Word: calendaring
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...particularly dismayed when we realize that the Business School, Harvard's bastion of conservatism, decided last fall to reform its calendar in a dramatic effort to serve student needs...
...them? Their semester ends before break, and they have few teaching responsibilities during the reading and exam period. They essentially have free time to work on their research, travel, or spend time with their families from the end of December to the beginning of February. Of course, under the calendar systems of some other colleges, professors have similarly lengthy breaks and hold exams before break. The University of Delaware's school year begins and ends around the time Harvard's does and holds exams in December, yet its professors also have the month of January free from teaching...
...before their children are in school. Of course, the semester could begin when the local schools begin, right after Labor Day. Or the administration could look into what other colleges do to provide day care for the children of professors. Day care should not be a stumbling block to calendar reform...
Another potential glitch in calendar reform is the students, who might not be willing to compromise. In order to move exams to December, several things would have to change. First, the school year would need to begin at the end of August or right after Labor Day. Second, the University might stop observing some one-day holidays, such as Columbus Day. Finally, reading period would have to be somewhat shortened...
...times of change, and Harvard must be willing to change in order to improve student life. Calendar reform won't happen, though, unless students come forward and express their willingness to sacrifice a little for a better schedule. If you want to keep up Harvard's tradition of complaining, complain to an administrator. Complain to a council rep. Complain to a campus publication. It's a great way to procrastinate, and it might just get you a better break next year...