Dead week alive, kicking

It happens the week before finals, like an oasis in a harsh desert. It is a week of no major assignments and no tests. It is a time of breathing easy and even-paced studying. Dead week has started on campus.\nDead week is the week before finals, usually free of major or final exams except for practical tests in lab sections, and any papers due this week should have been assigned well in advance, according to the HPER 2004 Online Newsletter. \nThe idea behind this is to give a week off from big tests and assignments so that students will have time to study before final exams next week. Most students understand the concept and basic rules for dead week. Freshman Rebecca Gabriel said she has not heard much about the week but feels her classes are lightening up on the work.\n"We aren't doing anything in class this week except reviewing," Gabriel said.\nNot all students have classes that follow the dead week tradition. Senior Rachel Etchison has some pressing assignments due this week.\n"I have a major paper that I've been piecing together throughout the semester and a project on that paper, but no final in that class," Etchison said. "I also have a test in a class that has a five-page paper due (during) finals week."\nThe dorms will make accommodations for the extra studying this week.\n"On most of the floors, quiet hours change," said senior Scott VanVoorhis, a resident assistant in Forest Quad. "They change from starting at midnight to starting at 10 p.m. so that people can study more."\nThe extra studying might change the behavior of students under pressure.\n"Everyone's busier and more stressed," Etchison said. "There's less fun time and more time for writing papers and studying."\nThe temporary lack of tests and projects might also create the opposite affect since students do not have to work on concrete assignments.\n"The residents on my floor are a lot more social and not focused on class," VanVoorhis said. "It's because they don't have as much work this week."\nThe goal of dead week is to give students more time to concentrate on finals, but whether this happens in practice is left up to the student.\n"I think dead week helps people focus," VanVoorhis said. "Start studying now!"\nOthers, like Etchison, feel that dead week is ineffective in allowing students more study time. She said that genuine effort is required to stay focused on finals.\n"My advice is to set realistic goals every day on what you need to get done," Etchison said. "Then reward yourself with fun activities when you keep your schedule."\nBy Jorie Slodki\nIndiana Daily Student\nIt happens the week before finals, like an oasis in a harsh desert. It is a week of no major assignments and no tests. It is a time of breathing easy and even-paced studying. Dead week has started on campus.\nDead week is the week before finals, usually free of major or final exams except for practical tests in lab sections, and any papers due this week should have been assigned well in advance, according to the HPER 2004 Online Newsletter. \nThe idea behind this is to give a week off from big tests and assignments so that students will have time to study before final exams next week. Most students understand the concept and basic rules for dead week. Freshman Rebecca Gabriel said she has not heard much about the week but feels her classes are lightening up on the work.\n"We aren't doing anything in class this week except reviewing," Gabriel said.\nNot all students have classes that follow the dead week tradition. Senior Rachel Etchison has some pressing assignments due this week.\n"I have a major paper that I've been piecing together throughout the semester and a project on that paper, but no final in that class," Etchison said. "I also have a test in a class that has a five-page paper due (during) finals week."\nThe dorms will make accommodations for the extra studying this week.\n"On most of the floors, quiet hours change," said senior Scott VanVoorhis, a resident assistant in Forest Quad. "They change from starting at midnight to starting at 10 p.m. so that people can study more."\nThe extra studying might change the behavior of students under pressure.\n"Everyone's busier and more stressed," Etchison said. "There's less fun time and more time for writing papers and studying."\nThe temporary lack of tests and projects might also create the opposite affect since students do not have to work on concrete assignments.\n"The residents on my floor are a lot more social and not focused on class," VanVoorhis said. "It's because they don't have as much work this week."\nThe goal of dead week is to give students more time to concentrate on finals, but whether this happens in practice is left up to the student.\n"I think dead week helps people focus," VanVoorhis said. "Start studying now!"\nOthers, like Etchison, feel that dead week is ineffective in allowing students more study time. She said that genuine effort is required to stay focused on finals.\n"My advice is to set realistic goals every day on what you need to get done," Etchison said. "Then reward yourself with fun activities when you keep your schedule."\n-- Contact staff writer Jorie Slodki at jslodki@indiana.edu.