Airing Our Grievances
graphic by alexa deyo
Who else feels like this semester is especially demanding and mentally grueling? We have a quickly arriving —and daunting as fuck— election, a pandemic, and an expedited university schedule. To summarize, being a student in this environment truly feels like hell.
It’s prime chaos time at this point during the semester: midterms have just passed, and professors have begun to whip out the terrifying words, “group project.” Yes, even within the midst of all the madness, group projects still remain to be all-time favorites among professors. On the other hand, our individual assignments seem to be a never ending list no matter how many hours are spent laboring away at the computer screen. The accelerated schedule places students as burdens of the pandemic and doesn’t allow them a moment to pause, not for any reason.
The expedited class schedule has several unrelenting consequences, like allowing for class on the weekends. This not only inconveniences professors from time off, but also pushes students to complete assignments within shorter time frames and disregards the weekend as a student’s time to complete assignments or take a much-needed mental break. It seems especially important in today’s climate to take a break from work, news, screens, etc., in order to stay mentally stable. And that is okay! It isn’t okay when you are not allotted this time, and instead have to complete extra coursework or attend extra classes on these valuable free days. It’s physically exhausting and mentally draining.
With an already shorter amount of time to complete the same assignments from prior semesters (w/o expedited schedule), and extra classes on the weekends, where is the time to get anything done? It’s also important to point out that the expedited schedule doesn’t take students who work on the weekends into account. A student should not have to risk harming their grade because they have to show up to a shift. Also, as we’re sure you already know, the schedule allots class on the weekends three different times throughout the semester! That could be three different shifts that a student might have to sacrifice, given their schedule. On a student’s pay and with personal bills, that just isn’t feasible.
On a side note, group projects during pandemic season is a no-go. So, on top of finding the time to work, go to class multiple days a week, and complete compiling assignments, we must also find time to meet with four-plus people with the same chaotic schedule? We’re sorry Kent, but that isn’t realistic at this time. During a normal semester, yes we understand the necessity. But, right now?
We’re inundated. The accelerated university schedule is only more detrimental to students. And with no spring break planned for next semester, the future isn’t looking any brighter unless something changes. Although the university acknowledges the difficult times among us, it seems like the accommodations and flexibility for students that they promised are absent.