2009 posed an interesting problem for Tufts administrators. Because Labor Day came so late, we started the academic year much later than normal. This has understandably forced changes in the academic calendar. A typical calendar would have the last day of final exams end much too late for many students to get home in time for Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day. I point this out not to claim that all Tufts students celebrate Christmas but simply to explain that this was likely the rationale of the administrators. Thus, Tufts has determined that we will hold and attend classes on Nov. 11. Normally on Veterans Day the campus would see Tufts students who are in ROTC conducting a ceremony on the Memorial Steps. This year we will at best see an abbreviated ceremony; at worst it will be a completely normal day.
Established in 1926 as Armistice Day, Veterans Day is held on the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, Nov. 11, 1918. Today, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs deems it a day to "honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good." Other than Independence Day and Memorial Day, it is arguably the most important federal holiday on the calendar
I understand and sympathize with the administration's need to eliminate a day of vacation in order to maintain the required number of class days. However, I take issue with the fact that Tufts chose to hold classes on a day set aside to remember our men and women in uniform
I hope to give Tufts the benefit of the doubt in this matter. I am not among those who take great offense at the fact that Tufts does not give credit for ROTC classes, or those who get angry at the fact that there is no ROTC office of any kind on campus. There are good reasons for both of these. But I would hope that the administration would consider the kind of message it wants to send: one of continued slights
If the administration chooses, however, to stick with their decision, I urge my fellow classmates to join me in boycotting all classes on Veterans Day.
Political arguments, including protest, have always accompanied our country's decision to engage in armed conflict. I'd like to point out that America's soldiers, sailors and marines do not argue the politics of a conflict; they respond to the call to serve.
But Veterans Day is not about politics. Of course, we as a society owe our fighting men and women a commitment to grave deliberation before sending them into harm's way. Yet, honoring their sacrifice and sense of duty to country should be our unequivocal response to them regardless of our individual political points of view.
Our university should be giving us that opportunity.
With our country still embroiled in two wars overseas, and with the conflict in Afghanistan continuing with no real end in sight, is it too much to ask that we take a day to reflect upon the sacrifices of those to whom we owe so much?
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Sean O'Loughlin is a junior majoring in political science. He is an Army ROTC cadet.
