Each week our columnists debate both sides of an issue on campus. This week they take on the merits of Winter Break vs. Spring Break.

The signs of Spring Break are upon us. People are doing more reps at the gym, and what you are doing for the break is the new ice-breaker in casual conversation. Not a big surprise; this is the most celebrated and glorified vacation of the year!

Winter Break is just that-winter. Bad driving conditions, crowded shopping malls and itchy sweaters all contribute to a less-than-relaxing 30 days. But soon, students will get a week-long reprieve from all their troubles to spend however they please.

Spring Break is all about you. During its more frigid counterpart, you spend lots of money buying presents for assorted family members and friends. While on Spring Break, you spend lots of money on fun tropical drinks with umbrellas in them for yourself!

Though most students head south with visions of MTV lore in their minds, Spring break gives other an opportunity to put school-life on the backburner and focus on the things they want to do.

‘I’m going to Philly to see the Salvador Dali exhibit,’ said Dan Churgin, a junior political science major. ‘It’s going to be awesome.’

Winter Break comes at the end of the semester, which is great when you first finish your finals and have nothing to do, but it gets old fast. The beauty of Spring Break is in its timing.

A week long respite during the most hectic part of the semester is what makes Spring Break the highlight of the academic year. Even if lounging in Bermuda isn’t in your price range, everyone can appreciate the freedom that the break affords.

‘Spring Break is great because you get to see your friends from home in the middle of the semester,’ said Dennis Nemchek, a sophomore hospitality management major.

And while Spring Break inevitably takes a lot of planning and money, the efforts in the end are worth it, because being stuck in Syracuse is a fate worse than death.

‘I’m going to be walking out to a reflective snow hell that burns my retinas and coming back tan-less and without a story,’ said Dan Frigolette, a senior advertising and communication and rhetorical studies major who is bitterly spending Spring Break in Syracuse.

Spring Break is a rare gem, a perfectly valid excuse to give the middle finger to your psych class and not do any reading for a week. Yeah, it’ll still be there when you get back, but you get a reprieve, and that danger makes it even sweeter.

However you spend it, enjoy your break, and don’t come back without a story.

JULIE LOZINSKI IS A SENIOR ENGLISH AND TEXTUAL STUDIES AND PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR. EMAIL HER AT JELOZINS@SYR.EDU