Trading Labor Day for more days off

The last 10 weeks here at NYU have been a relentless academic marathon. Without a single day off from class, I feel like the last guy in the race, gasping for breath as he hobbles to the finish line of Thanksgiving recess, mildly surprised that he hasn't quit yet. (My high school track coach can vouch that I know this feeling well.)

Due to a late Labor Day, the fall semester didn't begin until Sept. 8, and it extends until Dec. 23 this year. Even with the late end of the semester, NYU was forced to cut its well-placed Columbus Day holiday in order to maintain the standard length of a semester, resulting in this 10-week academic endurance test. With such a tight calendar, there's little else NYU could have done. But that explanation is no comfort to students who are exhausted both physically and mentally.

With another late Labor Day next year, NYU needs to rethink its fall semester academic calendar, not as a matter of tradition, but as a matter of student wellness. In that vein, I propose starting classes a week before Labor Day and providing time for days off during the semester.

Many schools, including Harvard and Yale, follow a similar calendar. By starting before Labor Day, their students are able to enjoy a week-long fall recess, Columbus Day and Veteran's Day holidays during the semester, or a longer reading period. Any of these options would be more than welcome.

Under the current academic calendar, students have little, if any, time during the semester to step back from their hectic routine of jobs and extracurricular activities, to refresh themselves and to review their studies. Student wellness is bound to suffer. As a student who missed class only for academic competitions last year, I can attest to this effect of the academic calendar. Two weeks ago, I was forced to miss class and to call out sick from work when the grind of the previous eight weeks finally caught up to me and left me in bed for the entire day.

Even a single day off works wonders and could have prevented such troubles. Not only does it refresh students physically with additional hours of sleep, but it also provides a much-needed mental and psychological break from the academic rigors of NYU.

Given the otherwise tight calendar, the only way to provide days off during the semester is to start the semester before Labor Day. This early end to the summer is but a small sacrifice, both for students and administrators, in light of the benefits. Taking away one week of the summer to gain 10 weeks of reduced stress and burnout sounds like a good deal to me.

The only impediment to such a change would be tradition. Although it has little inherent relation to school or the seasons, Labor Day is often seen as the last bastion of summer, the last indication that fall is on its way, the last weekend of sun-filled joy before the drudgery of school. But that popular image is misleading. Freshmen are already required to come to NYU a week before Labor Day, and many upperclassmen choose to do so as well. Celebrating Labor Day is of little consequence to them.

NYU should not be held back by tradition, especially when it comes to matters of student wellness. Instead of making its academic calendar aesthetically pleasing, the university should fashion it to maximize student wellness. Only by starting classes before Labor Day and by providing days off during the semester can this objective be met.

Pratik Mehta is deputy opinion editor.