What a drag it can be. Syracuse University students anticipate the Tuesday in April that features no classes – inaccurately named Mayfest – only to discover their professors are holding class anyway, despite university policy.

‘The university policy is that there are no classes,’ said Kevin Quinn, vice president for public affairs. He added that the administration’s understanding was that this day was part of the academic calendar and all classes were canceled.

Yet at least three, and most likely more, unofficial classes took place on campus Tuesday. Professors did not require students to attend, but they taught material they would test students on later in the semester.

The courses confirmed to have taken place include: Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises 370 at 9:30 a.m., Photography 503 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. and Illustration 265 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

‘I mean, obviously I was irritated,’ said sophomore Tony Lee, who was in the two-hour Illustration class. He said the alternative to not attending was missing material that would be on the final exam.

‘I’m sure all the professors are told to work around Mayfest,’ said Lee, a film major.

If students had an issue with classes on Mayfest, they should start by consulting their department chair or dean of their college, Quinn said. The next step would be to approach Academic Affairs with their complaint.

Yet the university has no policy against professors requiring students to attend Mayfest events or having assignments due on the day of canceled classes, Quinn said.

The occurrence of classes does, however, appear to be in direct conflict with the university-wide policy to cancel classes.

The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry did have classes on Mayfest. The state controls the school’s schedule.

For some on the SU Hill, Mayfest meant a day of unofficial classes while their classmates enjoyed a university-sanctioned day of rest or cultural engagement.

Published on April 23, 2007 at 12:00 pm