DUELING COLUMN: FIU Made the Right Choice Canceling Spring Break

Hayley Serpa/Staff Writer

On the 30th of September, the FIU Faculty Senate passed a revision of the upcoming Spring 2021 semester that included the cancellation of Spring Break 2021. This makes FIU one of the last public Florida universities to cancel Spring Break 2021 and make additional revisions to the academic calendar in light of the global COVID-19 outbreak. 

Although Spring Break 2021 will be duly grieved, it was the correct decision to make, especially when considering the events surrounding our previous spring break. FIU’s location in Miami makes it a prime vacation spot for university students due to South Florida’s sunny beaches however this also signals a hot spot for the viral infection. A data analysis that used cell phone activity to locate spring breakers in 2020 found an astonishingly high amount of cell phone activity in southern Florida, even though social distancing requirements had already been put in place in the state and many warnings had been given at the federal level against travel to Miami. 

Some might argue that Spring Break 2021 should still be held with certain restrictions. However, videos captured in South Beach of out-of-town spring breakers at the start of the outbreak showed what most college students think of the restrictions. One spring breaker states: “If I get corona, I get corona. At the end of the day, I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying.” His friend follows with: “It’s [the shutting down of beaches and bars] really messing up my spring break.” No social distancing measures were being practiced and none of the vacationers wore any protective gear or masks. Our past spring break in Miami ultimately contributed to spreading the novel coronavirus in the United States. 

Ever since the initial detection of COVID-19 in March, we have all been struggling with acclimating to our new lives. We have collectively gone through ups and downs with a president who one week says the vaccine will be available nationwide in March and the other week says it will be April. We are over seven months into a global pandemic and have made it too far to lose it all for a week of fun. 

When taking a closer look at the revised academic calendar agreed on by the Faculty Senate, you can read that we are actually not losing any time at all. We will be ending the semester on April 24, rather than closer to the middle of the following month. In fact, for many people, including myself, it is preferable to have a longer summer break than an awkward week-long break in which little can be done. I personally feel that on my return to classes from spring break, I am always a little off rhythm and would have probably ended my classes stronger if not given the week intermission. 

Yet, this is not the case for everyone. Spring break can also provide a week of rest from stressful school work and other obligations. I recognize and acknowledge the mental health and wellness benefits of having time off from school, but also emphasize how negatively affected mental health would be if another wave of the virus were to pass South Florida. A poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that in mid-July, 53% of American adults reported their mental health was negatively affected by the pandemic. Imagine how mental health would be affected if we had to go through another seven months of quarantine after almost eliminating the further spread of the virus.

Spring break and all its fun will be missed next semester, no one can disagree with that. But, we are in an epidemic and one whose surge has already been linked to the popular Miami beaches, clubs, and bars of Spring Break 2020. FIU made a correct and proactive choice in canceling Spring Break 2021.

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

Featured image by Karina lago on Unsplash

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