University of Virginia Library

Class Disruption

When the University chose to
make classes optional on Tuesday,
it created a very awkward and
ambiguous situation for both the
students and the professors. The
University should either have cancelled
classes completely or not
done anything at all.

Leaving attendance up to the
students and professors accomplishes
very little. Whether
attendance is optional or not, if
the class is held, those who sincerely
wished to miss class in honor
of Dr. King are penalized anyway
in that they missed the
material covered. It appears that
all the University accomplished in
making classes optional was to
create a token gesture rather than
a definite act and to give students
an excused absence.