From today's HA:

University officials will close administrative offices at noon Thursday and dismiss classes at 2:15 p.m. and labs at 4 p.m. to allow faculty, staff and students time to go to the game against the University on. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Just how long does it take to get ready to attend a football game? Many USM employees get off of work at 5:00 PM but still make it to evening parent-teacher meetings, late afternoon soccer games, and other events important to their families. Why would it be necessary to dismiss class at 2:15 PM for a 6:00 PM football game? To allow faculty, staff and students 3 hours and 45 minutes to get to a football game is an insufficient reason. If it took that long to clear the parking spaces to make way for the "paid" parking at the football game, perhaps that would be a different story. But not for the purpose of allowing 3 hours and 45 minutes to get to the game.