When the University rolled out its plan for the spring semester and its wellness days, I was among the skeptics. Knowing the struggles of last semester, I was not optimistic about three days—let alone two—being able to replace what Spring Break does for students’ mental health and rejuvenation.  Then, the week of the wellness days […]

Nonetheless, Wash. U. has the capability to support and accommodate students in this defining moment in the school’s history. There are only a few weeks left in the semester: It’s now or never.

It’s important to note that even with the countrywide vaccination program in place and the decreased number of cases, the pandemic has not yet gone away, and we still must act accordingly.

So, the Student Life Editorial Board members share their tips on how to unwind during the wellness days.

All departments in the College of Arts & Sciences will select two days to cancel classes during the spring 2021 semester, as part of Washington University’s efforts to support student mental health and compensate for the absence of a spring break, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Jen Smith announced in an email to students, Dec. 7.

After students objected to the replacement of Spring Break with two nonconsecutive “wellness days,” Washington University announced a revised spring calendar that included two consecutive wellness days and one additional wellness day, Dec. 3.

Washington University claims to care about its students, and learn our names and our stories—but those words are hollow if we do not make radical changes to how we approach the remainder of this pandemic.

The recent spring semester plan further proves how detached you are from the community and its needs, given that you have granted us two “wellness days.” What a slap in the face.