Western U students to get fall reading break

Western University's senate has approved a 2-day fall reading break for the last Thursday and Friday in October, effective next academic year. The reprieve will give students a 4-day long weekend to catch up on assignments or travel. "It has to be a break where students can leave school if they wish," says the chair of the student group that lobbied for the break. Late fall is one of the most stressful times for students, says a Western U nursing professor who already gives his fourth-year students a study break in the middle of October. Not only does it reduce stress, he says, but it also improves the quality of the students' work. While student feedback has been good, the new reading break could create hassles for faculties such as nursing that have to schedule students for labs or hospital clinical time. London Free Press