In response to complaints of conflicts with Jewish holidays, the UC system approved calendar changes, resulting in a later starting date and a shorter winter vacation for Fall Quarter 2014
University of California Registrars have approved changes to the 2014–15 academic calendar in response to conflicts with the Jewish High Holy Days. All UCs operating on a quarter system will officially begin their fall quarter on Sept. 29 and start instruction on Thursday of Week 0, Oct. 2 — a week later than when Fall Quarter 2013 began. Additionally, this year’s winter vacation will be shortened to two weeks to compensate for the loss of classroom time, beginning on Dec. 20 and ending on Jan. 4.
According to a Jan. 14 Los Angeles Times article, the calendar change was enacted in accordance with the UC system’s “Policy for Addressing Religious Holiday Conflicts with Residence Hall ‘Move-In’ Days.” Implemented by former UC President Robert Dynes in 2007, it provides guidelines for addressing conflicts between campus move-in dates and major religious holidays, with particular focus on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
“Representatives of the Jewish community and members of the California Legislature have expressed a desire for the university to avoid the conflicts that have arisen between fall residence hall move-in days and the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” Dynes said in a letter to the UC Chancellors.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement, respectively. Traditionally, it is a time of prayer, reflection and repentance. Based on a lunar cycle, they begin on Sept. 24 this year, which would otherwise coincide with the beginning of Week 0.
Sam Hauss, president of the Union of Jewish Students at UCSD, explained that the High Holidays are a significant part of the Jewish calendar and that he, and other Jewish students, often struggle with balancing the holidays with the start of the school year.
“You reevaluate how you live — what can and can’t be done — and moving in and classes conflict with those guidelines,” Hauss said. “The university acknowledging the problem is something we’re happy about.”
The schedule change has been met with mixed reactions from the student body.
“[The conflict] gets difficult, especially during Week 1,” Vice President of UCSD’s United Jewish Observance Jonah Saidian said. “We can’t go to school, we can’t take notes. I thought [the change] was a great relief.”
Warren College junior Max Shen also agrees with the shift overall.
“I personally would be able to take better advantage of one more week of summer than one more week of winter break because I would be able to work harder, play harder and overall use the time better,” Shen said.
However, other students, like Warren College graduate student Jeffrey Yuan, are less happy with the calendar change.
“I guess that it’s a little inconvenient to have school start even later than it already does in September,” Yuan said. “Also, travel plans for winter break will definitely be tighter and more expensive because they’ll be closer to Christmas.”
Revelle College freshman Karen Medgyesy concurs.
“The problem with a shorter break for me is that I don’t get to see my family as much,” Medgyesy said. “A lot of students are in-state and can go home every weekend, but that’s not the case for me since I’m from Colorado. It’s already a hassle to travel and fly home, as well as a lot of money, so it’s a bummer I can’t see my family for as long.”
This is the first time that changes to the calendar have been made since the UC policy’s inception in 2007, and academic schedules should return to normal after 2014, given that they do not interfere with any other religious holidays.
buttface • Jan 25, 2014 at 10:51 pm
I didn’t know Jews ruled the world…
Yokel • Jan 25, 2014 at 10:46 pm
@UCMOM: Wow excuse you much? Who said it was Cinco de Mayo? Why are you comparing it to Cinco de Mayo and doing it in an obviously condescending tone….clearly you don’t understand what important Mexican holidays are so just don’t even speak about what you don’t know. You yourself are putting higher emphasis on the Jewish holidays while ignoring the other important holidays of the other religions. Then you say it’s about multiculturalism and anti-bullying? You’re doing a great job of contradicting yourself. The UC system has been doing this for DECADES and just now it’s gonna be an “affront to the Jewish community?” Other religions suffer these inconveniences for their very important holidays. Why are the Jewish holidays being held in higher regard? That’s not equality. If it’s such a problem, they can request to move in later. Move in day is on week 0 anyway so it’s not like they’ll miss classes. This is an obvious disregard for other religions which is very disrespectful. This was not even discussed with the community, but just decided upon because of pressure from the Jewish community and fear that they would lose money because of them. Absolutely disgusting on the part of the UC’s to do this under everyone’s noses and not even caring for our input.
fucking ucs man • Jan 25, 2014 at 10:42 pm
BUUUUUUUUULLLLLL SHIIIIIIIIT
Ana • Jan 23, 2014 at 8:01 am
And why cant Mexicans celebrate their holidays or chinese? Im pretty sure there are more asians in college than Jewish. I already cant spend Virgin Marys Day with my family or Dia de Los Reyes!
Yokel • Jan 25, 2014 at 10:32 pm
“Policy for Addressing Religious Holiday Conflicts with Residence Hall ‘Move-In’ Days.”
Ok so give me my week of Lent off because I’m not “moving back” to the school on my high holidays. Accommodate ALL religions at the UC’s or don’t accommodate ANY. These are PUBLIC universities not private ones. It all started at UCLA too go figure. Money talks I suppose so they were able to push this….
UC’s are about equal opportunity for all not “wah wah I want this change for just MY group of people and everyone else can deal with the after math”
This is some straight up bull
Andreea • Jan 23, 2014 at 2:24 am
I don’t agree at all with the change that has been made. It is not fair to make such a change in favor of one particular ethnic/religious group, especially if that change has a negative impact on everyone else. If we change the academic calendar for the Jewish High Holy Days, then should we also start changing it for every other holiday of every other group? Perhaps we should allow holidays for the Chinese New Year, for the orthodox Christmas on January 7, for both the catholic and orthodox Easter which are usually on different weeks in spring, for Muslim holidays, and so on? Many of the UC students are international students, and may only visit their families once or twice a year, during summer and/or winter breaks. Buying a $1500-$2000 flight ticket for visiting your family for two weeks hardly makes any sense. Not to even mention plane tickets are usually more expensive the closer you get to Dec 25. Even for US students from the East Coast, plane tickets are not particularly cheap. What’s more, some of the international students (e.g. Chinese) need to reapply for a VISA each time they go home, and usually the process takes more than two weeks.
Tessa • Jan 22, 2014 at 11:00 pm
Thankfully I have already graduated from the UC system. This is ridiculous, bit because of the respect of the observation of religious holidays (that is nice), but because of the solution. Extending school start dates and shortening winter break was a really bad idea that I think will inconvenience more people than it helps. The UC system already starts way, way late and has a much shorter break than most universities. Why didn’t they just start school in the beginning of September? If they had actually bothered to talk to a wide variety of students about this, they would realize that this would make a vast majority of students, both Jewish and non-Jewish, happy. Problem solved.
Alum • Jan 22, 2014 at 10:59 pm
So if the issue is stomping on a holiday at the END of September, well over a month when most universities begin, why not start 2 weeks sooner and wholly ( or holy) avoid the conflict.
skarner • Jan 22, 2014 at 10:45 pm
dude honestly everyone is just going to beat the shit out of any jews they find now because of this gj UC just started jew hazing all over again >.<
lalala • Jan 23, 2014 at 1:19 pm
who thinks the uc “registrar” people are just using jews as a scapegoat to somehow make more money for themselves?
fucking ucs man • Jan 25, 2014 at 10:46 pm
and they’re gonna wonder why………
ucmom • Jan 22, 2014 at 9:51 pm
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippor are the most serious of the Jewish holidays known as the High Holy Days. Jews are forbidden from working and spend the days in synogogue praying for their community and examining their own behavior and relationships. They are not days of celebration like Cinco de Mayo. The Jewish population at the UC schools varies from 5-20%. The UC system has a policy and I’m glad to see it’s being followed. Having move in day on Rosh Hashana would be an affront to the Jewish Community which might affect Jewish student enrollment at UC schools as well as Jewish donations to UC schools. of course student input as to the best schedule to accommodate these holidays should have been sought. In this day of mutual respect, multiculturalism and anti bullying let’s respect each other and honor and celebrate different cultures. Not all Holidays require a day off to be honored and cherished. I promise most Jewish students will be happy to join in and honor your celebration.
seperation of church and state • Jan 23, 2014 at 12:04 am
Well. My Religious holiday also falls on a school day…. and I am supposed to be in Church all day. No one makes expectations for me. When you present that 5 to 20 percent of students are Jewish that might be true but that is of people who identify as Jewish through Culture and ethnicity not all Jewish people are religious and celebrate the High Holy Holidays. Using Cinco de Mayo as a comparison isn’t even legitimate – because it isn’t even a culturally celebrated holiday( its mostly a thing Americans have blown up way out of proportion to drnk). If we are allowing this change for Jewish students why aren’t we making a Change for Christian and Catholic students for the week around Easter which is very holy and all pursuits on those days should be related to worship and self reflection. Or why aren’t we celebrating Ramadan for the Muslim students. Why aren’t we celebrating Lunar New Year for the Asian students?
Since we go to a public university we are subject to law of the state and their should be a separation between church and state. If we for our holiday season put up a Christmas tree we should put up a menorah or symbols of Kwanzaa and other major winter holidays. If we make a break for Jewish students for their holiday we should make one for other holidays of great importance.
Jean • Jan 23, 2014 at 12:16 am
The Lunar New Year is the single more important holiday for those from East Asian cultures. This is true in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam. In a society without many holidays to begin with, Lunar New Year is celebrated for over a week in China or three days in other countries. Most of the Asian traditions are carried out during the Lunar New Year. This is the reason why the ” largest annual human migration in the world” occur before the Lunar New Year begins.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated by a significant portion of the Asian American population who attend the UC system. As of Fall 2012, of the 8 campuses that operate on the quarter system, there are ~25,000 ChineseAmericans, ~7,500 KoreanAmericans, and ~10,000 VietnameseAmericans. These comprise about 25% of the total student population. This doesn’t even consider the number of international students (~15,800), 30% (being ~5,000) of those being Chinese or those celebrate LNW. If included that would bump our figure to approx 27%.
http://legacy-its.ucop.edu/uwnews/stat/
Think about that. Nearly a third of the student population of the 8 UC schools who operate on the UC system is not allowed to celebrate their most culturally important holiday.
This holiday are not days of celebration like Cinco de Mayo, yes. This entire community is not allowed to celebrate their heritage, yet gets bullied around by much smaller sized minorities without a single word made.
If this is what you wish multiculturalism to be, by respecting each other and honor and celebrate different cultures, then what is done now is an absolute farce and a slap to the face of many students of the UC system.
Jon • Jan 23, 2014 at 12:54 am
You got to be kidding me. For the sake of one ethnic group and you change the schedule of entire school? This is America, and our dominant holiday is Christmas, it’s a time when we celebrate our reunion with our families. Why don’t we also have holidays for Chinese New year, and other ethnic specific holidays? This is a public university, not some privately funded college. If you want a public institution, in a nation where church is separated from state, to adapt merely to cover one ethnic group, I truly suggest you to go back to Israel, where Jewish religion is mostly respected
Ardavan • Jan 25, 2014 at 9:06 pm
Look I understand the grievances of the Jewish population, but this is not the right solution to this issue.
1st) It is irresponsible. Reducing of the winter break, although perhaps prevents grievances for the 2% of the overall UC population, increases grievances for the other 98% who have to deal with higher travel, higher stress levels(due to less time to recuperate), and less time with beloved family (especially for international students). You cannot change policy to serve only 2% of the overall population, while hurting the other 98%, that is discrimination.
2nd) This is a university system. Although we respect religious belief, they should not effect the way we make education policy. Let me try and explain why? If a Christian student who is a creationist says that due of his beliefs he cannot take the biology courses offered at his University because they teach evolution, do we acquiesce to his beliefs and change the biology program? No, if you have a belief, that’s fine, but it shouldn’t get in the way of other students, that is where the line is drawn. So while I think individual universities should make accommodations to make it easier for jewish students celebrating the High Holy days (perhaps insist that professors give class notes and makeup opportunities to Jewish students). The truth is ultimately your religion is your personal decision. Thus not going to class on High Holy days, is your decision and you must accept the personal consequences that come with it. If that means you can’t go to class the first week, I’m sorry but that is quite frankly your problem.
Look I do think accommodations should be made for Jewish students, I think accommodations should be made for any student who cannot attend class due to religious or cultural students. This is just a very irresponsible and unfair way of doing it.
Carol • Jan 22, 2014 at 9:39 pm
It’s only move in weekend.
Maybe the Jewish students can get an extension to move in later; i mean, there aren’t real classes the first week. Changing the entire academic calendar for one religious group is unfair to the other religious groups. What about other religious holidays? or ethnic celebrations? on the other hand, the University of California is a PUBLIC entity that falls under the funding of the state and federal government which clearly emphasize the separation of state and religious institution (church/synagogue/mosque/etc.). Believe when some of say it is not correct to have included only the two negotiating groups: those advocating for the academic calendar change and those that agreed to it. There were other groups affected by this that were clearly ignored in making this decision. I’m not Jewish. I dont see why i have to adhere to th preferences of religious groups without my consent as a student and as a spiritual person. Other groups affected may feel the same, or differntly. As a student of the UC system, i feel it did not consider my concerns when making such a drastic change. So,no. I would not like my winter break shortened at all. I think we go back to school later than most schools as it is. i will fight to keep winter break the way it cause it’s short to begin with! It’s a PUBLIC school system.
Eric Lai • Jan 22, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Here’s a petition, let’s do something!
http://www.change.org/petitions/maintain-the-uc-3-week-winter-break?share_id=mzRwOaXVAG&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
Drew W • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:32 pm
So does anyone take note of what Holidays have no school in say Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Brazil..? I can tell you that many western holidays aren’t “public” holidays in Thailand.
Getting mad at the desires of said Jewish people, then raising pitchforks for say Chinese New Years is no better. There are hundreds of days off we could have if all holidays were “honored” as some seem to take the meaning. That is why U.S. follows western holidays, aside from the fact that it is a western nation.
Anyway…Congratulations, both said groups have won the Victim Game! Actually, we all have since we are all disenfranchised and have less power and privilege than someone else. Seriously? The arrogance…
Louis Yang • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Jewish holidays? How about Chinese New Year?
Jessica • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:22 pm
We need to stop complaining and actually do something about it. How do we create a petition for nearly 100% of UC students to sign against this?
Fredy • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:20 pm
There is a petition going around to increase winter break back to 3 weeks by shifting the start of both the Winter and Spring Quarters one week later. This way, we still get a 3rd week of break, now being the week after New Year’s week.
PLEASE SHOW SUPPORT AND SIGN THE PETITION!
https://www.change.org/petitions/maint-the-uc-3-week-winter-break
Rachel • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:10 pm
I’m Jewish and I don’t even want this.
Bella • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:10 pm
I will not be able to fly home to England for Christmas with my family now. That aside, the principle is utter bullshit.
Tony • Jan 22, 2014 at 7:51 pm
This is completely unnecessary. Why not just make accommodations for the Jewish students instead of forcing everyone else to change their plans? Lobbying and the power of money at its finest.
Trevor Zandi • Jan 22, 2014 at 7:40 pm
This is an example of a vocal minority getting it’s agenda at the expense of other groups that aren’t as good at working the system, such as middle easterners and Asians. So we need to stand up and demand equal treatment! Nobody will protect our rights to equal treatment if we don’t, so we need to show that Non western cultures also know how to handle politics and demand separation of church and state! I suggest a change.org petition.
andrew hoang • Jan 22, 2014 at 7:37 pm
really? this is fucking insane. If this is the case then what about Tet for the Vietnamese students or Chinese New Year for the Chinese students? This bites.
Nikki • Jan 22, 2014 at 7:02 pm
I’m going to start celebrating sh*t, complain about it, and demand that everyone acknowledge its importance to me by inconveniencing everyone who doesn’t celebrate it.
Nikki • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:58 pm
This is what will happen. Students will still book their flights as early as possible (furthest from Christmas eve) to get the cheapest rates and attempt to contact their teachers in order to take their finals early and catch their flight, train, boat, ride before the holidays creating more hassle for educators. Everyone is already so stressed out during that time from taking finals and wrapping up the quarter; appeasing one minority does not justify an increase in anxiety for the rest of the UC population (students AND teachers).
As grading is already so subjective, why bite the hands that feed? We’re supposed to kiss ass, not shove both feet up there! I don’t want a stressed professor and his even more stressed TAs determining my grade for the quarter.
Mierda.
Jessie Lemoine • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Hey wait a minute,
So we are including Jewish holidays? Ok great news, I don’t mind.
But here is where I have an issue ; where are the other religions as well? I don’t see any Muslims holidays nor Buddhist holidays, Camdomble,Hinduism, Iainism and Shinto.
What about the non-religious people (Atheism, Agnostics, Humanitarians) ? Where their voices is all of this?
While we are at it, why don’t we include cultural background as well? I would just love to have my French holidays included and I am sure many would love to see Chinese, Mexican, and so many other holidays included.
Come on, lets quit the BS here: separation of “state and church” exists for these dang reasons!
Adison Keycougher • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:52 pm
It. Takes. Me. TWO FUCKING WEEKS TO TAKE A DUMP. GOSH DARN IT. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ENJOY BREAK.
Rachel H. • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Uhm. This is redonkulous. It takes more than two weeks to successfully make a baby. I need the three weeks.
Becs • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:27 pm
How do we start a petition?!?! this isn’t fair, what could we do to change it?!?!
Jean • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:23 pm
All I want is one holiday to be respected, and that’s Chinese New Year. I get shit from family for not going home, but I make do. It’s a pretty damn important holiday for all of East Asia, where there’s not many holidays at all. Andrew Huang, our author doesn’t have the guts to report this discrepancy, shame on you.
Abby • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:51 pm
This is TOTALLY ridiculous. I NEED 3 weeks during winter break. They should just give us the same three weeks of winter break, but have the first week begin later, and the third week later into January. this is so ridiculous. I hate this more than I can even explain. An extra week in Summer feels like nothing, but an extra week during winter break means everything!
Samuel Wu • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:48 pm
If u guys so much care about Jews, u should also consider the vacation for all Chinese students, we need to have a break during the traditional Chinese Festival!!
Robert • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Can we Hispanics get a week off for Cinco de Mayo then!?
Erick • Jan 22, 2014 at 7:16 pm
Where do I even begin on how IGNORANT this comment is!!!
Hispanics? Really? Most Mexicans (in Mexico no less) don’t even celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Its a regional holiday for the state of Puebla, not a “Hispanic” Holiday!
L • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Someone, start a petition!
Becs • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:27 pm
how? so willing!
Xinyu • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:05 pm
So if Jews can get their holiday why can’t Asians deserve the same benefit? Dear UC have you ever considered the demographic of Asian compared to Jew?
U. R. Dumb • Jan 23, 2014 at 12:57 am
Is your religion Asian? No wonder you go to UCSD. So dumb.
Xinyu • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:02 pm
What r u doing? I am so disappointed by u guys. Winter break becomes so short, and why dont u just start fall quarter a bit earlier?
BTW, since there are many Chinese students in our school, why don’t u give them a long break for Lunar Festival?!
Do u realize that what u r doing now is kind of self-destroy?
I will no longer encourage any Chinese high school students to apply the UC universities.
yx哥哥 • Jan 22, 2014 at 3:48 pm
I strongly agree with the opinion about Asian holidays! Why do you care so much about Jewish but don’t give a shit about us! Chinese New Year really means a lot to thousands of people in this university.小伙伴们顶起啊
Tyler • Jan 22, 2014 at 3:45 pm
I very well might have missed something in this article or somewhere else floating around the Internet, but where/when/how did the UC administration get student input on this? If they are willing to appease a minority of students, I would assume they attempted (hopefully) to gather student input on this issue.
Melanie • Jan 22, 2014 at 3:40 pm
I know it’s been suggested, but it’s worth mentioning again: why don’t we just start school a couple of weeks earlier?? We can all agree that our summer break feels just too long as it is, and I honestly don’t think anyone would mind if we started school a couple weeks early so that move-in days don’t coincide with the lunar calendar. When I started school, our winter break was 4 WEEKS. Oftentimes during winter break, I take time to visit all of my family, both in Northern and Southern California. Two weeks is not enough time for any of us to recover from finals, and visit our families, especially when considering the international and out-of-state students. I can also pretty much guarantee that the faculty feels the same way, as 2 weeks is a short amount of time to put all of their coursework together. I think if there’s any way we can petition this, we should.
Senior • Jan 22, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Hahaha so glad I’m graduating. Private schools get a month for winter vacation and now we’re down to two weeks to recover from the brutal quarters? No offenseto my school, but with the growing list of cons schedule wise and rising UC tuitions a solid private school with a scholarship may be far more appealing to a high school grad these days.
Tara • Jan 22, 2014 at 10:23 am
Regarding the argument in this article saying it would be hard to observe the Jewish holidays during WEEK 0 of the quarter….IT’S WEEK 0 PEOPLE. A good number of classes/discussions don’t even start til the 2nd week of school, and for those that do, it’s mostly just introductions and reading over the syllabus -__- Nothing too serious happens in the first week of FALL quarter. c’mon. ever heard of Welcome Week?!
But at the END of the quarter, everyone is dying and completely worn out. Winter break is CRUCIAL for rebooting yourself. If you’re really concerned for the mental well-being of students and their ability to do well in school, I would highly urge the UC to reconsider this decision. 2 weeks for winter break is simply unjust.
Jenny • Jan 22, 2014 at 9:40 am
To me this is a form of cultural hegemony. It isn’t hard to see why other minority group holidays are not accommodated for (yet). For example, Asian cultures in America have always been viewed as “ethnic” , while the Jewish cultural group has had a longer history and is largely regarded as closer to the “white race”. This accommodation for the Jewish holidays is showing that the Jewish cultural group is being viewed as part of the American identity. Other minorities have yet to be included. However, this is a great win for the Jewish community, considering the the struggles they have faced throughout American history. For now though, other groups are considered part of the “other”. As an Asian I’m hoping for Chinese New Year to be made into a new American holiday!
L • Jan 22, 2014 at 9:34 am
I feel like a petition is about to start.
I agree with everyone saying “What about the Asian holidays?” Although none of our “holidays” are really religious, they are deeply rooted within our culture. Chinese New Years is a big deal for some people!
Groom to be • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:22 am
The academic calendar for 2014-2015 has been up for a long time and some people have already relied on it in making plans. I never thought they would change it so late. We were already planning our honeymoon for winter break- it wasn’t ideal to begin with but because I am a student, that’s the only time I can go.
Marc • Jan 22, 2014 at 4:17 am
Basing the academic schedule of a public institution of higher learning on the lunar cycle is- wait for it – LUNACY!
Jimmy • Jan 22, 2014 at 1:37 am
People complain about not being able to go to class or take notes during first week. Not a big deal since its first week anyways. C’mon seriously?
Sean • Jan 21, 2014 at 11:48 pm
I’m jewish, and I don’t agree with this. It would be much more effective to start the quarter earlier and give another week of winter. Maybe I’m the only one who feels this way, but by the end of our ‘summer’ i’m ready to go back. Its a long vacation. Losing or gaining one week does not make much of a difference. By the end of fall though, i need major recovery time. I really don’t feel that two weeks would be enough.
Matt V • Jan 21, 2014 at 11:00 pm
Since we’re taking New Years into account, what about Chinese/Vietnamese Lunar New Year? How about the Khmer New Year? Or the Persian New Year? Srsly….take your lobby money elsewhere.
Eric • Jan 21, 2014 at 10:49 pm
I don’t understand how this is fair to the rest of the student body as well as the faculty that are NOT Jewish. No disrespect at all for the Jewish community, but why does this holiday get special attention versus other holidays, specifically the Lunar New Year as well as Cinco De Mayo? If the system is going to celebrate a non-federal holiday then we might as well not go to school. It would be impossible to include every single holiday from every single religion so why does this holiday get favoritism?
In my dorms alone, I have already heard complaints from international students and students who live out of state. How is it fair to them? They don’t have the luxury of visiting their families on the weekends. Two weeks is a very short time for them to go home for the holidays.
Julio • Jan 22, 2014 at 5:40 am
You do realize that nobody really celebrates Cinco de Mayo, right?
Cody Ryan • Jan 22, 2014 at 3:12 pm
I celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Kelley • Jan 21, 2014 at 10:09 pm
I second Chris’s message. Not to sound biased, but many UCs have a high demographic of Asian students. We have our holidays overlooked and now we’re having winter break cut too? If that’s the case there should be some equality for us too and give like a week off or a three day weekend or something. Chinese and Vietnamese New Years is coming up and it’s a huge deal for us. We celebrate it for quite a while, but it’s always conflicting with school because American society doesn’t know or recognize it. I mean I don’t mind starting school a little later, I just want some equality especially for the students who are being affected by this.
Martin • Jan 21, 2014 at 10:06 pm
How come they left out the Armenian Christmas Holiday on January 6? How come they make accommodations to suit Jewish Holidays but not Armenian ones?
Melanie • Jan 22, 2014 at 3:30 pm
But really though, the quarter started directly on Armenian Christmas this year.
seperation of church and state • Jan 23, 2014 at 12:11 am
Russian Christmas is celebrated on the 6th and 7th so I feel your pain … EVERY SINGLE YEAR its ends up on teh first week of school and I always have to balance way too much so… yeah
Martin • Jan 21, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Ok, by doing so the administration have cut out the Armenian Christmas Holiday on January 6. Instead of being in a church and with family, Armenian students can now spend the day in class! How come they make accommodations for the Jewish Holidays but not the Armenian one?
bootyhunter • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:55 pm
THIS IS SHITTY I DON’T LIKE THIS
Jdub • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:54 pm
One of my friends posted this article on Facebook. There was a string of complaints along the lines of “why not make it fair for everyone” and “they don’t accommodate other holidays”. But we got three (a couple of years ago we had FOUR) weeks off for Christmas and New Year’s holidays. So they are accommodating mainstream holiday celebrations and observances. I would say that Jewish holidays are big enough to deserve similar treatment. Fall move-in is a big time that deserves its own attention too, and it shouldn’t be extra stressful for Jewish students and their families to try and coordinate the holiday and move-in.
However, I do agree that two weeks is a very short winter break for students, many of whom are far away from home while they study. If I were making the decision, I probably would have put the fall quarter start date sooner so that move-in would not coincide with holiday observance and practice. Maybe take some days off for those holidays (to push back the end of fall quarter). Maybe take an entire week off for Thanksgiving rather than 2 days (plus weekend). And then have the usual three-week winter break. OR: Start fall quarter later, but have a three or four-week break that goes into January. That wouldn’t be so bad. Semester students go (went) on winter break about a week later than quarter students and return two or three weeks later, so I’d say that’s a fair time to have winter break.
Anyway, I’m not the one making changes and I’m out of school. But if you want to see change, write a letter or something, and get all your friends and parents and professors to write letters too. Don’t complain about “accommodating minority groups,” though. That’s a weak argument.
Kbub • Jan 22, 2014 at 8:36 am
Why do you think it’s a “big enough” holiday compared to say Lunar New Years? especially in the UCs where the majority is in fact, Asian. I think accommodating minority groups is a valid argument as in this demographic, they are the majority. Only 1.4% of the entire US is Jewish, let alone on the west coast in the UC system. I’m not saying they don’t deserve the schedule change, but it’s completely fair to complain about minority-holiday observance when they’re accommodating another minority.
Ardavan • Jan 25, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Almost every culture and religion has some kind of religious holiday around the winter solstice and end of the western calendar year. Christmas, Hanukkah, Quanza, as well as others like the Persian celebration of Yaldah. Also, New Years is a secular holiday so it doesn’t count. Plus, everyone wants a winter break, no one thinks winter break is somehow a inconvenience.
I agree that the UC system should try and accommodate Jewish students, but doing it this is just so irresponsible, and so unfair to so many students. That’s why I hate it.
TS • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:32 pm
This is ridiculous! The UC system is deteriorating.
Chea • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:16 pm
People need to keep in mind that there are other minority groups like the Jewish, though not as powerful and with such a deep history, that have religious, family-oriented celebrations too, that cannot be shoved around. But for generations we have dealt with it with minimal complaint. This is unfair not only to the common student group, but also to family members who are not religious as well as minority religious groups.
In today’s society, it’s dubbed “Winter Break” or “No School for 3 Weeks” or “Aww School Again in 3 Weeks” or “FAMILY TIME!” or “Presents and Sleep!” or “FRIENDS!!” but rarely have I heard “Christmas Break”
Chea • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:24 pm
I mean, I bear no grudge against any religion as long as you keep it to yourself. But this is going to far. I am willing to go as far to say that this is akin to religious influence in politics, that “church and state” aren’t fully separate yet.
Darryl Seals • Jan 25, 2014 at 5:53 pm
Currently, I am a father of a UC student and quite possibly, will become the father of two UC students in the fall of 2014. Of all the replies I have read, I believe your invoking of the ‘separation of church and state’ is key to over turning that awful decision. Thank-you for reminding us of that. Otherwise, people of Jewish descent will cry anti-Semitism. Furthermore, this is precisely why the study of history and law is so important.
albert • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:15 pm
I’m Jewish and I don’t even agree with this.
Chris • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Ugh. Might as well take a week off some time between January and February because there are significant Korean and Chinese students who celebrate Lunar New Year with their family?
Diana Lutfi • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:46 pm
I believe this is prominently because there are a lot more Jewish congressmen then there are Chinese thus it raises a concern for the state overall. Only certain specific “minority” groups are favored because they have a louder voice in Congress.
bootyhunter • Jan 21, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Seriously, there are so many Asians here but why won’t they do it?
Oh wait it’s probably because the board of Regents is full of Jewish people and we all know that the board doesn’t give a shit about its students.
Jamario • Jan 21, 2014 at 8:28 pm
A public school making decisions that affect the entire student body/staff in order to please a specific religious group is weak. This is not about losing a week of winter break, but about a state-run institution accommodating a minority group yet again. What’s next?
Amit • Jan 21, 2014 at 5:38 pm
Are you fucking kidding me?
Nikki • Jan 22, 2014 at 6:46 pm
My thoughts exactly.