Before students were braving the cold on campus, some were braving a cold back home. And when the calendar started flipping to double-digit dates in January, students packed their bags and brought their Xbox’s, clean laundry and even some germs back for the second semester. 

The university administration sent a statement out to all faculty and staff asking them to work with their students when they request that they miss a day because of an illness. Because Ames and Des Moines have been dubbed the third sickest cities in America, it’s crucial to lock down the flu virus, especially on a college campus.

This isn’t the first time the university has warned faculty and staff about a flu spike. David Holger, associate provost for academic programs, told the Iowa State Daily earlier this week that “the best thing you can do to slow down the spread of this, if faculty or staff or students are sick, is if they stay home.”

However, there is an overwhelming amount of pressure to not be late to every class throughout the semester because of strict attendance policies. As students, it is not lost on many of us how important missing even one class can be.

It’s appreciated during this time of illness and high alert for the flu that professors are being lenient with their attendance policies and working with those students who have come down with the flu or flu-like symptoms. It’s extremely important that all students recognize these symptoms and understand that your professors have been notified on how serious this situation has become.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that the “flu and its complication of pneumonia cause an average of 1,000 deaths yearly in Iowa.” The dangers are especially high this year, as WHO news reports “influenza as the cause of death on seven death certificates” in Iowa. The flu season typically does not peak until February, so for the sickness to be this prominent in January does not bode well for student health in the coming months.

What we’re trying to get across is that it’s OK to skip class when you’ve got these flu symptoms. But as many professors have pointed out, communication between students and professors is the key to not having repercussions for missing class time. Students will only be doing more harm to others around them if they come to classes with the virus. Know that if you’re communicating, your professors should be a little more lenient with the attendance policies. The important thing entering the second semester with this flu virus lingering is to make sure you know what is required of you. Know the policies and communicate.

It’s too cliché to say “we’re all in this together.” But keep in mind the long-term effects of what coming to class with the flu or flu symptoms may have. Students have to understand that missing a couple classes during the first week of the semester and avoiding the spread of the flu is much more important than getting a couple attendance points. It’s also equally important for professors and students to be working together to make sure everyone is on the same page with why they’re missing class and what needs to be done to make up any missed work from necessary absences. If we follow those instructions, we can get back to work in 2015.