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BREAKS
Students need more time to rest

It is something that all college students don’t mind writing down in their jam-packed day planners.
Winter break.

It’s a time to put classes behind us and focus on the good things in life: Sleep, holidays, sleep, family, no homework and did we mention sleep?

However, what used to be four or five weeks worth of academic detox is now cramming as much rest and recuperation as possible into only three weeks.

Simply put, it begins too late and is too short. The last day of finals is Dec. 19. Southern Methodist’s last exam is Dec. 12, as are the final exams of many other universities. The university might have had solid reasoning behind its decision to make the break so short, such as making sure the May mini-mester begins on time or giving more time over the summer to help students recuperate.

Honestly, one extra week added onto more than three months does not make that big a difference. The time would be better spent on a longer Thanksgiving break or a break in April before finals. Having a longer winter break is still the best solution to solving many problems students face.

Because of the shorter break, students have a harder time getting seasonal jobs. International students and other students who live far away sometimes don’t go home because it would only be a few days before they had to return. Student athletes who have to play during the holiday get almost no time with their families.

Even the football team has been impacted by the shorter break. Our finals week schedule is the reason why the team didn’t accept a bid from the GMAC Bowl. That bowl offered the best opponent out of all the bowls TCU could have gone to and the best national exposure, but game day falls on the Thursday of finals week.

It’s tough getting out so late. Until finals are completed, how can anyone even begin to tackle their gift lists, let alone obtain seasonal employment or visit family?