After considering a semester-based calendar that would have required weekend exams, the University Senate has decided to pursue an alternate exam schedule.
Last week it was announced to the Undergraduate Student Government that the semester switch, to take effect no sooner than fall 2012, could bring Saturday exams with it. The announcement came during a routine update to USG from Andy Schreiber, the director of the Elections Governance Board and a member of the University Senate.
After an outcry from the student government, though, that consideration has been removed from the table.
"It was a fight to get them off of Saturdays," Schreiber said.
The subcommittee tasked with developing a semester calendar is now discussing a Friday to Wednesday exam schedule, where students would have the weekend off.
The senate unanimously passed a resolution that expressed its disapproval of scheduling exams on religious days of worship. Saturday exams would have been unreasonable for Jewish students who celebrate Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, on Saturday, they said. Similarly, they say Friday exams would be unfair to Muslims, who celebrate Friday as a sacred day.
Ben Anthony, speaker of the USG Senate and USG president-elect, said he hoped that professors would be flexible with Muslim students if the University Senate finalizes a calendar with Friday exams.
The semester switch debate has also touched the sensitive question of when to begin classes. The calendar being discussed would require classes to begin the Monday after move-in, around Labor Day. Schreiber said that administrators suggested this schedule, at least partially, to curb partying on Labor Day weekend.
"They want to give [students] work so you have something to do over the weekend," Schreiber said.
Many senators expressed concerns over the new plan, saying it would overwhelm freshmen who would start classes the day after arriving in Columbus.
The senate also approved several spending measures that left the senate with no more Student Activity Fee funds to distribute throughout the rest of the quarter.
Two of these were passed over a presidential veto.
The first of these proposed $1,500 for an outdoor picnic early next month. President Peter Koltak vetoed the measure because it contained no list of alternate sources of funding for the event. The senate overrode his veto with a 17-5 vote, with four abstentions.
The second spending measure gave $796.80 for an HIV awareness program with the Hillel Jewish Center's community service and social action group. The expenditure was amended during session to lower it from the $1,500 approved last week. With the reduced tab, Koltak's veto was overridden 17-8, three more votes than it had received when it was approved at $1,500.
Sen. Yasmine Whittaker changed her nay vote to an aye vote because of the reduced cost.
"I think it's a good program," Whittaker said, adding she was more comfortable with the lower price tag.
The newly elected USG government is set to be sworn in on May 6.
Andrew Martin can be reached at martin.1633@osu.edu.
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