“President Pershing asked [for the move] because of graduation. Some students had to miss graduation [last year] on Thursday night because finals and graduation coincided — this way everyone gets to participate in graduation ceremonies,” said Sam Ortiz, ASUU president and a senior in social work.
Ortiz said individual classes may offer reading days, but Fall Semester has not had an official reading day for years.
Jose Hernandez, a senior in gender studies, said he used the reading day to relax.
“[Reading days] are a good break to prepare yourself mentally before the craziness [of finals],” said Hernandez.
Brian Truong, a junior in business, said not having a reading day this semester will be an inconvenience because he will not have enough time to prepare.
“I use them to catch up for finals and to ask my instructors questions,” he said.
Rachel Wootton, ASUU Director of Academic Affairs and a political science and geoscience major, hopes professors will reschedule reviews and other activities before the cancelled reading day.
“While it is regrettable that reading day has been eliminated from the schedule, it was important to ensure that students could spend commencement day celebrating with their family and friends instead of taking finals,” Wootton said.