UPEI student union considering asking for fall break

The UPEIStudent Union is considering making a proposal to the university's senate to create a fall reading week.

It's something that several other universities across the country have adopted, including nearby Mount Allison.

One of the main reasons is to protect the mental health of students.

"This time of year, you get a lot of fatigue, and you get students being really tired, really overwhelmed," said John Rix, vice presidentof the student union.

"You could get some anxiety problems, especially with the amount of workload that can come with it."

Informal social media polls among students have been showing 65 to70 per cent of them are in favour of the idea.

"It would give me more time to spend with my family, because I definitely miss them a lot," said Ardeth Morgan.

"A good set week every year might be an idea," thought Jesse Boelhouwer.

"In early November or something, maybe coinciding with Remembrance Day would be a good idea."

Others had a variety of reasons for being against the idea.

"Whenever there's a break, I think to myself, OK, I have time to study," said Eduardo Agger.

"But then I never do it. Most of the time I'm too lazy to study."

"I personally don't really need more of a break. Some people might, they might be OKwith it, but I think the time we get off is enough," said Pragya Chowdhury.

Drew MacEachern sees it as a move in the wrong direction.

"A proposal like this is kind of a long-term trend towards switching the university from a focus on academics, to what could be classified as a more consumer-oriented culture," he suggested.

"A focus on student life instead of academics."

The student union says there is still a lot of discussion yet to happen about the idea.

The unionwould have to come up with a proposal and vote on it, and then take it to the UPEI Senate for discussion and a vote.

That process could take a couple of years.