The Huskies will square off against the Ohio RedHawks of Miami University tonight at 6:35 p.m., forcing students with night classes to choose between school and school spirit.

Teachers are not especially worried about attendance and believe students trust their own judgement when making the decision.

Tomas Tamulis, assistant professor of allied health, has a test in his elementary environmental health class, which meets Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

“I planned it without knowing anything about the football game schedule,” Tamulis said. “No one has complained or asked me to change the test schedule.”

Tamulis said he would have been willing to change the test date had students presented a valid reason.

Dave Ballantine, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has a lab planned for his general chemistry class Wednesday night. Attendance is mandatory and is part of students’ grades.

“I don’t think [the football game] is different from any other event that would happen on campus,” said Ballantine. “Students have a responsibility. They sign up for that lab and they have to go to that lab. It’s the students’ choice. They can skip it if they want, as long as they’re willing to face the consequences.”

Freshman marketing major Ben Bean will choose class but not because he feels it will be beneficial. Football isn’t a particular interest of his and he would rather not deal with catching up on missed class work.

Sophomore nursing major Renee Consoer has a human development class that meets only on Wednesday evenings and feels she would miss too much by going to the football game.

Jim Phillips, director of intercollegiate athletics, does not feel a weeknight game is any different from a Saturday away game that requires students involved in games to leave Friday morning and potentially miss classes.

“We have what I would consider a tremendous relationship with ESPN,” Phillips said. “Part of that relationship involves some weeknight games. It gives us a chance to showcase not only the football team but our entire university. Teachers and faculty have been extremely understanding of the complexity of students’ schedules. They realize some of these students have jobs or athletics or other activities beyond just classes and homework.”

The football schedule is largely dependent on ESPN, which works out schedules in advance to make sure all the schools’ schedules line up and the network has a full broadcast schedule.

This way, student athletes, marching band members, ROTC members and all other students involved with the game have time to inform teachers of any absences.