This year’s Thanksgiving break will be two days longer than it has been in previous years.
“The faculty decided to rearrange the school calendar because there have been a number of students that have been absent on the Monday and Tuesday during the week of Thanksgiving in the past few years,” Judy Smrha, assistant dean for institutional effectiveness, said.
Since there will not be any classes on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, some students will be able to take vacations that they wouldn't have previously been able to take with the Wednesday through Sunday break in the past.<br/>"I'm going on a vacation to Naples, Fla., for the break," freshman Cody Kabarrubias said. "I'm actually leaving for Naples the Thursday before the break starts, so only missing two days of school instead of four days really cuts down on the makeup work I will have to do.""I'm going on a vacation to Naples, Fla., for the break," freshman Cody Kabarrubias said. "I'm actually leaving for Naples the Thursday before the break starts, so only missing two days of school instead of four days really cuts down on the makeup work I will have to do."
“I’m going on a vacation to Naples, Fla., for the break,” freshman Cody Kabarrubias said. “I’m actually leaving for Naples the Thursday before the break starts, so only missing two days of school instead of four days really cuts down on the makeup work I will have to do.”
Some students, however plan to utilize the longer Thanksgiving break for reasons other than a longer vacation.
"I plan on staying home," sophomore Tracy Gerant said. "I know that sounds boring, but my parents can't get off work to go on vacation."<br/>Even though Gerant will be staying home for the break, she still will be benefiting from a longer break.Even though Gerant will be staying home for the break, she still will be benefiting from a longer break.
Even though Gerant will be staying home for the break, she still will be benefiting from a longer break.
“It’s going to affect me this year because I will be able to go back home and work for three days,” Gerant said. “Last year, I wasn’t able to work at all because the break was so short.”
Many students also plan to spend much of their Thanksgiving break reminiscing with their family.
“I plan on spending time with my family, celebrating my birthday and going to see ‘Wicked’ in Kansas City, (Mo.)” sophomore Stephanie Colwell said.
The longer break will not only affect the students, but it will also affect the professors.
“Personally I’m looking forward to it,” Sandra Schumm, associate professor of Spanish, said.
While the professors might be just as excited for a longer Thanksgiving break as the students, they do have to make some difficult adjustments. With classes resuming on Nov. 30, there are only three days of classes and Final Examination Preparation Day before finals begin on Dec. 4.
“It does give students extra time to finish projects, but it’s hard to imagine the effect the short amount of time between Thanksgiving break and finals will have on students,” Schumm said.
The decision to make Thanksgiving break two days longer for this year was not a quick decision and it was not just recently decided either. <br/>"The decision to make the change in the calendar was made approximately two years ago," Smrha said."The decision to make the change in the calendar was made approximately two years ago," Smrha said.
“The decision to make the change in the calendar was made approximately two years ago,” Smrha said.
The 2010-2011 school year also will have a full week designated for Thanksgiving break. <br/>&#160;