The benefits of having a fall reading week here at Carleton go far beyond congregating with other Ontario universities, and balancing out our year with a fall reading break to match the one in the winter.
Having this full week off school before the most stressful and demanding time of the semester is crucial to the health and overall well-being of Carleton students.
The full week free from classes, tests, and assignment deadlines means students can relax and prepare for final papers, presentations, and exams.
We might not all use the week off to read, as the name of the break suggests.
But whatever we do over that week, be it spending time with friends, catching up on Netflix, napping, visiting home, actually studying, or whatever else we choose, it’s all beneficial to our well-being.
Especially for out-of-province or international students, this reading week is one of few opportunities to go home throughout the year.
Without it, the end-of-semester break and winter reading week are the only two chances that are a week or longer to visit home.
Among students I’ve spoken to, I’ve heard an almost unanimous agreement that the week is well worth some Sunday exams and making it home for the holidays a bit late.
In addition to exams on Sundays, and potentially being here one day longer for end-of-term exams, there are other potential inconveniences that could come with maintaining the fall break.
These include: shortening fall orientation by one day, starting fall orientation before Labour Day—but not before Sept. 1—and having one day off, or no day at all, between classes and exams.
All of these inconveniences are considered only potential ones, because they will happen “some years” and are not guaranteed.
Even if all of the inconveniences mentioned took place in a year, the reading week would still be worthwhile.
Sure, we would all enjoy some time off between classes and exams, and during the summer I’m sure we would all appreciate putting off the start of classes by a few days.
But in reality, the positive benefits of taking a full week off school during the busiest time of the semester holds a greater weight than all of the potential inconveniences combined.
In fact, I’ve heard an incredible number of people credit the week off with surviving the term in good mental health.
“Without it, I would have had a mental breakdown for sure,” said Synclair Calder, a first-year neuroscience student.
It makes sense to feel that way.
The organization of most courses is such that the majority of our midterms and major assignments are due in the same few weeks. This is completely overwhelming to students.
Many students neglect some basic needs during times of high stress.
People stop sleeping well, eating well, working out, and taking the time to do the things they enjoy.
For some, the stress of this time negatively affects their health—both mentally and physically.
This must not be overlooked.
It is for this reason that even though voter turnout in the reading week referendum was only 40 per cent. 85 per cent of these students voted “yes,”
The Senate should respond by making the fall break permanent at Carleton as the students have made a decision that benefits students in many ways.
