Pause That Refreshes

Those with the strength to rise for breakfast and the courage to notice the faces across the table will readily admit that morale is presently at its lowest level. As the weeks seem to grow longer, the bells louder, and the lectures more tedious, undergraduates can look back to the day when much of the miserable mood set in--the Wednesday when classes met for the new semester. If there were a pause of at least three days between exam period and the second semester, providing an opportunity to recover from exams and to prepare for the next cycle, spirits would be much higher than they are now.

It would be possible for the College to hold registration on a Friday rather than a Wednesday to give a three day rest for those with Monday exams, and a six day beak for those whose last exam was on the previous Friday. In addition, the administration could alter the present rotation system of exam scheduling so that fewer than 2,800 students would stare at blue books on blue Mondays. By placing the exams of courses with small enrollments on Monday, more students would have longer vacations. This would not only benefit students, but would also aid instructors who are burdened with blue books and term papers.

Just where these three days will come from presents a problem; but one which can be condensed, although only at the expense of undergraduate nerves. Shorter recesses or a longer school year would favor shortening their vacations. The winter reading period might be cut, but it sis already at a minimum of two weeks. A shorter winter period would also interfere with the freshman and pre-med courses which have already lost enough classes during football weekends.

The most practical solution is to cut the three week spring reading period by three days and postpone winter registration from Wednesday to Friday. This cut would hardly damage the already lengthy reading period and would not seriously impair non-reading period courses because the spring term, unlike the fall, is generally free from weekend celebrations.

Only the University's 100 year calendar would be disturbed by the midsemester vacation. Undergraduates, on the other hand, would find it quite soothing. It would also save finger nails and sleepless nights.