Frank Arvid Cederwall
(1924-2018)

As I was preparing to take a personal business day tomorrow, I could not help but think about a recent discussion concerning students whose grandmothers die during the semester. Often, these discussions begin with snarky comments about how convenient it is that grandmothers die during exam week. Others then share their snarky comments about students who miss class while many professors like me come to the defense of our students.

Generally, my contribution to such discussions includes the rhetorical question, “What do you do when a student’s grandmother dies?” My answer, “Send a note of condolence.” In addition to the condolence note, I also work with the student to make up missed assignments and to stay current in the class.

The discussions of grandmothers dying was on my mind because I am taking a personal business day to attend the funeral of Frank Arvid Cederwall (1924-2018). As a genealogist, I would describe Frank as my first cousin twice removed; a seemingly distant relationship. But “Uncle Frank” was closer than a distant relative.

When my students experience a death, I do not set myself up as a judge who decides if their biological relationship with the deceased justifies them missing class to attend the funeral. Recently, a student simply told me that they had to attend a funeral. That was enough for me.

When I read the snarky comments about it being “convenient” that grandma dies during finals week, I realize that grandma does not choose to die to get her grandchild out of an exam. And when a student tells me that they need to miss class for a funeral, I don’t care if they are paying respects to grandma or to their first cousin twice removed or to someone who has no biological relationship with them.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD