Finals Butt Up Against Christmas Eve Day

By Jake Kattan
Staff Writer

Many students will spend the fall searching Wesleyan’s campus for the Grinch. They are wondering who else could have created this semester’s calendar, which will leave many students spending Christmas Eve on a train, plane or bus.

"I think it sucks. I think we definitely shouldn’t have to travel on the twenty-fourth," said Becca DeWeerdt ’01.

"That will be a pain in the ass," agreed Steve Scribner ’02.

In addition to the semester ending four days later then it did last year, fall break has been cut one day shorter then it was this past year.

"For students who live far away, it would be almost pointless to go home. Consequently there will be a lot of bored people on campus that weekend," said Kasia Newman ’02.

Billy Weitzer, the associate provost and registrar, speculated on the cause of the shortened fall break.

"If you’re going to start after Labor Day, and if you’re going to have enough class days, reading period, and the proper length of exam week, five days, the only place that could give was fall break," Weitzer said.

Weitzer also noted that Labor Day fell at a later date than last year. He fielded several phone calls from parents concerned with the final date of exams.

"After explaining the constraints in the calendar, they understood," Weitzer said.

Amherst College and Williams College have similar calendars for their fall semesters. Both began classes within a day of Wesleyan and have comparable fall breaks. Amherst ends one day earlier while Williams ends three days earlier. Williams will hold finals through the final weekend of the semester and Wesleyan students have these days off.

The faculty lays out the calendar, which is planned in periods of five years. Wesleyan is presently in the fifth and final year of the current period. A number of changes are planned for the next five year period.

"Starting next year there are going to be some significant changes. Classes will begin before Labor Day so there is a fall break in addition to a full week for Thanksgiving. [The earlier start] is so all that can be done and exams can still end earlier in December," Weitzer said.

During the upcoming five year period, classes will consistently begin on the Thursday before Labor Day.

Many students are pleased with the future changes.

"I think it’s better because you get to spend more time at home. It’s a pain rushing home the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve," said Christa ChanPak ’02.

Dave Ross ’00 is looking forward to the longer Thanksgiving break.

"Thanksgiving has gone from a relaxing holiday that’s all about spending time with the family, to being a high stress, three day tour of duty," Ross said.

"I’d rather come before Labor Day," DeWeerdt added.

Other students don’t see the need for increased vacation time.

"I think we have too much time off school already. I don’t mind starting earlier, but we don’t need a week for Thanksgiving," said Stephanie Melmed ’01.

Student opinions were heard at an open forum with faculty when the future calendar was being planned. Various options were discussed with students before the new calendar was finalized.