Sitting in class in Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall or Alain Locke Hall, inches away from The Yard, during Homecoming season is enough to make some students yearn to be outside. But alas, the lesson or work in front of some students may keep them from joining the fun.
Howard University is gearing up for Homecoming, but that doesn’t mean classes are suspended. However, students aren’t the only ones who face a decision about going to class. With assigned work, classes and meetings, professors and instructors must also decide whether they will continue operations as scheduled.
When considering adapting to the Homecoming activities, Carolyn Alleyne Perry, an instructor in the department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management inside the School of Business, said that professors recognize the importance of the event to the Howard community, however, the reality is that she recommends students stay up to date with what needs to get done.
“We’re trying our best to accommodate certain experiences, but our expectations have not changed. We have a syllabus…what you don’t want is that you lose focus and get behind,” Perry said.
As for what students think, Ronald Whitmore Jr., a senior psychology major from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, believes students should prioritize schoolwork before going to events because it can vary by professor. While some professors lighten their assigned workload, others increase it, but Whitmore says students are still responsible for getting it done.
The week is full of events and trevying for students’ attention, including line dancing on The Yard, various food vendors, taking pictures in trendy outfits, waiting for tickets to the step show or fashion show, going to the pep rally, watching the football game versus Morehouse College and, of course, YardFest.
Cassandre Jean-Antoine, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, said that in her first years teaching at Howard, her Friday class during Homecoming drew fewer students, but her schedule in recent years has given students more flexibility.
“The students have to come to class, but classes are on Monday, and they have clinicals Tuesday and Wednesday,” Jean-Antoine explained. “They have the rest of the week to enjoy the festivities.”
Marina del Sol, Ph.D., is using a different approach. As a senior lecturer in the writing program in the College of Arts and Sciences, her research focuses on digital humanities and experiential learning, and she said she is incorporating Homecoming into her students’ academic work.
“The experience isn’t simply, ‘go to Homecoming and write about what you did.’ Students bring their observations back into a collaborative research process,” del Sol said. By documenting sounds, performances, fashion, traditions and other cultural expressions, students observe interactions and create a digital writing assignment.
Another instructional strategy professors use is attendance policies, including Solyee Kim, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of Communication Studies in the Cathy Hughes School of Communications.
“I give my students one unexcused absence [where they do] not have to explain anything,” said Kim. “It’s another great opportunity for students to learn how to balance their responsibilities.”
Lauryn Anderson, a sophomore honors finance major from Washington, D.C., agreed that students should prioritize balancing their academic responsibilities and homecoming events. Using tools like her calendar helps Anderson stay organized with the assignments she needs to complete.
On the other hand, Cole Saulsberry, a sophomore from Atlanta, attempted to balance his academic responsibilities and the fun of the week last year. As an architecture design studio major, he spent his Homecoming weekend tackling a big project that tested his time management and multitasking.
“Our professor definitely adjusted the course load, but in the opposite direction. When it comes to architecture, I think a big part of it is time management,” Saulsberry explained.
Despite the workload, students persevere as they look forward to the celebrations ahead. Linwood Scott III, a junior film and television major from Prince George’s County, Maryland, said that he has several family members who attended Howard and is excited for them to visit for homecoming. He said their connection to the university has given him a greater appreciation for the sense of community that comes with being a Howard student.
“Being able to see so many families come back home and reminisce about their time gives me a better sense of appreciation for being able to attend the school myself,” Scott said.
Copy edited by Jori Johnson
