Presidential snub

Americans have celebrated George Washington's birthday for more than a century. The tradition, which became a federal law in 1879, is still around today, but not at the University of Pennsylvania. Thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971, Presidents' Day was yesterday. Government agencies, banks and other organizations took the day off in recognition of Washington and the other 41 presidents this country has had.

At Penn, however, it was business as usual.

It seems odd that the University would be so adamant about canceling classes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- and rightfully so -- but would not give a second thought to honoring our nation's heads of state.

In the interest of fairness and giving students a much-needed break in advance of midterm exams, the University should join some of its peers and call off classes for both federal holidays.

There are, of course, practical problems. Skipping classes on two of the last six Mondays would be as irresponsible as, say, the University Council missing its last two meetings.

Here's a solution worth considering: Cancel class for the Monday of Presidents' Day and hold those classes on Tuesday, forgoing the regular Tuesday classes.

This way, Monday-Wednesday lectures will not be snubbed, and neither will Washington and Lincoln.

It is obviously too late to do anything this year, but it would be nice if America's presidents were kept in mind when making future academic calendar.

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