While some students were unaware that fall break even existed, others find the single day off useless.
“It’s not worth it,” said Robyn Berke, a senior. “It’s horrible because no one has class on Friday.”
Fall break was started approximately seven years ago at the request of Student Government based on concerns that the wait for Thanksgiving break was too long.
Patricia A. Whitely, vice president of Student Affairs, said fall break is only one day because of scheduling concerns. She said a longer break would affect the hours needed to fulfill credits for courses.
“We wanted to give students a little break from class, but we didn’t want them to miss too much,” Whitely said. “The fact is we do have a break and Student Government wants us to look at it and either change it or extend it for fall 2008, but I don’t see that happening.”
Though UM does give their students a hiatus from classes, in comparison to other schools it’s hardly a break at all.
Rhodes College in Memphis gives their students a Friday to Tuesday fall recess. University of Michigan students get a Monday and Tuesday off for what they call a “Fall Study Break” and Boston University takes off to observe both Columbus Day and Veterans Day.
Still, fall break does benefit students with classes on Fridays.
“I think the break is great for the underclassmen,” said Danny Carvajal, president of Student Government. “Obviously for upperclassmen every weekend is ‘fall break’, but for underclassmen who don’t really have a say in their scheduling, it’s a chance for them to be able to go home on Thursday evening and be able to spend two to three quality days with their family.”
However, some students feel like the two to three days are not even worth the hassle of traveling.
“I wouldn’t go home,” said Jason Weintraub, a freshman who lives in Los Angeles and was unaware that fall break existed. “I’ll probably just catch up on homework and go to a party Friday night.”
George Yudice, a Spanish professor who teaches on Fridays, appreciates the break but wonders why it isn’t longer.
“Students do need more time for a proper fall break to go home and visit their families,” Yudice said. “[The break should be] at least Thursday and Friday plus the weekend.”
Although fall break may be short and useless for students who don’t have classes on Friday, underclassmen such as freshman Lauren Singer believe “any break from class is worth it.”
Lily Stofman may be contacted at l.stofman@umiami.edu.
Number of Friday classes by school/building
School of Communication
-18 classes on Friday
School of Business Administration
-Declined to release statistics
School of Architecture
-All students
College of Arts and Sciences
-Declined to release statistics
School of Education
-Declined to release statistics
College of Engineering
-Declined to release statistics
Frost School of Music
-Approximately 80 classes
Memorial and Learning Center
-Approximately 63 percent of rooms
-Note: Most freshmen take classes in these buildings
Complied by Lily Stofman.
University offers airport shuttle service
SG and Student Affairs will offer a free fall break airport shuttle to MIA on Oct. 17 and 18 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To make a reservation, call the Department of Parking and Transportation at 305-284-3096 (Press option 1) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
-University Village (Scodella stop)
-Dickinson Circle
-Eaton
-Mahoney/Pearson
Complied by Karyn Meshbane.