UGA works to resolve career fair schedule conflict on Jewish holy day

University of Georgia. The arch serves as the university’s primary symbol for recognition and is the focal point of north campus

University of Georgia. The arch serves as the university’s primary symbol for recognition and is the focal point of north campus

University of Georgia officials, facing complaints about holding the fall career fair on the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar, are working to serve students who won’t be able to attend the event.

Some students and organizations recently raised concerns about the timing of the career fair on Yom Kippur, which is Wednesday.

“What is appalling is that last year they held the same career fair on Rosh Hashanah,” according to one post on social media.

University officials said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday that they met individually with affected students and have offered to connect them with prospective employers who plan to attend the fair. Hillels of Georgia, an organization that supports Jewish undergraduate and graduate students, said in a letter to parents that UGA’s Career Center “expressed their deep regret for this oversight.”

Additionally, the university said it has scheduled career fairs over the next five years on days that do not conflict with the Jewish High Holy Days.

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism.