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Ever wonder what that professor of yours does on a furlough day? For students, a cancelled class means sleeping in or adding an extra 50 minutes to that breakfast routine — relishing every sweet bite of furlough-mini-wheats.

Until the end of the semester (May 15), students will get four chances to savor extra time when Illinois faculty and staff must take furlough days. Although students get the free time, don’t think that professors are jetting off to warmer destinations. The reality is that furlough days often mean business as usual for many Illinois faculty. “We have obligatory duties during the week, and it’s very difficult,” said David O’Brien, art history professor. “I’m sure most people on their furlough days are at least doing research, and they just say that they didn’t work. Even if we read a book, we’re doing research, I suppose. It’s kind of unavoidable, at least in my case.”

For some professors, taking a furlough day just isn’t possible with a busy schedule. O’Brien said that many of his colleagues do not have the time to take a full day off. Although instructors are not supposed to conduct classes or work on furlough days, O’Brien said this is simply not the reality.

Other professors just find it difficult to separate work from play. Christopher Benson, journalism and African American studies professor, said his work outside the classroom is connected to his work as an educator.

“It is hard to separate things I naturally do from my obligations for the university,” he said. On the furlough day he took on Feb. 15, he attended meetings in Chicago and worked on a screenplay. Some of his colleagues took time to read or shop, but many of them continued working after a few hours of free time. Benson said he always has his students in mind.

“My work outside of the classroom relates to what I’m doing for students,” he said.

Mark Leff, a history professor and member of the Campus Faculty Association, participated in the march on Thursday, March 4, to defend democratic public education.

The march included the Campus Faculty Association, the Undergrad Graduate Alliance, the Campus Labor Coalition and other university organizations. It wasn’t just an Illini thing; marches occurred across other public universities. Workers rallied against budget cuts and the overall decrease in quality public education.

This was a common furlough day for many professors who tried to show awareness of the negative effects of the state budget crisis.

Although he is on sabbatical, Leff said he is still required to take a furlough day.

“Does taking a furlough day mean I am actually going to stop working? Our jobs are seven days a week, and it doesn’t make sense to stop,” he said.

Benson said that although furlough days are difficult, he has nonetheless gained a greater appreciation of how everything he does enhances his role as an educator.

“I think one of the things that might come of this is that we have a chance to consider how the things that we do are connected,” said Benson. “I would hope people would come to recognize how much time, effort and love we put into our roles as faculty members.”