Although some professors continue to assign work throughout dead week, students said this negation of policy usually does not interfere with their finals’ study routines.
Brian Riviere, a sophomore in chemistry and biochemistry, said he doesn’t mind the work he must do during dead week because it takes pressure away from his upcoming week of finals.
“I like having stuff due on dead week,” Riviere said. “Instead of having exam week for a week and a half, it’s like we have two and a half weeks.”
Lun Jin Jiang, a senior in agricultural business management, said he appreciates any extra assignments he gets leading up to his exams because they keep him in a working mindset.
“The homework prepares me for my final,” Jiang said. “If I wasn’t doing any work this week, I would get lazy and go into my final unprepared.”
Riviere said having assignments due on dead week might seem unpleasant, but when considering the bigger picture, it ends up relieving some of the stress of the following weeks.
“If it wasn’t for dead week, I would have two more exams to cram into next week,” Riviere said. “It doesn’t look good to have stuff due during dead week, but overall its more beneficial.”
Brynna Pink, a freshman in biological sciences, said she is not having many problems with her workload this week and professors have been very accommodating.
“I still have several homework assignments due, but luckily all of my final tests before exams were last week,” Pink said.
Adrienne Johnson, an English adjunct lecturer, expressed different sentiments, commenting that she will not assign any work to her students this week.
“Students need to take time to clear their heads and get their focus, especially when it’s 85 degrees out,” Johnson said. “I’m pro-dead week. I wish I could have it myself.”
Pink remarked that dead week should be a time reserved for studying and that extra assignments only weigh students down.
“This week should be used for studying, not for worrying about cramming in more homework assignments,” Pink said.
Mark Sugimoto, a sophomore in nuclear engineering, agreed that dead week should be kept primarily clear of work, but said having one or two assignments doesn’t get in the way.
“In the next two weeks, most students will have four to five big tests back to back,” Sugimoto said. “We need this week to start studying ahead because the night before just won’t cut it.”