2008 Woodie Awards
Jaspers Face Trouble Moving in on Short Notice
Courtney Roy
Issue date: 1/26/05 Section: Features
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The first official day of classes for the spring 2005 semester was January 24, and the scheduled move-in day was Sunday January 23. Such a small time span between moving in and the beginning of classes does not allow students much time to settle back into the routine of school and prepare for class, which can add to the stress and anxiety that many feel before the begin their studies once again. A freshman student at Manhattan student says, "With the weather the way that it is, and having everyone move in on the same day is nothing but a headache." This sentiment is common among the student body. While it is nice to have a little more time at home with family and friends, many students need more time to prepare for classes and do everything from picking up books and supplies for classes to catching up with friends. Many colleges and universities allow students to move into dorms again up to a week before the first class of the semester, giving students ample time to settle into college life once again. Adrienne Wilkerson, a first year student at Louisiana State University says, "It was really great to move in early because it gave me a chance to settle in before the rigors of school began." This is a luxury that Manhattan students are not able to enjoy. When given more time to settle in and get everything prepared for the beginning of the new semester, students can look forward to classes and go into the semester feeling rested, less stressed, and more confident about the upcoming months.
Giving students more time to move in allows them to be more rested for the first days. Many students bring home nearly all of the contents of their dorm room when leaving for the winter break, and when it comes time to return to school, they are faced with quite the daunting task. Returning to school after five weeks away and settling into the very different rhythm of college life is stressful, and is something that should be taken on as a process, not a one-day event. Such a sudden change can be quite jarring and could make it more difficult for students to focus on classes, since they are still trying to get their things settled and reconnect with friends that they may have not been able to spend time with over the break, and this could make classes more difficult down the road.