The length of the freshman winter break is our primary reasoning for requesting the Citizen Science program to be shortened. As first-year students who are still adjusting to college life and being away from home for extended periods of time, we feel that we deserve and require a break between semesters that spans an adequate amount of time. I’ve personally spoken to many students who feel homesick and still feel that they are in the transitory process between home life and college life. As much as we love Bard, many of us still don’t feel ‘at home’ here. Of course, that transitory process will only happen with time, but the lack of academic breaks allotted to first-year students at Bard only causes that period of adjustment to decelerate. First-years were required at the beginning of the fall term to leave home three weeks early, and with the minimal winter break that we are allotted, we will have been at Bard for a total of 35 weeks during our freshman year. That’s 6 weeks longer than the average first-year college student. Although we recognize the excellence and necessary longevity of the Language and Thinking Program, we feel that requiring first-year students to leave yet another Intersession three weeks early is overwhelmingly demanding. We feel that the objectives of the Citizen Science program can still be accomplished if the program is shortened by one week, while also satisfying the majority of the freshman class.
Updates
November 19, 2014
The administration continues to ignore our burnout while forcing this exhausting schedule on us. The momentum behind this petition proves they cannot hide from our demands any longer.
18 Comments
SHIT SCI WAS THE WORST THREE WEEKS I EVER SPENT AT BARD. HAVE MERCY ON THIS NEXT CLASS OF FRESHMEN
For the sake of our mental health, please. There are many us who live far away and can't go home often. Breaks are very important, and every single day helps
How can we even say that Citizen Science is the counterpart of L&T. L&T was primarily a segue into the college experience and classroom experience. While I understand the importance of a basic understanding of science, and more specifically infectious disease, I think maintaining mental health is more important. I personally was never informed of Citizen Science before enrollment at Bard. I am not alone in this, many Freshmen I have spoken to were not aware of the program. I recognize that the Bard faculty has worked hard in organizing the program. We obviously cannot cancel the entire thing. But shortening it by one week would be enormously appreciated. Please give us a longer break!!
As a Ukrainian orthodox I have to come to citizen science for Christmas (January 7). It's massively depressing. I just want to be with my family for the holidays.
Winter break is a crucial time for me to make money for school. Citizen science gets in the way of that.
Come on. I want to stay six more weeks in Boston
Devote my 6 weeks life for Ebola. Ha
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The length of the freshman winter break is our primary reasoning for requesting the Citizen Science program to be shortened. As first-year students who are still adjusting to college life and being away from home for extended periods of time, we feel that we deserve and require a break between semesters that spans an adequate amount of time. I’ve personally spoken to many students who feel homesick and still feel that they are in the transitory process between home life and college life. As much as we love Bard, many of us still don’t feel ‘at home’ here. Of course, that transitory process will only happen with time, but the lack of academic breaks allotted to first-year students at Bard only causes that period of adjustment to decelerate. First-years were required at the beginning of the fall term to leave home three weeks early, and with the minimal winter break that we are allotted, we will have been at Bard for a total of 35 weeks during our freshman year. That’s 6 weeks longer than the average first-year college student. Although we recognize the excellence and necessary longevity of the Language and Thinking Program, we feel that requiring first-year students to leave yet another Intersession three weeks early is overwhelmingly demanding. We feel that the objectives of the Citizen Science program can still be accomplished if the program is shortened by one week, while also satisfying the majority of the freshman class.
Updates
November 19, 2014
The administration continues to ignore our burnout while forcing this exhausting schedule on us. The momentum behind this petition proves they cannot hide from our demands any longer.
18 Comments
My professor was really socially awkward and could not hold the class's attention. Discussions were dominated by science majors, which made class miserable for me. I had more homework in a single night of Citz Sci than I do on a regular night during the semester. I also resented that fact that I was ripped away from my loved ones so soon after the holidays.
SHIT SCI WAS THE WORST THREE WEEKS I EVER SPENT AT BARD. HAVE MERCY ON THIS NEXT CLASS OF FRESHMEN
For the sake of our mental health, please. There are many us who live far away and can't go home often. Breaks are very important, and every single day helps
How can we even say that Citizen Science is the counterpart of L&T. L&T was primarily a segue into the college experience and classroom experience. While I understand the importance of a basic understanding of science, and more specifically infectious disease, I think maintaining mental health is more important. I personally was never informed of Citizen Science before enrollment at Bard. I am not alone in this, many Freshmen I have spoken to were not aware of the program. I recognize that the Bard faculty has worked hard in organizing the program. We obviously cannot cancel the entire thing. But shortening it by one week would be enormously appreciated. Please give us a longer break!!
As a Ukrainian orthodox I have to come to citizen science for Christmas (January 7). It's massively depressing. I just want to be with my family for the holidays.
Winter break is a crucial time for me to make money for school. Citizen science gets in the way of that.
Come on. I want to stay six more weeks in Boston
Devote my 6 weeks life for Ebola. Ha
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My professor was really socially awkward and could not hold the class's attention. Discussions were dominated by science majors, which made class miserable for me. I had more homework in a single night of Citz Sci than I do on a regular night during the semester. I also resented that fact that I was ripped away from my loved ones so soon after the holidays.