By Danny Nikander
Assistant News Editor
A secular calendar will be implemented at the beginning of the 2016 fall semester as a university attempt to accommodate diversity amongst Hofstra students.
A secular calendar essentially eliminates all religious holidays that students were previously given off from classes for.
“Up until recently, we’ve always cancelled classes for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Good Friday and usually for the first two days for Passover. We even gave a day for traveling back to school after Easter Sunday,” Stuart Bass, a professor of accounting, taxation and legal studies in business, said.
Bass is also the chairperson of the Planning and Budget Committee of the University Senate, which is made up of faculty, administration, staff and students who provide equal representation in making university decisions, such as the switch to the new calendar.
According to Bass, the decision to convert to a secular calendar has been in question for the past 10 years. Bass was against the transition in its early stages of discussion; however, he knew they had to at least give it a try because of the reoccurring push to implement it.
“It was a governance decision,” Bass continued. “The president said he would adopt any recommendations of the government. In considering the new dynamics—the new demographics—we decided to go neutral.”
Despite not having religious holidays off, Bass says professors will be asked to abstain from issuing any exams or assignments on these days.
The decision was made in regard to respecting all faiths, rather than a select few.
“The essence of ‘why change’ has to do with a sense that we shouldn’t be favoring one religion over another. If we can accomplish an adequate calendar and not have that perception that is the better thing to do,” Eugene Maccarrone, associate professor of accounting, taxation and legal studies chair, said.
Maccarrone is also a part of the Senate Executive Committee.
“Governance brings together administration, faculty and staff. Everybody gets a say. We have a lot of input and it’s important to recognize that,” Maccarrone said.
The new calendar will administer a schedule that Hofstra has not seen before. Many students and professors question how this will affect their classes in the future.
“I have never knowingly not accommodated a student’s legitimate need,” Maccaronne continued. “It is not by my judgement, but by the judgement of the student. We’re used to accommodating student’s many needs. To me, it’s just an extension to respect one’s desire to observe a religious holiday, even one I’ve never heard of. If it’s important to the student, it’s important.”
Some students have been in favor of the drastic change.
Alexis Carfagno, freshman journalism major, supports the new calendar. “I think it embraces Hofstra’s emphasis on diversity. It shows an appreciation of all holidays.”
