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Student Organizers, Faculty Have a Message: Stay Classy on LDOC

Arts & Sciences faculty are working with the student organizers of the Last Day of Classes (LDOC) event to remind students that they are expected to attend classes on April 22.

After receiving numerous faculty complaints about the lack of class attendance during previous celebrations, Arts & Sciences Council Chair Tom Robisheaux told faculty last Thursday that the message to students is "going to class is a priority that must happen before students attend LDOC activities." 

Robisheaux said faculty could help by reiterating the message to their classes and by not giving "excused absences" to students on LDOC. 

LDOC organizers are helping faculty get this message to students. Student Anton Saleh spoke to the faculty about print and digital campaigns intended to encourage seniors in the Class of 2015 to celebrate wisely and attend the last day of classes.

"We want them to go to class, and take it seriously," Saleh said.

In recent years, the organizers have added additional daytime programming, such as poetry slams, to encourage non-drinking behaviors during class time. However, Saleh said that students' participation in that programming could conflict with their class attendance.

He said they tried to avoid such conflicts this year and that student leaders were committed to continue working with the faculty on these issues.

"Over years LDOC has become more healthy, and there's been better engagement with the faculty," said Lee Baker, dean of academic affairs for Trinity College. "The solutions will come through stronger partnerships."