Popular ' E - club ' attracts variety of majors

Attendance policies may grow stricter this semester following a letter from University Provost Thomas Burish reminding pro­ fessors th a t s tu d e n ts a re not a llow ed th re e u n ex cu sed absences. “Contrary to common student lore, there is no University policy p e rm it t in g s tu d e n ts ... th re e unexcused absences from class without consequences,” Burish said in the letter, which was sent to professors near the end of win­ ter break. The l e t te r a lso ou tl ined a schedule change for fall semes­ ter: Students will now have the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off, but will have one fewer study day before winter final examina­ tions. “Most” faculty members that were surveyed supported this change, the letter said, providing “a strong and clear statement be sent to students and faculty alike reiterating the University policy that classes must be held on all scheduled class days, including the days before and after holi­ days, and that class attendance was expected.” Executive A ss is tan t to the Provost Brandon Roach said the letter was sent out primarily to c lear up any confusion about attendance policies. But English professor Noreen Deane-M oran said she w a s n ’t sure why students and professors believed Notre Dame allowed each student three unexcused cuts. “Some people have strict atten­ dance policies and some do not. But th e re w as no U niversity allowance of three cuts or that every teacher had to let students take them,” Deane-Moran said. “I don’t know where that idea got started.” U nivers ity acad em ic policy s ta te s th a t in s t ru c to r s a re