiving wouldn’t be detrimental for
students or teachers.
“I think canceling Monday and Tuesday would be beneficial to all students, nothing
negative could come from this change,” Davis said. “Missing one day of class isn’t that
big of a deal, especially if no one is going to be here anyways.”