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Homecoming or Midterms?

Photo Credit: Ron Ceasar/Howard University Howard University students at this year's Yardfest during Homecoming week. Did they make time to study for midterms, or put that off until the last minute?

By Mercia Williams-Murray
Black College Wire

While most midterm examinations are given in the week or two following Homecoming, some Howard University teachers this year decided to administer them during Homecoming week.

Students faced hard decisions. "Do I go to this party, or do I stay in and study?"

A few found a happy medium and scheduled things just right. They arranged their schedules to make it possible to socialize and participate in various events while still being able to pass midterms with flying colors.

"I had a midterm the day before Yardfest," the two-day celebration on Howard's main quadrangle, said Maya King, a sophomore television production major. "Basically, I procrastinated and studied the night before and the day of the test."

Putting off studying until the last minute to get in as much fun as possible is one way that students deal with the extremes of Homecoming and midterms.

"After procrastinating as long as I could, I stayed in my room and didn't allow myself to come out until my studies were finished," said Darren Smith, a sophomore psychology major.

This can be no easy feat, with so many exciting things taking place. With such fun events as comedy and fashion shows going on all week, do students think it's possible to balance work and Homecoming?

Sleep became expendable for Darrilyn Brown, a sophomore systems and computer science major.

"I had four midterms this week. I didn't sleep for two days," he said. "I studied for those two days whenever I was in my room, and whenever I was out, I had notes on my Sidekick," his wireless e-mail device, "to look over whenever I had free time."

Knowing the right balance between work and play is conducive to the success of any college student.

Donn Davis, a constitutional law professor at Howard and director of the graduate political science program, has given advice to his students on balancing Homecoming with their school work.

"I tell young people that it is not good decision-making" to miss class, Davis said. "You come to college to learn how to prioritize." Homecoming "is not a good excuse or a good idea to not study."

Many students decided to miss class to go to Yardfest or to recover from the after-parties of the events throughout the week -- all actions that Davis disagrees with. Davis had limited attendance at his class on the Friday of Homecoming week.

"Homecoming is not a holiday," Davis said. "Less than half my class showed up today," he said that Friday, "so students that came to class during Yardfest were rewarded with extra points and the answer to one exam question."

Expecting students to skip classes during Yardfest, some teachers canceled lectures for the day. According to Davis, others canceled afternoon classes because of noise on the Yard.

Davis said one principle holds true, even during a celebration:

"The university's first obligation is to protect the academic integrity of the school," he said.

Mercia Williams-Murray, a student at Howard University, writes for the Hilltop.

Posted Oct. 25, 2006