Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

CLOCK PHOTO/TINA SERVAES

Let’s face it: everyone has skipped class. Maybe once, maybe twice… Perhaps a handful of times. Either way, every student has been there. Whether it was hitting the snooze button over and over again, wanting to enjoy the warm weather at Livermore with friends, or getting  buried beneath a pile of work due that day, the “standard” excuses just don’t seem to cut it anymore. PSU students’ creativity knows no boundaries when it comes to reasons for not going to class. Now, soon-to-be graduates weigh in to reveal their best (worst) advice. Underclassmen, take note. 

The classic excuse is to blame it on the family. Be careful with this one though—karma finds everyone. Ryan Curtin, a senior Environmental Science major, said he hasn’t skipped class often, but when he has he’ll say he has “personal family matters.” This way, “there aren’t any repercussions. Professors won’t ask questions, and I won’t have to live with the guilt of faking a 'death in the family.' No one wants that,” said Curtin. 

A little more practical excuse is that tried-and-true 'car trouble.' Of course, having a car and living off-campus are musts to this lie. Even if the criteria isn’t entirely believable, give it the old college try. Tommy Silva, a senior Finance major, said that “in the past, I’ve used that my car won’t start and therefore I can’t get to class… even though I live on campus.” There’s an ‘A’ for effort.

Sickness is another gem. After all, the infamous "Plymouth Plague" has kept many students away from the classroom. When springtime rolls around and the plague has left campus, sometimes being explicit is necessary. Senior English major Annette Maheu said, “[having] explosive diarrhea” may be her best excuse yet. No further questions needed— not a single professor will want to know the details. ‘Nuff said. 

There are even the rare and the bold who will show no remorse. While some thought and planning may be involved in their ultimate decision, these students won’t even bother coming up with an excuse. “Strategic skips are ideal. If I know I’m not going to fall behind if I miss a class, then I just won’t show up,” said TJ Palmer, a senior Meteorology major. Honesty counts for something, right?   

Of course, students should always be wary of the classes they skip. They may have those days when they need to do what is best for them, but they shouldn’t let skipping become a habit. Education is valuable, and every class counts and costs (big time). So, if need be, make those excuses count, too.