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SGA legislation requires professors to excuse religious observances |
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Tuesday, 22 April 2008 |
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by ANNE BAKER
News Reporter
Students who have had problems in the past taking time off school to observe certain religious holidays will now experience a much easier process.
The Student Government Association Senate passed legislation at their meeting April 15 that will require faculty to accommodate students who wish to observe their religious holiday, or Sabbath day.
The new policy will be implemented fall 2008.
Freshman apparel and textiles major and SGA Senator Sarah I. A. Hostyk brought forth the legislation
to the senate after seeing a need for change in the current policy.
“At the beginning of the year I saw that students of diverse religious backgrounds had issues with
getting out of class for their religious holidays,” she said. “Being of the Jewish faith, I have had a close
perspective in seeing how [the policy] affected my religion as well as other religions and other religious
organizations on campus.”
According to the legislation, the current faculty handbook states faculty members are “encouraged to
make reasonable accommodations for students to miss class due to the observances of religious
holidays.”
Under the new legislation, the word “encouraged” will be changed to “required,” which will no longer
leave the discretion of missing class due to a religious observance up to the professor.
In order to reduce any confusion faculty members might have about an upcoming date or holiday from
a certain religion, a calendar will be available online, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Development
for Diversity Tracey L. Wright, said.
“The calendar doesn’t just focus on well-known holidays within the Jewish or Christian community, but
other holidays observed by Buddhists or Muslims as well,” she said.
Wright said the calendar will have a feature providing additional information about the holiday, which will
allow faculty members to learn more about the particular observance.
“We don’t have to educate people about Easter, for example, because it is a well-known holiday…we
can at least provide people with the tools where they can do their own work to see whether this is an
observance that is important to a group of individuals,” she said.
Wright said with any new policy there might be the potential for students to abuse it, but that should not
affect putting it in place.
“To me it is irrational to let those fears prohibit us from doing something that we know is right and just,”
she said.
Hostyk said she does not believe students will take advantage of the new policy.
“I have seen similar policies like this in other schools and have seen no problem,” she said. “This takes
an obstacle away from those who are affected by the previous policy, and therefore I am sure no one
will intentionally take advantage of it.”
Hostyk said the new legislation is a step in the right direction for Appalachian State University.
“It will be a good resource to students of diverse religious backgrounds and of a school of higher
education,” she said.
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