I am saddened that Arizona State University did not cancel summer school classes in honor of former President Ronald Reagan's funeral services. Regardless of politics, this was a man who served our country for the whole of the 1980s. Any president deserves the respect of being remembered at his final hour.
I was a child while Reagan was president and had little knowledge of his politics. However, now I am able to have a firm grasp on the many accomplishments he achieved while in office. Unlike other readers, he is one of the only presidents in my lifetime that has passed -- perhaps this is why he is so special to me and why I feel so strongly about ASU's disregard of Reagan's passing. To lower our flags at half-staff is not enough.
I am shocked because as a place of higher education, ASU should have dismissed students to participate as witnesses to this occasion. If we are at school to learn about the past for the future of our nation, how good can we be if we cannot even witness the present?
True, the majority of students at ASU were born during the Reagan administration and have little or no memory of our former president. This is no excuse to refuse them the opportunity to witness a historical event. It's a shame that the faculty and staff, who most recall Reagan's time in office, were not able to witness his funeral unless they viewed portions while taking a coffee break or brought a small television to work. As an older student, I made arrangements to miss Friday's class to watch the coverage on television. This is a decision I do not regret and can only hope to convey these emotions and memories to my children when they are old enough to understand.
In particular, I find it ironic that students of the prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication were attending class on Friday while a major historical and media event was unfolding outside the classroom. I can only hope that certain classes altered their plans and adapted Friday's events to their lessons.
Many journalists have noted how emotionally overcome George H.W. Bush was as he delivered his eulogy. Americans and people all over the world were able to share in personal memories with those who eulogized him. Unfortunately, students at ASU were not excused from summer school classes and missed this and many other moments during the service. These are emotions and memories that one could never absorb by reading a history book. There is nothing stronger than bearing witness to historical events and bringing the past that much closer to those who were too young to remember.
I sincerely hope the decision behind resuming classes while a president is being eulogized was not a financial or political one. Instead, proper respect and remembrance for our former leader should have been considered. The next time our president declares it a day of national mourning, the powers that be at ASU should listen.
Evonne S. Avalos is a Journalism and Mass Communications senior. She can be reached at Evonne.avalos@asu.edu.
