Winter Break Cut Short For Kean Students I Published December 27

By:  Jordan Beaudoin 

Kean University is gearing up for this year’s Winter Break. However, the timing of the break is a bit different from usual. Students will be returning on January 13 instead of the end of the month. 

All semester long, students have spent a lot of time with their heads in their books, taking quizzes, writing essays, or doing projects to get the grades they need to pass each class. Winter Break is usually when students can be themselves and hang out with friends and family whom they haven’t seen since the semester began in September. It’s also a time to do as they please. 

Things are slightly different for Winter Break here at the university this year. Winter Break usually runs for about a month, and then students return to the main campus and the satellite campuses feeling refreshed from the break they had just gotten. The break usually starts before Christmas, and students return at the end of January. This year, the difference is that students leave for their winter breaks right before Christmas as usual; however, they must return to campus in the second week of January. 

For many college students, the length of this year’s winter break could be better. Many feel that it will interfere with their plans and prevent them from getting the break they need to feel refreshed before returning to school. Some of the Kean Ocean Campus students shared their thoughts on the shortened break for this year. 

We spoke to three students about their thoughts on this year’s shortened break. 

Gianna Colasanto, a junior psychology major, had something to say about this year’s short winter break. 

“I don’t like at all how short the break is this year. Every year, OCC gives an entire month off and that’s how it always should be. Out-of-state colleges get close to that long break, and we should, too. we all deserve a mental break from the stress of college.” Colasanto said. 

A shortened break does affect students’ mental health. 

Another student, Theo McCue, a junior business major studying HR management, commented on this year’s shortened break. 

“It is honestly really disappointing. I need to get my wisdom teeth removed, so I am not going to get a lot of time to myself for the holidays.” McCue said. 

A third student also stepped in to discuss their feelings about winter break. 

Aidan Caridad, a junior studying finance, had this to say. 

“I feel like we deserve the same break we have always had. I honestly didn’t know about the break being like this until I was informed a few weeks ago; I thought it was standard for Kean University practices and a bit appalling.” Caridad said. 

Several students feel the same way about this year’s break. 

These students all pointed out that the shortened break can also affect their and other students’ mental health. College students are usually under a lot of pressure, which can sometimes affect them mentally and emotionally. 

In speaking with some of the University’s higher-ups, we got some insight into why the college is proceeding with this year. Many speculate they want to triple the semester, while others believe they just want to shorten the breaks. 

Speaking to some of the higher-ups at the Kean Ocean Campus, they explained why the college is shortening the break this year. 

Several sources have stated throughout the university that the college came back earlier than usual this year during the fall semester. Therefore, we end earlier in the middle of December, when all students’ grades must be in by then. There were no snow days to be accounted for; the only day that students and professors had off this semester was Election Day, and that is being made up at the very end of the semester to make sure all days of the semester are met and used. However, the official date closes out the fall semester on December 22, and the return to campus for the spring semester is on Monday, January 13. Precisely two weeks right down to the day. 

After this discussion, these students fully agreed on how long the winter break should be. 

“I personally think 3-4 weeks is a good amount of time for a college winter break. It’s longer than the holidays. That way, once they are over, students still have much time to themselves”, Colasanto said. 

Students need time to themselves to decompress from the semester. 

“I think the 4 weeks that OCC does is perfect. You deal with the stress of the holidays the first week and then get three weeks to decompress and do what you want and need to. You can also get 40 more hours at work if you work to pay for school, and that could change a lot for students. I fear with this short break, I will not be able to enjoy friends and family.” McCue said. 

That’s what many students look forward to during the breaks, too, seeing those they last saw a while ago and working to make money for the new semester. 

“Ideally, a month because that gives us more than enough time to get back into the swing of the semester. It gives us time to enjoy the break, make money, enjoy the holidays, and not worry about when class is starting ”, Caridad said. 

Each has plans that must be rearranged to match how things are now. 

Other colleges and universities have a month-long break. It seems unfair, but many don’t realize that their spring semester will end sooner if they return earlier. Two weeks is pretty short, but it’s longer than students think. They must get used to the shorter break in the coming years. 

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