Many students travel throughout the school year. Given the timing of Easter, a few weeks after spring break, students had to weigh their options when deciding whether to return home for the holidays.
A university spokesperson said Pitt will not take time off for religious holidays in the spring, but students are allowed and encouraged to ask professors for accommodations. Ta.
“Students who may have a test or project deadline during a religious event are encouraged to request accommodations or alternative testing arrangements,” the spokesperson said. “Departments are encouraged to not hold staff meetings on religious holidays and to provide flexible work arrangements for staff who need to attend religious services. You can request an absence.”
For those who celebrate Easter, this dichotomy is quite different. And with finals approaching, class attendance is more important than ever.
Caitlin Sheik, an undeclared first-year student, is an out-of-state student from New Jersey who decided to return to her hometown for the weekend. Although it's a short flight, Seik said she doesn't really like traveling on weekends because the round-trip transportation is expensive.
“The only reason I'm okay with doing that is because the flight is about an hour,” Sheikh said. “Let's say you live in California and the flight is six hours long. It takes almost a full day round trip. You have to leave at 5 a.m. on Saturday to catch your flight.”
Sheikh would like Pitt to give students either the Friday before Easter or the Monday after Easter (known as Good Friday and Easter Monday, respectively) the day off.
“If I could travel one more day, it would be a lot easier,” Sheikh said.
Zeke decided that even if he had to go back for classes on Monday, it was worth the quick trip to see his family and new puppy, even if it was only for a few days.
Sheikh makes it a point to never miss class while traveling, and believes that religious exemptions may not benefit students as much as one might think, especially now that final exams are approaching.
“They say there's a religious exemption, but you're still missing out on what's being taught,” Sheikh said. “What matters is not my attendance, but what we learn.”
Andrew Friedy, service coordinator at the Catholic Newman Center and an undeclared first-year student from Pittsburgh, spoke about how important the holiday is to him and his family.
“This is the biggest holiday for Catholics,” Freedy said. “This is a huge deal for my family…I know this is very similar for all Catholics.”
Ms Friedy said while it could be beneficial for students to take a day off on Good Friday before Easter, she didn't think it was necessary. Undeclared freshman Spencer Green, who plans to return home for the holidays, agrees with Freedy.
For Green, whose family lives in Oil City, Pennsylvania, the two-hour drive isn't too much of a hassle. He said it's important for Green to get home and see his family for Easter.
“Easter for me is about celebrating with the whole family,” Green said. “I think of holidays as family gatherings, and that's how we celebrate them.”
