The students and faculty of Trinity College need a break. This petition is to request a day off from classes to have ample time to catch up on work and take care of ourselves.

The pandemic has created some of the most stressful semesters, this one included. Students and professors alike are living in a state of heightened anxiety. The shortened semester has condensed the workload, which is increasing student stress. This is the first semester in over a decade that students haven't had a single day off from classes and is the semester in which a break is the most necessary. Constant classes and work isn't sustainable and is creating long term burn out. In several classes, professors have given emotional well-being surveys where every student reported some level of distress. This is alarming and steps need to be taken to mitigate the stress our campus community is under. 

A mental health day off from classes would allow students and professors to either catch up on work or take a day of rest without fear of getting behind. Every other NESCAC school has had some form of days off this semester. There is no reason why Trinity College should not give their students the same time off that students at schools of comparable size, location, and academic rigor have had. To not do so is disregarding the emotional needs of our community.