During a semester, college students often fall into a rhythm of schoolwork, social life and sleeping, and with the Nicholls schedule change, the doors open to the possibilities of no class Fridays and how to spend them.
Students who have avoided scheduling Friday classes will face the challenge of whether or not to kick off the weekend with “thirsty Thursdays.”
With Nicholls instructors having the option to schedule class on Fridays, many have opted out in favor of longer Monday and Wednesday class periods.
The new Nicholls schedule allows many students to have Fridays free from class, and the temptation to go to bars and drink on Thursdays is bound to increase.
Rory Eschete, biology junior from Thibodaux and co-manager at Grey Patio Lounge, said Nicholls students are often out every night of the week, but Thursdays are prevalent.
“I am expecting a lot more people to come out on Thursdays,” Eschete said. “I find that Thursdays are more of the college kids, and Friday is more adults because they are getting off their jobs for the weekend.”
The problem is many students may be pressured to hit the town Thursday to avoid missing out, even if they have class on Friday.
Elise Raul, graphic design junior from Houma and hostess at Foundry on the Bayou, said she thinks some students who do have class the next day often go out because their friends are going out.
“On Thursdays and Fridays we see more Nicholls students than other days of the week,” Raul said. “It is usually about 50-50. Half of the students we see out do not have class and the rest just tag along knowing they have class Friday. It is a chill bar so people can drink casually and still make it to class the next day.”
According to an American Broadcasting Company News article, Friday classes scheduled before 10 a.m. have the potential to reduce excessive student drinking on Thursdays.
In a survey for the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers surveyed 3,341 undergraduates in a public university and found that half of the students with late or no Friday classes consumed at least one drink on Thursdays while only a third of those students had drinks with classes on Friday earlier than 10 a.m.
Two-thirds of students with late or no class on Friday consumed unhealthy amounts on Thursday, meaning “binge drinking,” which is more than five alcoholic beverages in two hours.
The study reported that Friday classes scheduled before 10 a.m. would encourage and motivate students to stay home on Thursdays evenings, or at least stay sober.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “approximately 25 percent of college students have reported academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers and receiving lower grades overall.”
Sierra Mistich, general studies freshman from Houma, said she plans to go out on Thursdays even though she has class on Friday.
“I can go out on Thursdays and still enjoy time with my friends without drinking,” Mistich said. “If you feel like you are not responsible enough to go out and not drink, then you should probably stay home.”
For those students who have not scheduled classes for Friday, there should be consideration of whether or not the schedule increases productivity or hinders it. Drinking irresponsibly on Thursday nights could interfere with class or work the following day.
Sarah Guiney, biology freshman from Thibodaux, said she thinks Fridays without class will increase her productivity.
“Since I hardly go out, I can wake up on Fridays and actually accomplish something,” Guiney said. “If I finish my work on my free Friday, I can relax for the rest of the weekend. Plus, lots of teachers will still be on campus so it is the perfect time to catch their office hours.”
Mistich said she feels the temptation is worse for students without Friday class.
“If I knew I could sleep all day Friday, I would probably treat Thursday like the weekend too,” Mistich said.