October game shuts down class

Students who have afternoon classes won't have to fight hoards of tailgating Knights fans when UCF plays a football game on a Wednesday during the upcoming season.

Instead, they can join them.

UCF has decided to cancel classes that begin after noon on Oct. 6, when the Knights take on the UAB Blazers at 8 p.m. in Bright House Networks Stadium.

Grant Heston, vice president of UCF News & Information, said this has been part of the plan since the first season with an on-campus stadium. The plan was set four years ago that in the case of weekday games, classes will cease at noon of that day.

"The mid-week game will be an exciting change for the campus, and we're confident that our plans will ensure a smooth experience," Heston said.

Student Government Association Senator Sarah Bishop and Pro Tempore Joshua Miller agreed with UCF's decision to call off classes.

They agree so much that they wrote a piece of legislation about it.

"We figure that most students would want to go to the game, and I am always down for supporting UCF athletics," Miller said.

Resolution 42-42 officially supports the cancellation of classes during the October game.

"I think that with the cancellation of the classes, students will have a fair chance to attend the football game," Bishop said.

The resolution passed the SGA Governmental Affairs Committee on Monday.

Miller said that giving students the afternoon off will give them an opportunity to take part in UCF's athletic program, which is a vital part of the university.

"I think that being a part of a university is more than academics," Miller said. "It's about campus traditions and campus athletics. I'm not here for just academics. If we are having a game, I think students should have the ability to participate in the football game."

For some Knights football fans, UCF didn't need to officially cancel classes for them to enjoy a weekday game.

Chris France, a junior in the business management program, said that he wouldn't go to class if it interfered with a UCF football game in the first place.

"Most of the students will not show up to classes anyway," France said. "It's a waste of the professors' time to have class on that day."

Bishop said she understands that mindset.

"If we still have class, it could potentially make students miss class and miss the game," Bishop said.

One of the reasons for the cancellation of classes is the traffic coming into campus and parking problems created from tailgating, both of which could make it hard to get to class.

The SGA resolution addresses this issue, stating that the combination of tailgating traffic, as well as the suspension of normal open container policy, could be a "tremendous disturbance to the normal campus activities," including attending classes, studying and parking.

"Parking issues currently exist during the regular school day, but on a gameday the presence of Knight fans would lead to further congested traffic," the resolution states.