It’s an old rivalry. We have a facility for rare isotope beams, they have a library nicknamed “the Ugly.” We have a majestic 9-foot tall statue of Sparty, and they have some pavement tile you can’t step on or you’ll fail your first blue book. Green and White beat Maize and Blue — for the last two years. Don’t even start quoting overall statistics; Paul is here and he likes us better.
But simply because MSU and the University of Michigan have a history of spirited competition doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can gain from each other. We won’t even begin to go into what U-M can learn because this paper only is 10 pages long, but something MSU can take from them is the concept of a fall break.
Spring semester gives students a week-long spring break. Shouldn’t fall semester have an equal amount of time off?
The simplicity of a fall break’s benefits shouldn’t overshadow its importance. A mini-vacation gives students a chance to recharge and relax away from the stress and rush of campus life. The results can be anything from improved mood to improved grades.
The negative effects of stress shouldn’t be underestimated, either. Olin Health Center studies show that 34 percent of MSU students find stress has a significant effect on their academic performance, and 80 percent of MSU students say they experience stress. Heart disease, obesity, digestive problems, sleep problems and depression all have been linked to stress. Giving students and faculty a few days off to play catch-up allows a metaphorical reset button to be pressed.
Giving an extended break also allows students who live farther away a chance to return home. If someone lives 10 hours away in St. Paul, Minn., and their last class Friday is done at 4 p.m., they will arrive home at 2 a.m. Saturday morning. They get one day at home, and then need to leave at noon Sunday for another 10-hour stretch to make it back to East Lansing by Sunday night. They will spend almost as many hours in the car as they spend at home. Add family to see, high school friends to catch up with and homework to do, and a weekend home goes from a relaxing getaway to a packed and overwhelming experience.
The beginning of the school year in late August and Thanksgiving in November are three months away. It’s a long time to go without seeing your family, and being apart from home, especially for the 7,200 freshmen — 700 of whom are from out of state. A few extra days tacked on to a weekend would give out-of-state students — as well as students in the Upper Peninsula — ample time to spend at home without having to worry about long travel time interfering.
MSU’s administration has considered a fall break several times before. But considering isn’t enough. Rearranging the schedule to accommodate extra days off is not an issue that should be surrounded by controversy and stuck to red tape. It is fairly straightforward and would put the board in a favorable light.
Yes, not having a fall break is doable. But why should we settle for the student section in Spartan Stadium if someone gives us tickets at the 50-yard line?
To put it simply: A fall break would be nice. The benefits are not semester-changing, but they are there. MSU should try to make it happen for next year. Administrators can consider it our reimbursement for a shortened Welcome Week.
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