Online only: Excuse my absence

As a general rule, I go to class.

I’m not saying I never miss a lecture, but if I do, it takes a holiday or being really sick (like when I got the flu). As much as I don’t like dragging myself out of bed for 8 a.m. classes, missing class is even worse — the lecture is sure to cover material that will show up on the midterm, or the professor will give a pop quiz. And taking a look at other peoples’ notes and going to office hours just doesn’t cut it.

But there are some times when I can’t help missing class. Everyone gets sick. It’s not always something as serious as the flu; sometimes it’s just a migraine. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s enough to miss a class or two.

Stuff happens. That’s life. Students can’t attend every class, and professors know this, which is why they factor in “free pass” days.

What I don’t understand is why attendance is an issue at all.

Yeah, it’s disheartening to lecture to a room that’s only half-full of students — the students that aren’t there are missing out on important material.

And, sure, sometimes the reason is just because students don’t want to get out of bed in the morning or don’t want to walk through the snow. But sometimes a student just
feels too sick to get out of bed.

Then we have to prove that we’re sick, which means going down to the IU Health Center and getting a note. But that note doesn’t really mean anything. In my experience, students can get an “I was here” note without seeing a doctor; they talk to the nurse practitioner on staff, who can write that they showed up. What good does that do?

And sometimes, people aren’t sick in a way that they need the health center. Sometimes, it’s just a migraine, which calls for some Imitrex and staying in bed.

But in some classes, one unexcused absence means a grade deduction. So someone with a history of periodic migraines who knows how to deal with them is in too much pain to walk to the health center and will be fine tomorrow (without a doctor’s treatment) is screwed.

I can understand needing an excused absence if there’s a midterm that day. But for a regular class? That just ends up hurting the student. I realize that it’s meant to stop people from just skipping, but the way professors go about it isn’t good.

We’re all adults now (supposedly). If we choose to skip class just for kicks, then so be it — our grades will suffer, and we’ll pay for missing those lectures by not learning material that shows up on a test.

But for the poor sick kids whose grades are going to suffer because of missed material, don’t add extra punishments. Stop taking attendance. Stop with the “You can have two absences and then your grade suffers.”

At the very least, don’t require a health center note. It’s better to give the benefit of the doubt.

After all, isn’t college supposed to prepare us for the real world? In the real world, people don’t need a note from the health center. If you’re sick, you call or send an e-mail saying you’re sick, and you take a couple days off. Besides, the boss doesn’t want you infecting anyone. Better to stay home and not get everyone else sick.

So give us the benefit of the doubt. If we really are just sick, we’ll be back next week. If we’re goofing off — well, the punishment of missing lecture material should be on our own heads.

E-mail: hanns@indiana.edu