More than 1,700 University of Georgia students signed a petition over scheduling Homecoming on Yom Kippur. It's one of the holiest days for the Jewish community.

ATHENS, Ga -- More than 1,700 University of Georgia students signed a petition over scheduling Homecoming on Yom Kippur. It's one of the holiest days for the Jewish community.

"Because Homecoming was scheduled on Yom Kippur, it really eliminated a lot of students who would have had the opportunity to attend the game," UGA student Madeline Hill said. "I know I have family coming into town. My Jewish friends have family coming. It's a big deal."

The students recognized it was too late to change this weekend's game, but wanted to make sure UGA heard their protests and planned better for future games.

The University of Georgia could have easily avoided scheduling Homecoming on Yom Kippur, yet you overlooked Judaism's holiest day. Celebrating Yom Kippur allows us to focus on fasting, prayer and humbling ourselves in the eyes of G-d. We are not here to place blame on the school, but rather to speak up for ourselves.

If you are a university based around promoting diversity, then let diversity ring as loudly as the Chapel Bell. If you are a university that promotes acceptance, then welcome all groups with open arms. If you are a university that respects the Georgia community, then stand for all voices on campus.**

Read the full petition letter HERE

UGA's homecoming game is traditionally held in October, but the only home game in all of October is this weekend against Vanderbilt.

The group of students started the petition late Monday night. By Tuesday morning, several media outlets had picked up the story, so they notified the administration "out of respect," said student Jamie Gottlieb.

The group quickly received a response from Tom Jackson, Vice President for Public Affairs. "We felt really acknowledged on campus and felt that our voice was heard," Gottlieb said. The University of Georgia sent 11Alive the following statement:

It is certainly not desirable to play a football game, or to hold the university's Homecoming observance, on the day of an important religious observance such as Yom Kippur. UGA's Homecoming is traditionally held in October at a football game against an SEC opponent. This year there is only one home game in all of October – this Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

One thing over which universities gave up control many years ago with large television contracts is schedules. We have had athletic events scheduled on days that many hold sacred, including Good Friday, Easter, Ramadhan, Christmas and during Hanukkah. Where we can, we avoid doing this.

Even with the difficult home football schedule, the conflict could have been avoided this year by breaking tradition and holding Homecoming in September, which would be quite early in the academic year, or waiting until November, which frankly puts it very late in the year. The president already has directed his staff and the athletics department to inventory important holidays like Yom Kippur and to place them on the calendar several years out to help us avoid such a conflict in the future. Important holidays, such as Yom Kippur, are highlighted on the university's master calendar so that all can be aware of these dates when scheduling events.

We have tried in the past and will continue to strive to remain aware of and sensitive to important days on the calendar. This year's conflict was deemed unavoidable because of there being only one home football game in the traditional Homecoming month of October. However, we will in the future consider the option of scheduling Homecoming quite early or quite late during the football season, if necessary, to take appropriate regard for the deep respect we hold for our students' religious tenets.

**A quick note of explanation: Some Jewish practitioners don't spell out 'God" under an understanding of one of the Ten Commandments: 'You shall not take his name in vain'. Throughout the letter from UGA Jewish students, they instead use G-d.