Despite University efforts to ease scheduling conflicts between the start of classes and Rosh Hashanah, some students remain frustrated.
“I think the University isn’t respecting the Jewish community,” College senior Jake Wischnia said.
Penn policy allows students to excuse themselves from class for religious purposes without penalty. Professors cancelled over 100 classes that would have met this Wednesday evening through Friday. But while this number may seem large, it represents only about 10 percent of the total classes which were scheduled during the holiday.
Wharton sophomore Bobby Davis called the University’s accommodations “completely unfair.”
Davis celebrates Rosh Hashanah at his Manhattan home annually, and said that many of his friends “would’ve observed the holiday had they not felt pressured to go to classes because it’s the first week of school.”
This statement is supported by a significant increase in the number of students who attended Hillel services Thursday rather than traveling home.
“A lot of people came out to services. There was an unusually large crowd this year because not many people went home,” College senior Hannah Connor said.
Wischnia was one of these service-goers.
“I missed my Rosh Hashanah dinner with my family to make my first classes,” Wischnia said.
Some Jewish students would have preferred to begin classes on Tuesday, so that they would be able to at least attend some of their first-week classes. “If we had started school Tuesday, students would’ve been able to get syllabi and assignments before the holiday,” said Davis, who will miss four classes this week.
However, the Jewish community seems split on the issue.
Wharton sophomore Aaron Prince missed three classes to return home for the holiday because the first day of class rarely involves rigorous academics.
“It’s the first few days of classes, so I’m really only missing going over the syllabus and course information. Had it been a regular school week, I would’ve been more inclined to stay on campus,” Prince said.
College sophomore Jon Roth agreed. “Missing the first day isn’t so bad because you can just get the syllabus online,” he said. “It is annoying if you’re trying to sample classes.”
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