Thanksgiving Break or Breaking the Bank?
How Northwestern makes it difficult for students to celebrate a holiday so important to our community
Northwestern is infamous for its fast-paced academic calendar. Students often deal with midterms in their third and fourth weeks of the quarter, and course material is densely packed right until Thanksgiving. The following break, which is supposed to be a moment of relief from academics, still proves to be a source of stress for students.
I am from West Michigan, right across the lake from Evanston. To go home, I take the Amtrak from Union Station to Grand Rapids, Michigan. This can cost me between $30 and $80 depending on the time of year. Living only a four hour train ride from the Chicago area, I am lucky to not have to fly home for Thanksgiving break. However, students at Northwestern hail from all 50 states and more than 70 countries, making travel burdensome for many.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average cost of a domestic flight in the United States is $436. Black students report finding these costs extremely taxing.
Deolu Akingbade, a freshman from North Carolina, said going home will be difficult because flights close to Thanksgiving often spike in price. According to Expedia, the Thanksgiving week round-trip tickets from Chicago to Charlotte range from $392 to $677.
“My mom’s friend is actually an airline pilot in Houston, so she's looking into getting me a discount if I can fly standby, but that's probably not gonna be a possibility,” Akingbade said.
Without connections, Akingbade said his only other option is to take a discounted flight where he can only carry a small backpack for luggage.
Costs are not the only issue with these breaks. There's also a lack of time. Many students have class up until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and must be back by Monday. Tyson Strong, a junior studying civil engineering, said he did not fly home to Atlanta during his freshman year.
“Break was set up the same, it was Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and we had a game during that time and there was really no point in going home,” Strong said. “I feel like it's kind of on the University to allow more time for Thanksgiving. It's an important holiday.”
Some Northwestern classes allow students to take final exams virtually to avoid commuting back to Evanston after Thanksgiving break. This can cut the travel expenses of students in half and allow them to spend more quality time with their families.
As for the classes that do not allow virtual exams, Northwestern should still ensure their student’s well-being by implementing a full week break for Thanksgiving. I believe this would account for travel and quality time at home.
Familial connection is heavily prioritized in Black culture, especially during Thanksgiving. Students should be able to go home to put themselves and their family above everything for at least one week before they dive back into one of the most stressful parts of the fall quarter.
Black Thanksgiving is not only about catching up with family members or patiently waiting to get a slice of sweet potato pie, it also has a rich history. Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday in October of 1863, just months after the Emancipation Proclamation. Recently free Black Americans were able to freely gather and celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time.
Black culinary traditions on Thanksgiving consist of a blend of West African and American influences, ranging from fried okra to banana pudding. With this deep history, Black students deserve to be able to immerse themselves in their culture during break without financial or academic stress.
Whether it’s opting for virtual final exams or allowing more time for Thanksgiving break, Northwestern should consider changes to relieve the travel burden on their students and allow them to prioritize their families and cultures.
Comments