Jared Sugerman’s letter (Feb. 28, “Attendance requirements unnecessary”) is absolutely ridiculous. If everyone had Sugerman’s attitude about attendance, no one would go to class and professors would teach to empty classrooms.

There is no such thing as freedom from classes. It is your responsibility to attend class if you wish to be on the road to success. Getting drunk on thirsty Thursday and skipping all your Friday classes is not going to help you learn, it is only irresponsible. The work in high school did not stop the moment you were accepted to college. Working hard in college will get you a good job when you graduate, and once you get that job, dedication is the only way to flourish. You cannot slack off and expect success.

An education at Northeastern comes with a hefty price. I find it difficult to understand why students would pay so much for classes they rarely attend. I can honestly say that after more than three semesters of college, I have never missed a class. I have friends who miss class daily, who oversleep and miss their 8 a.m. at least once a week or who never go to classes in which the professor does not take attendance unless there is a test or something due. I find this incomprehensible. To me, it seems like a waste of money. Why be in college and pay so much for classes you do not plan on going to?

In his letter, Sugerman makes his desires clear. For instance, in what universe would students have the “right to choose which assignments” they do? Seriously, since when are assignments optional? Sugerman does not want to be graded on attendance and he does not want to have any assignments. So, what does he want to be graded on?

Also, if you do not want to take notes on lectures and instead wish to sit and stare into space, you better hope your brain is a sponge. Going to class and taking notes on the lecture, instead of just reading words on a page in the book, is what makes you understand. There is a big difference between reading and understanding, and the discrepancy starts here.

– Ashley Traupman is a sophomore journalism major and member of The News staff.