Wacky start for winter quarter

In a world where Friday is Monday and Monday is Monday again, Ohio State students might feel as if they have been through a time warp.

But no, it is just the beginning of winter quarter.

Winter quarter starts on Thursday, Jan. 3. The confusion starts the next day when students are expected to attend their Monday classes on Friday instead of their Friday classes, according to the University Registrar Web site. The schedule returns to normal the following Monday.

Jack Miner, associate registrar, said the change will provide more class time to account for the Monday class lost to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

By beginning the quarter with a short two-day week, OSU is edging out several other Ohio universities. Ohio University, which is also on the quarter system, will begin Jan. 7, along with Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo and the University of Cincinnati.

Miami University and Kent State University will start classes Jan. 14.

Miner said Miami University regularly makes similar changes to their schedule, but OSU has not done so in more than 10 years.

Delia Dumitrescu, a fifth-year graduate student who teaches political science, said she does not see the purpose of adding the extra Monday class.

Dumitrescu said she usually spends about 20 minutes going through the syllabus the first day of classes and teaches for the remainder of the class time. Because her first class is now on a Friday morning, Dumitrescu said she does not expect it to be as productive.

"I don't really expect a large turnout," she said.

Because of the constructive Friday, Aaron Rothey, a junior in English, now has three classes that day.

"I think most professors will just breeze through the syllabus," he said.

Laura Willis, a junior in communication, said she agreed. She said she would rather go to work and make money than attend a class where the professor just goes through the syllabus. Many students and professors might have other commitments and priorities, she said.

"I think professors will have conflicting schedules like their students," Willis said.

Miner said the school announced the schedule change in the spring in anticipation of student issues. He said the change is early enough in the quarter that student schedules should be flexible enough to accommodate the schedule change.

Most professors appreciate having the extra Monday class time, Miner said.

"The faculty has been supportive of the idea of maintaining that classroom time," he said.

Alaina Busch can be reached at busch.61@osu.edu.