The Independent Newspaper Serving Notre Dame and Saint Marys BOLUME

In an effort to help students relax and prepare for finals, Saint Mary’s will continue to observe its study day by not holding classes Friday. The first study day was imple­ mented for the 2003 fall semester after many years of student gov­ ernment campaigning. Two years ago, the Academic Affairs commit­ tee approved a proposal to give students the Friday before finals off. On the study day, professors are prohibited from holding a manda­ to ry c lass session . T h e re a re reports of teachers holding review sessions on this day, but none have been confirmed as mandato­ ry class sessions. “Saint Mary’s was in the minori­ ty in the fact that it did not have a s tudy day, co m p ared to o the r institutions of higher learning,” Mary Pauline Moran, vice presi­ dent of the Board of Governance, said. “Considering the amount of work students have in the last two weeks of each semester, I think the study day offers a little relief for students.” The purpose of the day is to allow students time to prepare their notes, study or simply relax p rio r to the ons laugh t of final examinations. Concern over how productive students actually were on the study day originally led to questions over its continuation. Students were invited to take a survey at the conclusion of the 2003-04 school year to indicate their feelings about the study day, and how they took advantage of the ir time out of class. Survey results are currently being evalu­ ated by both the administration and the student government, and should be available soon. “It is my belief that the study days will continue in the future,” s tu d e n t body p re s id en t S a rah