During the winter months, students escape the cold by hiding away in their homes and daydreaming of spring break. Our holiday may technically be over, but there’s one more thing we can enjoy before getting caught up in the stress of school: syllabus week.

For some, this week is filled with late nights at Red Lion and buying food from Second Story Pizza at 2 a.m. What makes syllabus week so great is all of the things it generally doesn’t have: homework, studying, papers and tests. With all the extra free time, students can do almost whatever their heart desires, which usually involves fishbowls and fries.

I have found a way to make one of the best weeks during the school year even more enjoyable, and it involves a little friendly competition between friends. The winner can brag that he or she had the best syllabus week of all time; you could even raise the stakes and bet a free meal.

To play, you must rate activities on a number scale. At the end of the week, the player with the highest score wins. Below is a list of some suggested possibilities for activities and their coinciding points.

Going out = 4 points

This is a week to live it up and drink it down. There is little homework or studying that needs to be done, so there is nothing keeping you from enjoying a night out. Celebrate because it might be the last time you really get to let loose before spring break. Five bonus points if you go out every night of the week, if only just for a few hours.

Not missing a class = 10 points

It is 7:30 a.m. and your alarm just went off for your 8 a.m. You have a pounding headache and can’t get that new Calvin Harris song out of your head from the night before. More than anything, you just want to hit snooze and roll over, but don’t give in. Start the year off right and attend every single one of your classes — for this week at least. Deduct two points for every class you skip.

Working out = 3 points

You made the resolution and now it is time to stick to it. Meet the ARC! It is easy to convince yourself to stay in and avoid the cold, as well as the sea of other people with workout resolutions, but the crowds will die down eventually. Get in there and work out because in no time, it will be spring break. 

Get a hottie’s number = 2 points

Start the semester off by being bold. If you see someone you want to talk to, go ahead and make your move. Make eye contact, walk across the room and start a conversation. If not on syllabus week, when anything can happen, then when?

With your friends, you can add more activities to the point system to make it specific to your group. Make sure you get to enjoy every bit of this crazy ride we call syllabus week.

Haley is a sophomore in Media and can be reached at [email protected].