Students Upset Due to the Length of NYU’s Thanksgiving Break

NYU students are left frustrated due to the length of the University’s Thanksgiving break.

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Students at New York University (NYU) had one less thing to be thankful for after the university made the controversial decision to hold classes Nov. 27—the day before Thanksgiving. 

The university only cancelled classes on Thanksgiving and the following day, making the break two days long. 

NYU, along with many other universities who hold class the day before Thanksgiving, spark conversations about the length of Thanksgiving break every year. 

NYU students told 101 News Stop that the decision to hold class Wednesday caused travel conflicts and highlights NYU’s struggle to clearly communicate with students.

“I think it’s terrible,” NYU student Audrey Abrahams said. “Frankly, I’m transferring.” 

Abrahams is not really transferring, but she is annoyed. A Seattle native, Abrahams didn’t have time to take the six-hour flight back to Washington state because of Wednesday classes. Other students, like Kayla Blecherman, agreed that the break impacted travel plans.

“It's pretty disrespectful of the administration,” Blecherman said. “People should be respectful that it requires travel to go home and celebrate the holiday.”

Blecherman added that other universities gave students Nov. 27 off. Many New York City schools like Columbia University, Fordham University and Pace University cancelled classes that day, declaring it an academic holiday. However, some universities like The New School did the same as NYU. 

NYU students expressed their frustration on social media, with some commenting on NYU’s TikTok. One user wrote “we call it a break but we get two days off, this shit is insane,” while another said, “ok but why didn’t we get Wednesday off this year?” 

However, there are some students, like Tamir Gray, who agree with NYU’s decision to hold class. 

“I think it's the best thing that NYU could do,” Gray said. “It provides people with a sense of stability and we are paying for it, so we deserve the option to have classes.”

Gray said he wants to make the most of his education, especially with NYU’s high tuition costs (New York University was ranked as the second ​​most expensive place in the U.S. to go college, according to CNBC).

Although Gray agrees with NYU’s decision, he isn’t entirely satisfied with the university’s actions.

“The biggest annoyance is that there was no consistency communicated by the university,” Gray said.

Nov. 27 is not the only instance of confusion and miscommunication regarding NYU’s scheduling. 

On Dec. 11, NYU is having a legislative Friday, meaning Friday classes will take place rather than regularly scheduled Wednesday classes. Many students and professors alike said they were not aware of the legislative Friday.

“Thank god my roommate's on top of things, I would’ve just gone to my regular classes,” NYU sophomore Emma Steadman said.

An NYU liberal studies professor—who asked to remain anonymous—planned to hold regularly scheduled class Dec. 11 and was unaware of the legislative Friday until a student told her. The professor expressed her frustration in a class announcement on Brightspace—NYU’s learning management system for online teaching and learning.

“So on Monday, I learned that next Wednesday is on a Friday schedule (!?) So our last class is actually on Monday, 12/9,” she wrote. “Which is sad, for me. And also means that the final presentation schedule is messed up.”

While students are dissatisfied with NYU’s scheduling and lack of communication, some adjusted their schedules and travel times to make it to class, NYU sophomore Erin Zhang said.

“My friend thought we had Wednesday off, so she was going to go home,” Zhang said. “It pissed her off but she rearranged her travel plans so she could make it to class.”

As for Zhang herself, she doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but is still frustrated that she had to attend classes Wednesday.

“I'm Canadian, so theoretically, it doesn’t bother me,” Zhang said. “But, like everyone else, I’m sleep deprived and want a day off to rest.”

An NYU spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.