Students unhappy about cancelled Spring Break due to COVID
By Cindy Lazo | Published by November 19, 2020
As the rate of COVID-19 positive cases in New Jersey increases, Kean University announced an update regarding the Spring 2021 Academic Calendar that has received much backlash from students.
In an email sent out to faculty, staff and students on October 23, the University announced that there will not be a Spring Break for the upcoming semester, with classes continuing uninterrupted until the semester ends on May 5, a week earlier than scheduled.
Courtesy of Kean University’s Instagram
Instagram post on the spring semester update.
The University also announced the extension of remote and hybrid learning for the upcoming semester, to ensure that students ‘continue to receive a robust education while balancing health and safety during the ongoing pandemic’.
The announcement on the cancellation of Spring Break blew up on Kean’s Instagram account as students posted their opinions about the change.
“This is ridiculous and this is ruining people[s] college experience” one user said.
Photo by Cindy Lazo
Instagram comments on the update.
Another user talked about how the fall semester was online for the first three weeks before face-to-face classes began and that after Thanksgiving break classes will be back online, saying why this method will not be applied for the next semester.
Margaret McCorry, Director of Media Relations, said that President Repollet’s top priority is the safety of the entire Kean community and by eliminating Spring Break and ending the Spring semester a week early, the University is reducing the likelihood that students, faculty and staff will become infected with COVID-19 through travel and return to spread that infection on campus.
“University leaders are currently looking at other ways to provide mental health breaks throughout the Spring semester,” McCorry said, “including a few wellness Wednesdays that will allow all students and faculty to take the day off from schoolwork and focus on mental and physical health.”
Photo by Cindy Lazo
Instagram comments on the update.
While many are upset by this decision, not every student shares the same sentiments.
Arnold Rojas, a senior majoring in Molecular Biology, said that it’s perfectly logical, given the difficulties created by COVID-19.
Tasha Dowbachuk, a senior majoring in Communications-Journalism and minoring in Sociology, said that she’s happy to see that the university is prioritizing students’ health and safety.
“It can be disappointing since Spring Break is great for recharging, but it can be seen as a good idea because it eliminates the possibility of spreading the virus” Dowbachuk said, “but it sucks to see that long, relaxing break being taken away.”
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