The Red and Black

The uproar over the potential move by the University to having Saturday exams seems a bit of an overreaction, i.e. a front page news story plus a diatribe in the opinions section of the March 3 edition of The Red and Black.

Concern for religious and other minorities on campus is appreciated, but the basis of the argument that Saturday exams exclude a whole religion from campus life seems overweight with a gross denial of reality.

First, we must all accept that we live in a Western, Christian society (including members of religious and ethnic minorities like myself).

Now that does not mean I have to hide my religious beliefs or feel threatened by the number of churches in the South, but it does mean I have to accept the fact that this country's cultural and political legacy is Christian and Western, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Therefore, Christmas is celebrated as a virtual national holiday, just as it is across the pond in Europe - a clear sign of our Christian legacy. The calendar and schedule of work and school takes into account major Christian holidays, as it should.

As America has developed minorities have taken an important and vital role in our society. But these minorities while upholding their unique cultural, linguistic and historical identities cannot expect American society to suddenly celebrate Diwali (a monumentally important Hindu holiday) or Ramadan, as it does Christmas.

Likewise, I don't expect expect schools and businesses (unless they're Indian-owned) to close on Diwali.

Living in this country means accepting that reality. Forcing the society around me to change its calendar for my community seems unnecessary and illegitimate. I am not saying that minorities should shut-up and get along when real issues like freedom of religion, discrimination or racism are at stake. But what I am saying is that we cannot expect the large institutions of this country to take into account every holiday of every minority group in this country and plan their calendars accordingly. It simply is not possible.

Comparing the proposal of Saturday exams to the thought of holding Sunday exams is clearly a denial of reality. Of course Sunday exams would not fly because, in case we all haven't noticed, we live in America - a country with a clear Christian legacy.

Even if the proposal did gain approval, Jewish students who observe the Sabbath could likely gain permission from instructors or departments to reschedule finals.

Munjal Shroff post-Baccalaureate student

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