Reinventing the Calendar

Harvard students are known to be among the country's best and brightest. One thing that we often seem to be best at is complaining. Among the most frequently referred to complaints over the past several years has been Harvard's schedule, which places fall semester exams after winter break.

As we trudge through January reading period, it seems fitting to discuss the issue of academic calendar reform. This issue is being considered even now by administrators and members of the Undergraduate Council. But the debate isn't a new one, and the reforms have not been forthcoming in the past because the issue grows more stale with each passing year.

As recently as several decades ago, many colleges held exams after winter break. Most of these colleges began to make what seems (from a student's point of view), a logical change, moving exams to the end of December.

On the surface this seems to be simple enough. I haven't met a student who is against the idea, although I'm certain some are. In fact, in a survey the council conducted last year, 71 percent of Harvard students expressed a desire for having exams before break. But the apparent simplicity and student support for the idea of moving exams is not enough.

For one thing, there's tradition. Harvard has had exams after winter break since the 1920s, and as with many things around here, if it ain't broke, it won't be fixed. Harvard has been able to maintain its international stature and continue to draw top caliber students, even with exams after winter break. Who would turn down Harvard just because of its exam schedule? I certainly didn't.

Tradition, though, is not the only thing holding up calendar reform. There are questions of logistics, faculty support, and the likelihood that students would compromise on other issues in order to have exams before break.

The logistical questions--those dealing with the specific details of rescheduling exams and restructuring Harvard's calendar--seem to have little grounding. It is hard to believe that every other college in the country but Princeton has managed to schedule exams before vacation, and Harvard cannot. And Princeton, for its part, is close to approving a new calendar, which will include exams before break.

The faculty question, though, is an important and difficulty one. Professors are quite happy with the current system.

Who could blame them? Their semester ends before break, and they have few teaching responsibilities during the reading and exam period. They essentially have free time to work on their research, travel, or spend time with their families from the end of December to the beginning of February. Of course, under the calendar systems of some other colleges, professors have similarly lengthy breaks and hold exams before break. The University of Delaware's school year begins and ends around the time Harvard's does and holds exams in December, yet its professors also have the month of January free from teaching.

An earlier start to the school year may make it difficult for professors to find child care if the Harvard semester begins before Labor Day and, therefore, before their children are in school. Of course, the semester could begin when the local schools begin, right after Labor Day. Or the administration could look into what other colleges do to provide day care for the children of professors. Day care should not be a stumbling block to calendar reform.

Another potential glitch in calendar reform is the students, who might not be willing to compromise. In order to move exams to December, several things would have to change. First, the school year would need to begin at the end of August or right after Labor Day. Second, the University might stop observing some one-day holidays, such as Columbus Day. Finally, reading period would have to be somewhat shortened.

Beginning the school year earlier would not create a great problem. The summer could last as long as it currently does because the springs semester, which could start earlier, could also end earlier. Harvard students could get home earlier in order to enjoy more of the spring weather, enjoy their friends' company and enjoy greater opportunities in job hunting.

Losing some of those one-day holidays would not be a tragedy. As most of us know, sections that fall on holidays are almost always rescheduled anyway. It would be in the students' interests to give up these one-day vacations for a longer, less stressful, holiday break.

What about our sacred reading period? Few students, with the possible exception of first semester first-years, use reading period to its fullest. Yes, we have papers due during reading period. Yes, we do catch up on the reading that we have not done all semester. But few of us study every moment of every day during reading period. Many students stay home for part of reading period, or relax for the first few days. In addition, shortening reading period does not give anyone an unfair advantage. Each of us would have fewer days of study time, and would therefore be forced to study more efficiently.

The 90's are times of change, and Harvard must be willing to change in order to improve student life. Calendar reform won't happen, though, unless students come forward and express their willingness to sacrifice a little for a better schedule. If you want to keep up Harvard's tradition of complaining, complain to an administrator. Complain to a council rep. Complain to a campus publication. It's a great way to procrastinate, and it might just get you a better break next year.