Dal students to get new study day

New day off will give students a four-day weekend next November.

The DSU says the new day is aimed to give students more time to catch up on their studies. Photo: Scott Lilwall

Dalhousie University students will be able to enjoy another long weekend next fall.

The university's senate unanimously passed a motion at Monday's meeting to give students another day off in November.

The next "Study Day" is set for Friday, Nov. 12, 2010. Along with the Remembrance Day statutory holiday, this will give students a four-day weekend.

"The policy is open enough that (the date) can change," said Dalhousie Student Union Vice-President (Education) Rob LeForte, who spearheaded the effort for the union. "But the principle is to make it coincide with Remembrance Day and the weekend as much as possible."

LeForte said another day off has been in the works since this fall. The hope is to give reprieve to students as they face the midterm crunch or, for some, adjust to their first term at university, he said.

Several other universities have also considered similar moves, LeForte said.

Unlike "Munroe Day" in the winter, this day off will go without an official moniker for the time being.

"My hope is that either somebody will come forward and give a good bit of money to the school," LeForte said.

But LeForte has been working on alternatives if the day can't don a donor's name.

"(DSU President) Shannon (Zimmerman) and I have been tossing around the idea of calling it 'Community Day' or something like that to encourage students to get out and maybe volunteer," he said. "For now it will be called a 'Study Day,' which is also a good thing to see students do."

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