We Need a Break
We Need a Break
The Issue
The University at Buffalo decided to take away spring recess from its students and faculty in the Spring 2021 semester. We have been living through a worldwide pandemic for a year. We are isolated, we are fatigued, we are burned out. For UB to decide that students and faculty don't deserve a week to recharge and catch up on assignments is a callous and cruel decision. Even under normal circumstances, to not afford any breaks during a semester is indicative of poor judgement to say the least. UB claims they are concerned with their students mental health and general well-being, but have only proven the opposite with this decision. A study from Texas A&M University showed that 71% of students indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak¹. On top of all of the added stress that has come with living in a pandemic, we have our normal course load. A student taking fifteen credits is expected to spend 45 hours outside of the classroom studying and working. This doesn't include the hours per week spent in Zoom meetings. This number only accounts for fifteen credits, and many of us are taking more. Others are working full or part-time jobs, or need a chance to apply for work over the summer. We have little to no social contact and no time to focus on our physical or mental well-being. A break is absolutely necessary, this year more than ever. We need a break to catch up with our assignments. We need a break to prepare for summer internships. We need a break to spend more than a half hour away from our screens. We need a break to go outside. We need a break to see our families. We need a break to avoid a breakdown.
We understand and respect that this semester, like the few previous, have been complicated to plan and that we need to complete fifteen weeks to finish the semester. We propose that while scheduled zoom sessions continue as normal, all coursework and due dates are paused for a week, and syllabus schedules adjusted to accommodate the changes. UB needs to show its students that it both takes its health commitments and student's voices seriously. Other SUNY Campuses (Binghamton, Geneseo, Albany, and New Paltz) have all accounted for the lack of a break and made various accommodations. It is well past time UB shows the same concern.
The Issue
The University at Buffalo decided to take away spring recess from its students and faculty in the Spring 2021 semester. We have been living through a worldwide pandemic for a year. We are isolated, we are fatigued, we are burned out. For UB to decide that students and faculty don't deserve a week to recharge and catch up on assignments is a callous and cruel decision. Even under normal circumstances, to not afford any breaks during a semester is indicative of poor judgement to say the least. UB claims they are concerned with their students mental health and general well-being, but have only proven the opposite with this decision. A study from Texas A&M University showed that 71% of students indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak¹. On top of all of the added stress that has come with living in a pandemic, we have our normal course load. A student taking fifteen credits is expected to spend 45 hours outside of the classroom studying and working. This doesn't include the hours per week spent in Zoom meetings. This number only accounts for fifteen credits, and many of us are taking more. Others are working full or part-time jobs, or need a chance to apply for work over the summer. We have little to no social contact and no time to focus on our physical or mental well-being. A break is absolutely necessary, this year more than ever. We need a break to catch up with our assignments. We need a break to prepare for summer internships. We need a break to spend more than a half hour away from our screens. We need a break to go outside. We need a break to see our families. We need a break to avoid a breakdown.
We understand and respect that this semester, like the few previous, have been complicated to plan and that we need to complete fifteen weeks to finish the semester. We propose that while scheduled zoom sessions continue as normal, all coursework and due dates are paused for a week, and syllabus schedules adjusted to accommodate the changes. UB needs to show its students that it both takes its health commitments and student's voices seriously. Other SUNY Campuses (Binghamton, Geneseo, Albany, and New Paltz) have all accounted for the lack of a break and made various accommodations. It is well past time UB shows the same concern.
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Petition created on March 19, 2021