A conflict with football made the first Saturday class of the semester challenging for some TCU students and professors.

As a part of TCU’s revised academic calendar, the university instituted two days in which classes held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays would also meet on Saturday. The first of the two was held last weekend.

When the calendar was released over the summer, the classes were on days that did not conflict with TCU’s home football game schedule.

However, when the Big 12 rescheduled its season in August, it placed TCU’s first home game against Iowa State University on the same day as the first weekend class.

Some professors gave alternative assignments or pre-recorded their lectures so students did not have to miss the game.

“My professors gave us alternative assignments to do over the weekend but didn’t host class in person or over Zoom so that everyone could still go the football game if they wanted to,” said senior biology and chemistry double major Mackenzie Kahrhoff.

Associate Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Amorette Hinderaker said she wanted to give her students as much flexibility as possible with the weekend meeting.

“It makes much more sense to me to give students the flexibility to view course content any time over the weekend,” she said. “That way they still are able to enjoy the football game on Saturday and can introduce themselves to course content to keep on schedule.”

Hinderaker chose to forgo a pre-recorded lecture and instead chose to create an alternative assignment for her students to complete before class on Monday.

An “inconvenient” occurence

Some students spoke about the unfortunate timing of the weekend class with the football game.

“I think the Saturday classes are inconvenient for everyone, especially because a large portion of this campus is invested in the football culture,” junior sports broadcasting major Kathrine Brucken said.

She added that the one in-person class she did have on Saturday had almost no students attend.

Sophomore accounting major Kathleen Sandoval said football games are even more important this year because of the pandemic.

“With the pandemic going on and all of the effects it’s had on the school year, there have been really few opportunities for students to experience. I think the football games mean more to the university this year than they have in the past, and it’s unfortunate that the course schedule conflicts with the first game,” Sandoval said.

The second weekend class is scheduled for Oct. 24, when TCU has another home football game.