The death of dead week

I heard the rumor too.\nProfessors are supposed to relax on the assignments and tests this week so students can diligently prepare for finals week.\nI've been hearing it for three years, and I can tell you it's a myth.\nThere is no dead week.\nAt IU, the week before final exams is officially called "free week."\nAccording to University policy, the week "shall be free of major or final exams, except for practical tests at the end of lab periods. Paper projects may be due only if assigned well in advance."\nIf they had left out that second sentence, maybe it wouldn't be the week from hell.\nInstead, it's a week that's anything but free, full of papers, projects and group work. The fact it follows Little 500 makes it no easier.\nSophomore Ryan Bradley said he's expecting the "busiest week of the semester."\nBradley has a group presentation for X204 due Tuesday, an X201 lab final on Friday and a ton of finals next week to study for.\n"I would not call it dead," Bradley said. "It's a misconception that nothing's going to be due dead week."\nBut after four semesters at IU, it's no longer a surprise. Bradley doesn't count on any free time during free week.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he can sympathize. While eating dinner with two students Sunday night, McKaig heard about papers and projects that are due this week and about upcoming tests.\nDead week isn't what it used to be, he said.\n"Some of traditions of dead week have gone by the wayside," McKaig said. "Maybe the culture of campus has changed what dead week means."\nProfessors aren't as light on assignments and tests as they once were this week, and student groups are less likely to hesitate when planning dead week events.\nReligious holidays pushed Little 500 back this year, McKaig said, leaving the event undesirably close to dead week.\nAnd in the past, IU has also offered reading days, when classes are canceled so students can focus on studying. But many students would probably take advantage of that for other reasons, like this weekend's Kentucky Derby, McKaig said.\nStill, McKaig said there is no groundswell of conversation about resuming dead week traditions.\n"My impression is over time there has been an erosion of fewer activities and very limited academic assignments," McKaig said. "It's like another week for the semester."\nThat's exactly how sophomore Keith Turpin looks at this week. He has projects due in a couple of classes.\n"After four semesters, I've never seen a decrease in work during this time period."\nSenior Aasif Bade, who has two group projects due this week and five finals next week, said dead week should be truly dead. That means IU should cancel classes and leave the extra time to the students' discretion.\n"If you have one final, yeah, I'm all for partying all week," Bade said. "If you have five, like me, you'd be taking advantage of the time. I hope so at least"