Opinions on fall break plan differ

---

Tweet Nursing sophomore Jon Nowak thinks MSU needs a fall break because students become stressed out during the long stretch between the beginning of the semester and Thanksgiving.

However, economics senior Alison Smolinski said a break isn't necessary.

"After midterms, you don't usually do anything anyways," she said. "I'd rather just get done at the same time and begin at the same time."

Student opinions are mixed on a proposal to create a fall break — which calls for two days off on the third Monday and Tuesday in October.

The proposal was presented to the Executive Committee of Academic Council on Tuesday, when Senior Associate Provost June Youatt said if passed, it would not go into effect until 2009 — at the earliest.

Fall semester classes would start the Wednesday before they begin now, which is the week prior to Labor Day.

The proposal is currently being reviewed by standing committees, and will return to the executive committee in September.

This is the second trip through Academic Governance the fall break proposal has seen. In 2000, the proposal was approved by the University Committee on Academic Policy, but never went any further in governance.

However, with less than a month left in his governance career, Academic Council student member Peter Spadafore said he is going to be letting people know how important the issue is to him, his colleagues and other students.

"I plan on talking to members of ASMSU and members of the administration that I have any contact with, letting them know that it is an important issue," the social relations and policy senior said. "(And) that students are given the time off that's necessary to step back and relax from school once in a while."

Jessica Newman, another student member of Academic Council, said the proposed break is important to have at MSU because other Big Ten schools have a fall break.

"My friend is on the executive committee, and they set the agenda," the social relations and policy junior said. "I will definitely relay my concerns to her, and I will definitely let the body know that I think this is an important issue. If it comes to a vote, I will definitely vote yes."

Another student thinks students will attempt to take advantage of the break, and skip classes the rest of the week.

"You know kids won't be going the whole week. They are going to extend it to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday," said Matt Nicholls, a packaging graduate student.

He added that he didn't know there was a demand for a break at that time.

"I always thought fall was easier," Nicholls said.

While many students felt that a break is necessary every once in a while, some agreed with Nicholls that the fall semester is not as stressful as the spring.

"In the fall, you don't get as burned out as you do in the spring," said Erin Davidson, a political science junior. "I don't ever remember being burned out in the fall."

Hannes Matthiessen, an exchange student from Germany, said the break is a good idea. However, he has a different preference for time off.

"You can always use days off to, I don't know, just calm down," the psychology junior said. "In Germany, we have eight or nine weeks off in the summer, and then six or seven weeks off in between March and April. I kind of prefer having equal time (off) between both semesters."

Students also had differing views on how some would use the break. Smolinski thought many students would use it for vacations, trips home or time to relax.

However, Caitlin Moran said she felt many students would use the extended weekend for partying.

"Once midterms are over, they aren't going to have a lot of work to do so they are going to want to let loose and relieve some stress," the psychology sophomore said.

Moran was not in favor of all aspects of the proposal, but she said students may be able to use the break.

"I'm not too excited about starting classes earlier," Moran said. "But I do think it's a nice break after midterms to catch up on sleep."

Sarah Harbison can be reached at harbiso9@msu.edu.

---