by Ericka Simpson, Triangle staff writer
On the first Monday of September, the alarm clock rings. A Bryan student rolls out of bed to attend an 8 a.m. class.
Something seems wrong with this picture. The first Monday of September is Labor Day, a national holiday. Why is this student attending class?
For some time now, Bryan College has been conducting classes on Labor Day. A common reason given for this abnormality is so prospective students can view the college “in action.” Yet, current students grumble about this answer. Is that the real reason, and is it fair?
According to Academic Vice President Dr. Bradford Sample, this is just a side benefit of having classes on Labor Day.
“The number one reason is instruction,” Sample said.
Sample said the basic reason is so Monday, Wednesday, and Friday classes have extra instruction time.
Due to longer breaks throughout the year, these classes receive less lecture time. Sample said every college has to be cautious about the number of breaks taken during the academic year.
The faculty at Bryan College requested to have the extra day of instruction time. If the faculty desired to have the day off, then Sample said the college would consider changing the schedule. The day would have to be made up elsewhere though, and part of fall break or winter break would be shortened to accommodate the extra day.
If too many breaks are taken then the Commissions on Colleges, a component of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools from which Bryan receives its accreditation, could raise questions on how much instruction time is given to students.
Sample said that Bryan College does not need to fear being questioned by the COC. “[One can] only have so many days off without interfering with education,” Sample said.
Yet, since Labor Day is a national holiday, is this decision unpatriotic? Sample does not think so. The creation of Labor Day was to mend the ties between the government and the working class.
When asked how they felt about going to class on Labor Day, juniors Dinah Webster, Julia Pugh and Anna Hull shook their heads and declared it was a “bummer.” But when told that the day would have to be taken elsewhere, they agreed they would rather have a more concentrated break to visit their families and attend class on Labor Day.
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Another reason for having class is so prospective students can see the college when students are in class.
According to Vice President for Enrollment Management Mike Sapienza, around 35 students visited this year. Sample says this day draws in a decent group because students can visit with their parents who have the day off from work. It is convenient.