Street Interviews: Should NIU have a fall break?

January 22, 2023

DeKALB –While NIU engages in a Thanksgiving break every November, the university does not have fall break, as some other schools do.

Whether or not to implement one is a debate that continues, but the issue is tricky. While an extra day to sleep in is always worth celebrating, adding a fall break may have financial consequences or require time to be taken away from winter, spring or summer breaks.

Would two autumn days off be worth the cost? NIU students hold a mix of opinions.

Owen Vaughn, a freshman majoring in recording arts, sitting in Einstein Bros. Bagels at NIU Founders Library. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Rykia Armstead, a freshman who’s currently undecided with their major. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Tony Kasa, a freshman majoring in journalism. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Ariana Nova, a freshman business administration major at Holmes Student Center. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Kennedy Smith (left), a senior majoring in public health, and Arianna Ramos (right), a junior majoring in political science, are members of Women of Poise and Substance: Chapter of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Kennedy Smith and Arianna Ramos

Should NIU have a fall break?

Smith: “We both think that a fall break is needed, because… throughout the pandemic, it gives students opportunities just to have a break, in both semesters. I think that’s very important just so that they can have some time to think about their mental health, to spend time with family, because a lot of students here are from out-of-state, or family is very far. So I think that it’s just very important for them to be surrounded around love, and stuff like that isn’t here on campus.”

Ramos: “Just to expand on that a little bit more… what we kind of think is with unprecedented times and all these unprecedented challenges, we have to kind of look at a new solution. Like traditionally we have that Thanksgiving break, but it’s so short… Like I said, with new problems, we need new solutions, and I think a fall break will be a good solution to that.”

Do you think there would be any downfalls to a fall break?

Smith: “I think that, looking at the calendar, I don’t know… if it’s really realistic, because fall semester goes by so quick. We already have Thanksgiving in there, and then we are off on holidays at the beginning of the semester. So I don’t think it’s very realistic, so I feel like the challenges will be trying to fit it in…But I feel like if there’s a will there’s a way.”

Ramos: “Yeah, I feel like I think the only way for it to work, really, would be to start school earlier, and then… but that defeats the purpose of having that break because now we have more days and now we need another break… But I think maybe, to help students – because we are for the break to help students – I think something that would help students even more is having that support from your professors, and your advisors, and those connections. So I really think as long as the university continues to improve on those facilities and student services, that’s how we cater to our population rather than including another break.”