More 8 a.m., Friday classes?

More students might have no other choice than to walk blurry-eyed into more 8 a.m. and Friday classes.\nGeology professor and Bloomington Faculty Council President Lisa Pratt said that because of concerns about the poor overall condition of classrooms, the University is thinking about ways to free up classrooms for maintenance and remodeling, which could mean more classes will be held at 8 a.m. and on Fridays. \nThe problem was brought up at a Bloomington Faculty Council meeting early in \nSeptember. \nThe challenge is to find a way for that to happen without resorting to building new classrooms. Classroom use is at capacity, and even over capacity – except early in the morning, during the evenings and on Fridays.\nThe idea, Pratt said, is to schedule more classes on Fridays and at 8 a.m. and curb 75-minute Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes, so scheduling for later in the day is less congested. Pratt said the summers are too short to do major remodeling, which takes six to nine months.\nPratt said she, as a professor, has had problems scheduling classrooms for a lecture and then finding a place and time for the lab. She also said scheduling lecture halls was difficult.\n“Those classrooms are in particularly short supply,” she said.\nSenior Elliot Hayden said he doesn’t have a problem with 8 a.m. classes. He said it might be better if students have earlier classes because they won’t stay up as late causing mischief, yet he said he’d have trouble with it.\n“I’m sure I’d end up hating it,” he said. \nHayden also said he hadn’t noticed any significant problems with rooms besides the “artwork” that some students engrave in wood chairs.\nFreshman Christina Gilligan said she doesn’t like 8 a.m. classes. She said she also heard a rumor about 7:30 a.m. classes, which has her worried.\n“I feel like a lot of students don’t get enough sleep already,” she said.\nGilligan also said some students have to take a bus or walk so they have to get up even earlier. She said most businesses start at 9 a.m., and that college should mirror the real world.