With the perpetual rigors of college life, students deserve a good break every now and again. The burdens of course loads almost necessitate a time to sit back, relax and play catch up. Many colleges and universities across the country offer a break in the middle of the fall semester to allow students and faculty time to ruminate and rest.

Currently the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a four-day weekend in late November during the fall semester to allow time off for the Thanksgiving holiday. This break offers the only time off for students in the epic four-month stretch that is the fall semester. Many students — certainly those from out-of-state — would certainly appreciate some extra time for travel around Thanksgiving.

UW’s academic calendar and restrictions on the number of class hours limit UW’s ability to offer such a break — whether it be an additional four-day weekend or an entire week. Several other Big Ten universities offer such concessions to students. The UW System, however, fails to give its students and administrators a break when many feel as though it would only be of benefit.

“It’s an awful long semester without much of a break,” Associate Dean of Students Lori Berquam said. “It’s just such a long period, and I think students would benefit from some time off.”

The UW System’s Board of Regents has the power to open up our fall schedules and provide a break that will give our minds time to relax and help to facilitate more comprehensive, less exhaustive learning in the latter half of the semester. You can e-mail them at [email protected]