Chapter 38 (cont.)

 

WINTER SESSION

 

“So, Delaware has a trimester system?” “Well, not really. Sort of.”

 

You guys know all to well, that when you wrap up the fall semester, you’re then heading into two weeks off from school...or seven weeks. Contingent on if you’re taking...or not taking, Winter Session. I took it twice. My sophomore and junior years.

 

Why you DID take Winter Session…

 

Well, back in my day, to stay on track to get out in four years. It was very common to take at least one or two Winter Sessions, to lighten your load during the regular year. The stat was 60% of undergrads took it. I was in the Business school, and the graduation requirement at the time was 128 credits...but it's since been lowered to 120! I could get by right now without taking Winter Session at all.

 

Thinking back now, though, I really didn't need to take it twice...cuz my senior year schedule was a friggin' joke, really light. But actually, one of the reasons I took it was to take a "Winter Session Only Class," which was that Airbrush class I talked about in our chapter on Old College / Recitation Hall.

 

Oh, and PARTIES. Before I even started UD, I remember reading in The Practical Blue Hen that Winter Session was pretty insane with parties. Well, of course it is. Alcohol keeps you warm. And so does sex.

 

Why you DIDN’T take Winter Session…

 

Well, to sleep...and sleep some more. Seven weeks off in the dead of fucking winter...I'm sorry, that's awesome. I can very easily go right into hibernation mode. Some people would be like, "Didn't you get bored?" Um...no. I'd rather be a little bit bored than have to wake up and be somewhere when it's fifteen-billion degrees below zero. Winter Session '92 -- which I did not take -- home at my 'rents comfy house in NJ, surrounded by comic books, cable TV, and video games...what torture. Well anyway, was of course still psyched to get back to UD in early February, as I was having a blast at college!

 

Study Abroad? Guess what, I consider this NOT taking Winter Session! Unless you studied abroad in Antarctica.

 

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DelaWeather: Frozen Butt

 

“My worst final was Chem 102, Winter Session 1996. I was totally stressed, running late because of the enormous amounts of snow, and showed up with a couple minutes to spare…so I decided to calm down by having a cigarette. In my frenzy, I lit the wrong end and it was my last one! Seems ridiculous now that I quit smoking, but then it was the worst thing that could have possibly happened before a test. I think I wound up with a C.”

 

- Julie, UD '98

 

Winter Parking

 

“Ahhh, Winter Session. I didn't take it during my first two years at UD, but I really wish I had. Freshman year, I wasn't quick enough in looking for a job, so I just sat home bored to death. Sophomore year I got a dull data entry temp job during Winter Session, which earned me some cash, but I envied my friends who seemed to be having a great time back at school, so I decided that for sure I would take it the next year.

 

Junior year, I took two classes: Japanese Calligraphy and the legendary History of Rock. Both were GREAT classes! For the History of Rock class, I ended up having to do a presentation on the Sex Pistols, and I'm the furthest thing away from punk rock. During the evenings, my friends and I would head over to the Deer Park (before the renovation), have a few beers, and just hang out.”

 

- Brenda, UD '02

 

School Beats Home

 

“I took Winter Session every year. Mostly because the idea of that long of a time period in Sussex County scared the crap out of me. My first Winter Session, I pushed both the beds together and made one huge bed which was rather nice. We fit tons of people on that thing for movie nights. I loved Winter Session, because it was less crowded, the work load was simple, and it did beat weeks upon weeks in Sussex County. My last Winter Session was spent in Mexico for a study abroad. Mexico in January? Over freezing at UD? Hell yes!”

 

- Kris V, UD '02

 

Winter with Chevy

 

“I took Winter Session my sophomore, junior, and senior years. There was really no way to graduate on time without taking them. I spent the first one in Spain, the next two in Delaware. I loved the Winter Sessions at UD because so few peeps were around…no waiting at the dining hall! And the classes were easy. My friends and I had a blast! Lots of drinking and watching Fletch on those cold nights.”

 

- Stephanie, UD '93

 

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