Some students to flee Olympic weather, traffic

Robert McKenzie

Here come the Olympics and there go the students.

This February, students of Utah State University will be given a break for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. However, there seem to be differences among the students on whether or not this break is really necessary. Also, many students are trying to decide how they will be spending their break and with whom they will be spending it.

“I’m going to San Diego to go see the ocean and get away from the traffic in Utah,” said Jennie Southwick, a junior majoring in community health. “It’s good to get [the break] and to have the option of participating in the Olympics.”

Lauren Voelker, a freshman majoring in family human development, said she will also pass the time away from Utah.

“I’m going to Vegas to hang out on the Strip and then later in the week, go skiing with friends at Heavenly near Lake Tahoe,” Voelker said.

Paul Brandon, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, said Motor City is beckoning to him.

“I’m looking forward to going back to Detroit to visit with family and go clubbing,” Brandon said.

Not everyone is looking forward to the break, or approves of it. In fact, many students think it will be a waste of their time to take a week off for something taking place an hour and one-half away.

Monty Miller, a sophomore majoring in accounting, said, “I’m mad because they are shortening our break. It’s only a little, but even a day makes a difference.”

Millet is not the only student who feels he is being cheated.

“It’s kind of weird because we just had a Christmas Break, now two weeks later, we have an Olympic Break. I would rather go to class during the Olympics and have a longer Spring Break,” Brandon said.

These diverse feelings for the Olympic Break are shared across the campus.

“I think it’s a waste of time. At the University of Utah they don’t really have a choice, but here we are more removed,” said Scott Winterton, a sophomore majoring in business management who will be going home to Roosevelt during the break.