In yet another attempt to curb unruly student behavior - and the reputation that accompanies it - Ohio University's administration is beginning to debate increasing the number of Friday classes Spring Quarter. Last quarter, OU President Roderick McDavis discussed extending scheduled class times through Friday to occupy students' time and control Thursday night revelry. However as the five-day university phenomenon is being analyzed in universities across the nation, it seems that here at OU it is just another misguided attempt to control student behavior.
A study conducted by OU's Office of Institutional Research confirmed the fact that while some departments schedule few classes on Fridays, it is not a rule of thumb for the university. In fact, both the College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Arts and Sciences schedule almost half of their classes on Fridays - yet it is hard to believe that the students in these departments sit at home every Thursday night. More likely they, like all students, still manage to balance academic and social engagements for the early weekend.
However, compared to other universities such as Indiana University and Arizona State, OU does rank on the lower side of the percentage of classes held on Friday. OU only had 31.5 percent of its classes on Fridays during Fall Quarter, while Indiana had 40 percent and Arizona State had 50 percent of classes on Fridays. But the simple truth is that more Friday classes will not significantly affect the number of Court Street revelers - much like OU's ban on selling shot glasses couldn't have had much effect on the number of students drinking liquor. Both increasing Friday classes and banning OU shot glasses are merely public relations actions to downplay the OU alcohol culture.
University officials should trust the judgment of its students - the vast number behave properly - to gauge for themselves the level of their social interaction. OU should simply encourage responsible behavior and punish severe unruly behavior without attempting to burden the entire faculty and student population with a bogus adjustment of class times. If OU is to ever overcome its dubious reputation, students need their officials to come up with real solutions, and not just media-friendly gestures.
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Finagling schedule won't be effective
