Around this time, there's just something in the air, perhaps the smell of the growing laundry piles that hints of venturing homeward. Unfortunately, for out-of-staters and the roommates of the laundry-avoiding population, the new break schedule puts a serious damper on students' chances of making it past the Mason-Dixon line.
Contrary to popular belief, the new adjustments to the calendar were made with students' best interests in mind. Acording to M. Wynne Stuart, associate provost for academic support and classroom management, students shouldn't look at it as a shorter "Fall Break" but rather as a reorganized schedule which was made after careful deliberation with student leaders and faculty.
"For some time, we have received observations from students and requests from parents that the Thanksgiving Break be longer," Stuart explained. "In order to do that, we have to take the time from somewhere. By taking a day from Reading Holiday in October and a day from the Reading Break between the end of classes and finals, we gained two days that we put into Fall Recess for Thanksgiving."
By switching these days from Reading Holiday to Thanksgiving, Stuart hopes to make travel that much easier for students during the busy November holiday.
When asked if the changes in effect were permanent, Stuart said a Calendar Committee appointed by University President John T. Casteen, III will look at the calendar for next year sometime in the near future.
"Various constituencies of the institution are represented on the Committee -- student leaders, faculty representatives and a variety of administrators," Stuart said.
The extended Thanksgiving Break will be a welcome change for most folks, but the question remains: How do you put some sass back into the coming weekend to finally break up the montage of bars, tailgates and fraternization?
Second-year College student Evans Wilson joins the throngs of students who will appease their wanderlust by partaking in the time-honored tradition of the road trip.
"I would have preferred to go home like last year, but Memphis is too far away for me to make it with the shorter schedule," said Wilson. "Still, I want to do something fun for my break. The trip to D.C. is an easy drive, and there's always something going on."
First-year College student Frances McNamara does not have access to a car but said she plans to make the weekend spontaneous and unique nonetheless.
"I plan to crash as many weddings as possible," McNamara said.
Be it through day trips or adventures in Charlottesville, students are looking for alternative ways to enjoy the holiday, especially if they can't make the trip home.
Second-year College student Ashton Alexander summed it up.
"It's a Reading Holiday," Alexander said. "The last thing anybody wants to do is study"
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