2008 Woodie Awards
Should South Alabama have a fall break?
Hannah Skewes
Senior Reporter
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
There's been a buzz around lately about students at South Alabama wanting a fall break. But the question is, how many actually want the vacation time? The college of arts and sciences had our college day on Thursday, and on about 80 percent of the surveys we got back , said that students did want a fall break.
Here's a fact for you that nobody can deny: Out of one calendar year at South, students are only given 11 holidays. That's right, only 11! The only holidays South students get during the fall semester are Labor Day (one day) and Thanksgiving (three days). Christmas comes after finals are over, but there is no school in session at that time. However, after that, we have MLK Day (one day), Mardi Gras (only one day!) and finally spring break (five days). In a three-month block of classes, comprised of midterms and absolutely no break until Thanksgiving, a day or two would be great to give students a little breathing room. Most schools get a fall break, sometimes a week long or even just a few days added to make an extended weekend.
My friend from Hattiesburg is visiting me this weekend on her fall break from the University of Southern Mississippi, who started fall term two days later than we did. The University of Alabama gave its students two days off (Oct. 11 - 12) two weeks ago after midterms, and once more, they also started their fall term two days after we did.
The difference in the number of holidays we get compared to other schools may seem minimal, but when it comes to giving the students a break from the stress of class after midterm madness, it would probably seem worth going to class a couple extra days.
Talking about how hard classes are and how back-breakingly stressful midterms can be is kind of unnecessary because everyone already knows. The obvious advantages of a fall break are having a vacation from hectic schedules and being able to regroup brain cells for the rest of the semester until Thanksgiving holidays. School life is demanding, comprised of sleep deprivation, strange eating habits and cramming. A three- or four- day weekend in the middle of that three month block would do wonders for student sanity. Most schools have some kind of fall break and still have similar schedules to South as far as starting and ending the fall semester. South should look into altering the fall schedule to ease the burden of classes with a fall break.
If other universities can manage to not disrupt the academic flow or the rhythm of classes, I'm positive that South could handle the "disruption." South students need a break. And survey says that I'm not the only one raising my eager hand for one more vacation this semester.
Here's a fact for you that nobody can deny: Out of one calendar year at South, students are only given 11 holidays. That's right, only 11! The only holidays South students get during the fall semester are Labor Day (one day) and Thanksgiving (three days). Christmas comes after finals are over, but there is no school in session at that time. However, after that, we have MLK Day (one day), Mardi Gras (only one day!) and finally spring break (five days). In a three-month block of classes, comprised of midterms and absolutely no break until Thanksgiving, a day or two would be great to give students a little breathing room. Most schools get a fall break, sometimes a week long or even just a few days added to make an extended weekend.
My friend from Hattiesburg is visiting me this weekend on her fall break from the University of Southern Mississippi, who started fall term two days later than we did. The University of Alabama gave its students two days off (Oct. 11 - 12) two weeks ago after midterms, and once more, they also started their fall term two days after we did.
The difference in the number of holidays we get compared to other schools may seem minimal, but when it comes to giving the students a break from the stress of class after midterm madness, it would probably seem worth going to class a couple extra days.
Talking about how hard classes are and how back-breakingly stressful midterms can be is kind of unnecessary because everyone already knows. The obvious advantages of a fall break are having a vacation from hectic schedules and being able to regroup brain cells for the rest of the semester until Thanksgiving holidays. School life is demanding, comprised of sleep deprivation, strange eating habits and cramming. A three- or four- day weekend in the middle of that three month block would do wonders for student sanity. Most schools have some kind of fall break and still have similar schedules to South as far as starting and ending the fall semester. South should look into altering the fall schedule to ease the burden of classes with a fall break.
If other universities can manage to not disrupt the academic flow or the rhythm of classes, I'm positive that South could handle the "disruption." South students need a break. And survey says that I'm not the only one raising my eager hand for one more vacation this semester.
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