In the midst of Dead Week, I sit in a crowded library and realize that in an hour or so I have to get up and go to class. Wait, class?

It’s Dead Week. I shouldn’t have class, or I should at least have the option not to go without being penalized. When I was a freshman, I assumed the main purpose of Dead Week was to give students, like myself, time to study without the stress of assignments and daily class.

The daily routine should be sleep, study, sleep, eat and then study some more. Some optional class should be offered to answer questions, but actual class should not be held. I stuck to this routine freshman year, but all of a sudden things have changed drastically.

The word “dead” essentially means dormant or inactive, so that is exactly what campus should be. I shouldn’t see students rushing to class, looking so depressed about the idea of it. Around this time my body and my mind physically just want to be at home and not in a classroom, despite that next week I’ll be in a classroom for two hours looking at multiple answers that all seem correct.

Yet, instead of preparing my mind for the week ahead, I have to have a pep talk with myself every morning before I decide to get up and commute to school. The only place where actual learning should take place is the libraries and computer labs.

I am not saying this because I am lazy or just want to catch up on sleep – even though the latter would not be such a horrible thing. I simply want what I, and I’m sure many other students, have become accustomed to. Last year I remember barely leaving my room during Dead Week, and Domino’s was my constant companion, besides my laptop and countless books. I don’t know if it is because my classes became harder or teachers are in more of a time crunch, but I would like the regularly scheduled Dead Week to come back pronto.

Amber Patterson is a sophomore majoring in marketing and public relations. Her column runs on Thursdays.