Rockhurst Sentinel

Issue date: 2/5/07 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Katharine Agnew

I hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed their nice, long winter break because next year's is going to be even longer. With this year's break clocking in at a leisurely five and a half weeks, next year's six and a half week break packs on an entire extra week. That's a whole seven more days of school-free fun, carelessness, and -ok, parents.

The news will either come to your delight or dismay, depending on how you felt about the recent record-setting break - the longest break in Rockhurst history, a record soon to be upset when break rolls around again next year. The majority of students seem to have appreciated the amount of time off. A lot of fun can be had while out of school for a substantial period of time; or for the more motivated student, a lot of money can be made in five and a half weeks without school cutting down hours. But of course, not everyone was pleased. While living at home over break, time doesn't exactly fly by. I, admittedly, found the beginning to be rough as none of my friends where out of school yet, leaving me bored in a small Kansas suburb with no one but my parents and the local high-schoolers to keep me company. The end, too, began to drag. Living at home for 40 days, I began to remember why I moved three hours away from the place. The ice storm that kept me at home two days longer than expected came as a near soul-crushing blow.

I sat down with Registrar Minda Thrower to get the facts about Rockhurst's lengthy breaks. It turns out there are a few factors weighing in on the span of break.

For the pleased - those of you who relished every last day of your freedom from Rockhurst - thank the calendar committee. A longer winter break is just one of the changes the committee has worked a year and a half to research and implement, based on the needs and wants expressed by students and faculty alike. Other changes you have probably noticed include the addition of two days to fall break, shorter class times, and spreading finals out over five days at the end of each semester.

For the disgruntled - may it be that living with your parents again for 40 days was just too much, you missed all your friends at Rockhurst, or you have interesting taste buds and just plain missed Sodexho food - blame Martin Luther King, Jr. Due to the changing nature of the calendar, break time will always fluctuate by a few days. Spring semester always starts after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so the exact length of winter break is dictated by when in the week the holiday falls. For instance, while spring semester next year doesn't start until the 23rd of January, spring semester '09 starts on the 21st, and '10 on the 20th.

Winter break next year will last from December 8th through January 23rd. And, just in case you were curious, no extra time has been added to spring break.

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